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An Experiment on Distance Learning in Spreading the Buddha´s Teachings in Brazil

Ricardo Sasaki

ABSTRACT

The Buddha is said to teach by various means. Through His speech, behavior and even by silence the Awakened One delivers the message most appropriate to sentient beings. Skillfulness in teaching is considered one of the virtues that should be sought after by all teachers.

Modern technology now offers new ways to deliver this message, ways that Dharma Centers could start applying in their task of crossing the geographical boundaries that separate potential students of the Dharma and sources of knowledge.

The present paper deals with the use of the Distance Learning Model in spreading the Dharma in Brazil as applied by the Nalanda Buddhist Community, a Buddhist Center created 18 years ago in Brazil. Due to the geographical size of Brazil, and the comparatively small number of Dharma Centers, such initiative means bringing the Dharma to people who otherwise would not be able to have any living guidance or experience of a Dharma community in their own language.