Quite sensible approach to the site, Brian. Conceptual building blocks are developed here.

In reality, I do not think even the more exprerienced practioner will, in our world, find this site wanting: the tone, the reflection on the topics are ‘daily’ reminders of the practice.

In Paris, works and sits a close friend of mine. He was the first vegetarian I knew and the first person who spoke daily about Philosophy and Buddhism.

Few in France are vegetarian or, I believe, inspired by Buddhism. And as a result, I have introduced him to your site, hoping the daily realities of Parisian life are eased by the reflections here.

But you are correct in that I rarely explain everything fully or in-depth. Daily Buddhism is a site for beginners, where I introduce various topics. The original column I wrote a few years back (read the “About Daily Buddhism” from the tabs at the top of the page for that), was essentially just an inspirational thought or short koan every day. It’s only since the addition of the podcast and my return from Japan that I’ve expanded that into slightly longer “lessons.”

Still, I try to keep each day’s post to just a couple of brief paragraphs, readable at work while the boss isn’t looking There are plenty of books and other sites on the net that explain Buddhism in full, with all the jargon and name-dropping and self-referential pretentiousness that I cut out here. I don’t want to be another one of those. I realize that many people will eventually “outgrow” the Daily Buddhism as they learn more on their own, and that’s a good thing.

I take it as my goal to make Buddhism more accessible to people who don’t want to get lost in the jargon.

Jesse, my major was “Religion Studies.” Although I emphasized the “Eastern Religions” aspect of the subject, I also had plenty of courses on Christianity and Mythology. I blame the mythology courses for my preference toward the practicality, rather than than the mysticism, of Buddhism. I certainly don’t want to offend anybody, but Buddhism is the only religion I have encountered that really emphasizes practicality over “magic.”

If I had to pick a specific “weak point” in my religion education, it would probably be either Islam or Catholicism as a specific branch of Christianity. I only took one class in Islam, and it was very politically-correct and “whitewashed” in my opinion. As for Catholicism, well, let’s just not go there right now.

Informative and warm, Brian’s role is extremely valuable. The site is just simply nice. I too like the moral conundrums.

Of course, Brian does not offer a complete solution. I sense, perhaps know, there is alternative ways to intepret things.

What is said, appears to be said with a mixture of the academic and the practical, and just maybe a buddhist emerging exclusively from the ‘temple, not the university’ may say things a bit, or lot, more differently.

In musing, what, Brian, specifically is the ‘academic’ subject you studied- since not all my ‘comparative points’ have been answered (smile)

I like to listen to well informed opinions, and I love to debate over moral conundrums.

Maybe thats what is needed - if more people throw their opinions into the mix (both veteran and novice) and respond a little more, then we can fire up a debate, and learn a whole lot more - this might also help if people are putting too much stock into one response.

Keep up the good work !!

Its not too long ago he was directed to the Kalama Sutta(sp?) by another comment, I believe on reincarnation? - (Thanks for that BTW, an interesting thread to follow)

Personally…I quite like the way this sites run. There are a lot that either have zero depth or seem to be run primarily for would be monks/nuns. Disecting arguments to the ‘N’th degree, it can become extremely dry when it becomes so academic.

For me it gives a simple grounding, from where I can go and find out in further depth, if I need.

Thanks Brian for choosing this ‘middle way’