I'm trying to get a feeling of how many GV members would like to participate in an online study group/book club. If there is enough interest, I'll make a longer post with my ideas on structuring the group, tho my ideas are only that. The structure is of course open to other ideas.
The basic idea would be to read a book in a somewhat coordinated manner (an 'assignment', if you like, for the week) and then post your thoughts/summary/etc. somewhere. I picture it being done inside the GD software.
So, anyone interested? Please also follow up with your thoughts!
As I said in a PM, interested yes, though it'd practically be possible for me only after a week or two from returning to Finland (flying on the 30th).
Do post in your ideas.
It sounds very nice idea to have an online study group. Lets ask Lord Brahma to please add 2 hours more a day.
QUOTE(Madhava @ Mar 22 2005, 11:31 AM)
Do post in your ideas.
These are excerpted from an email I sent to Rasaraja dasaji. Please excuse the rather rough form...
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1. Why a study group?
I want to develop a more solid personal understanding of the philosophy. I have not had the 'pleasure' ;-) of spending years in an ashram, ISKCON or no, and what better way to get caught up than to study with some like minded individuals?
2. Who is the audience?
I really see the group aimed at the SA membership, for a few reasons. A, I see quite a few of AdB's books studied, and I don't want this to be an issue ('why are you focusing on AdB's books, etc). B, SA provides some rather serious minded people... too quickly
this could get bogged down by someone like
posting nonsense. Also, having fairly serious people eliminates the need for more advanced software.
I would be really happy with a core of 4 or 5 people participating, and I'm hoping this is not too optimistic. Dropout rates for this kind of thing are usually quite high.
3. What would be studied?
I'd like to start out with a small book. I think Sri Guru Tattva Vijnana is a great one to start with. Its very small, yet covers some very interesting information. And, its broken up into nice, discreet sections. Its also easily available.
Ideally, I'd like to see texts that have translated commentaries studied, at least initially. Take Grantha Ratna Pancakam as a counter example. Great, small texts, but 'studying' them would lead to one or two memebers basically writing commentaries. Better would be Sri Stavavali, which has extensive translated commentaries (just got Vol 1 & 2 from Braja).
I'd also like to stay away from the various manuals on the various lilas out there, for obvious reasons. Manjari Svarupa Nirupana might be an exception, and maybe I'll actually be qualified to study it when we get around to it :-)
As there are not all that many TGV commentaries translated, I see a lot of AdB's books being used.
4. How would it be run?
Assuming a small group, I think it could be kept in the confines of the forum software. I would see a structure like this:
SA Forum
|_ Online Study Group sub
|_ Current Book sub
|_ Chapter/Section thread
Ideally, someone would run each book section. Coming up with a scheduled reading, kicking off the discussion, etc.
Dear Dharmachakra and others..
RAdhe RAdhe! I really like the idea of an online study group.... the sooner we start the better! I feel it would be great to have a small group of people all studying the same text and then discussing what is contained within.... looking forward to more news on this soon!
YS
Sudevi dasi