Aramika
I respectfully disagree Bhante. It is the goal of Buddha and the Sangha for the Dhamma to be freely distributed and open to the whole world.
Anyone who is trying to assign ownership to Dhamma and keep it closed are working against the will of Buddha and Sangha.
In addition we should encourage more lay people with technical knowledge to help with Dhamma projects.
Discouraging them by assigning ownership is not a good way forward.
Could you kindly remove me from this forum since you have added my email here without my permissionTaking existence, suicide, will be not approved, householder. If householder wishes to remove his emailadress he may do so in his setting. It will be anyway on his anonymous website.
Thank you very much for adding me to this forum Samana Johann.
'There is what is given, what is offered, what is sacrificed. There are fruits & results of good & bad actions. There is this world & the next world. There is mother & father. There are spontaneously reborn beings; there are brahmans & contemplatives who, faring rightly & practicing rightly, proclaim this world & the next after having directly known & realized it for themselves.'
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
"Janaka - Sutta"
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard: "I am a brahman, responsive to requests, open-handed, bearing my last body, an unsurpassed doctor & surgeon. You are my children, my sons, born from my mouth, born of the Dhamma, created by the Dhamma, heirs to the Dhamma, not heirs in material things.
"There are these two kinds of gifts: a gift of material things & a gift of the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: a gift of the Dhamma.
"There are these two kinds of sharing: sharing of material things & sharing of the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: sharing of the Dhamma.
"There are these two kinds of assistance: assistance with material things & assistance with the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: help with the Dhamma.
"There are these two kinds of mass-donations: a mass-donation of material things & a mass-donation of the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: a mass-donation of the Dhamma."
He who, unstinting,
made the mass-donation of Dhamma,
the Tathagata,
sympathetic to all beings:
to one of that sort
— the best of beings, human & divine —
living beings pay homage —
to one gone
to the beyond
of becoming.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
"Vasettha, all of you, through of different birth, name, clan and family, who have gone forth from the household life into ascetic life, if you are asked who you are, should reply: 'We are ascetics, followers of the Sakyan.' He whose faith in the Tathagata is settled, rooted, established, solid, unshakeable by any ascetic or Brahmin, any deva or mara or Brahma or anyone in the world, can truly say: 'I am a true son of Blessed Lord, born of his mouth, born of Dhamma, created by Dhamma, an heir of Dhamma.' Why is that? Because, Vasettha, this designates the Tathagata: 'The body of Dhamma', that is, 'The body of Brahma', or 'Become Dhamma', that is, 'Become Brahma'.
Upasaka Thomas Crisman,
valued heir of Upasaka Goenkas obligation toward the Tripple Gems,
(anonymous provider addressed and informed as bbc)
recently a russian monk published a web page and app which owner is anonymous and shares the Sanghayana Tipitaka and other heritage with less credits and in respectless ways "free", suggesting donations:
https://tipitaka.app
***
" Tipitaka.app is a free software built and distributed as a Dhamma donation. It will always be free and a property of the Buddhist World.
Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyana Pāḷi Tipiṭaka texts obtained with permission from VRI on 2018-09-01. Copyright Vipassana Research Institute.
Dictionary content was obtained from various online sources with permission.
Contact the developer of this software by email : path.nirvanagmail.com.
.... Small amounts of monetary donations are welcomed to help the ongoing projects to digitize Pali and Tipitaka learning materials to be added to applications/websites such as tipitaka.app. Some of the current projects are listed here. "
***
May person does not only feel "obligated" to inform you, as long time devoted caretaker, but is also curious whether such if actually approved by you and given as presented by the anonymous "revolutionaries".
Being especial objected toward Asian users: such a Nissaya-less transfere is most dangerous and destructive in regard of proper dependency and the wellfar of the Buddha-Parisa. Today there are even many monks who act in plundering ways toward the Gems, encourage to disrespect, that people would have rights and engage in undertakings to deprive the Gems but also devoted authors from there possession in maxistic ways, make it an item of sale and politics. Such is feeding for the sake of destruction of long term and traditional families, communities and authorities.
If just wrongly perceived and simply very misunderstanding and unskilled transported by the anonymous, it might be good to evaluate states and undertakings.
Best wished for all you good undertakings
metta & mudita
Samana Johann
May triple gem bless you,
I have removed the line about donations from the site. Sorry for causing troubles for you.
If you have further concerns do let me know and I will make the necessary changes as needed.
With much metta
Janaka (lay person)
නිවන් මග - Path Nirvana (Sri Lanka)
Sadhu for care, Upasaka Janaka,
(copy also to VRI)
may he not understand it wrong: It's good and praiseworthy to share merits and to giveways to join merits. Merits.
He may also understand it not wrong (my person actually didn't thought that lay people, possible not guided by the Sangha, are behind such a huge undertaking): what ever said, told, is rightly seen as encouragement for good, voluntary to be taken on, and not a command or something claimable.
Since asked about advices (Sadhu. note: not should it be seen as personal concern, since doers, actors, are heir of their own actions:
* Most importand for oneself (once secure refuge) and also to transport ones appearance is giving cedits to the owner and giver of the Dhamma (if given): 1. Buddha, 2. the heir carrier and owner, the monastic Sangha, 3. the direct related giver. It's in no way good to suggest that one has such as a inherent right on the Dhamma of the Sublime Buddha, as such nurishes grave wrong view (no parents, no sacrifices...) and destroys the strong condition, Upanissaya, the Buddha Parisa and traditional communities, turn is into pseudoliberal marxism and materialism (modern wrong views)
* When ever gifts are given toward the "buddhist" community, such is made in ways of approaching the elders, leader, and wish that they will gain the best share. Total wrong and Nissaya destructing (especially for follower of other religions wishing to join) is to give a student, new-bee, direct (follower of other sects think: why Nissayawhen I can live from the community). They would hardly learn gratitude and generosity, failing also in dependency and respect. They are treaded like orphans and one who uses the Dhamma wrong does it for his own harm. This is why this tradition is one of dependency to ensure that the new will not get lost by misuse.
* When doing good it's good to give the right sample. Dhamma-tradition is not a anonymos-occupy movement. Especially as lay person one should introduce oneself, show face... and ones dependencies, being a sample for many. Only one with many faults or wrong understanding needs to hide face and walk bend when approaching assemblies. Who we are, dedication, own nissaya, history... Upright people would not take without 1. knowing the giver and his intention, 2. taking in trust would be only without fault if knowing the owner, he had declared personal to be happy if one takes, and alive. When such things are not provided only people of no integrity would come (yet the merits are small and many troubles can be suspected, althought those group is naturally huge.
* Such undertaking Upasaka might lead here, while having great potential for high merits if not sacrificing downwardly but upwardly, toward worthy (see 5 proper times of giving) has also huge dangers. Not only out of this reason it is good to possible let it be lead by a good Sangha, taking a serving and assisting role rather then to display a giver role while things have actually other owner.
* Those points are especially relevant for Asian countries where huge misuse becomes currently very moders and where no means of right protections are used broadly. There such undertakings need to have involvement of the national relegious Sangha authorithy to become not a means for politic and brother-wars. Don't ever make sources free-declared avaliable but point out the dependency and restrictions of use (best red and as pop up). If thrre are ways that someone would need to leave back his identity, to be not shameless, such would be good. when people act inways feeling anonymos, no self, no big brother watching, no Devas, they act akusala without any shame. Something that internet often suggest to catch those kind of people in huge debts for their worldily interest.
* Not sure where all contents are from (note that most is neither free not given rightly, even in legal relation, not to speak on kamma), it's good ti provide sources and also ways of transphere, gain.
* At least, just a general layout suggestion: bright an white does not attract such as rats and bugs and lifts also ones mind on better place.
May your undertaking be wisely conducted so that it will bring you the highest fruits as well all those who have certain relation to you.
Upasaka may feel always invited to make use of sangham.net and its relations and register an account.
If there are any doubts or things not clear, never hesitate to ask.
metta & mudita
Samana Johann
Upasaka Janaka,
to be not just jana: If Upasaka, and that's again just an suggestion, continues in shares, may he not deposite his gifts and developments on third part, not really given places and markets. Not only that such as google and similar, all the open-source undertakings are not really proper, they are not accessable for upright people, especially for monks, if serious in not taking what is not given. If wishing to share toward some worthy of gifts to gain also some merits, it's needed to share, give it personal and at least make this, and the declaration of the recipients very clear on the web page, also holding others free from strings, even if not aware.
Upasaka, if wishing, may make use of the possibilities at sangham.net, having been given account here, as he feels inspired:
username: Janaka
pw: *** (can be changed in settings, like other things there)
No need to react on automatical emails since the account will be already activated.
metta & mudita
Samana Johann
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
"There are these five seasonable gifts. Which five? One gives to a newcomer. One gives to one going away. One gives to one who is ill. One gives in time of famine. One sets the first fruits of field & orchard in front of those who are virtuous. These are the five seasonable gifts."
In the proper season they give —
those with discernment,
responsive, free from stinginess.
Having been given in proper season,
with hearts inspired by the Noble Ones
— straightened, Such —
their offering bears an abundance.
Those who rejoice in that gift
or give assistance,
they, too, have a share of the merit,
and the offering isn't depleted by that.
So, with an unhesitant mind,
one should give where the gift bears great fruit.
Merit is what establishes
living beings in the next life.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
Candala Sutta: The Outcaste
"Endowed with these five qualities, a lay follower is an outcaste of a lay follower, a stain of a lay follower, a dregs of a lay follower. Which five? He/she does not have conviction [in the Buddha's Awakening]; is unvirtuous; is eager for protective charms & ceremonies; trusts protective charms & ceremonies, not kamma; and searches for recipients of his/her offerings outside [of the Sangha], and gives offerings there first. Endowed with these five qualities, a lay follower is an outcaste of a lay follower, a stain of a lay follower, a dregs of a lay follower.
"Endowed with these five qualities, a lay follower is a jewel of a lay follower, a lotus of a lay follower, a fine flower of a lay follower. Which five? He/she has conviction; is virtuous; is not eager for protective charms & ceremonies; trusts kamma, not protective charms & ceremonies; does not search for recipients of his/her offerings outside [of the Sangha], and gives offerings here first. Endowed with these five qualities, a lay follower is a jewel of a lay follower, a lotus of a lay follower, a fine flower of a lay follower."
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
Saddha Sutta: Conviction
"For a lay person, there are these five rewards of conviction. Which five?
"When the truly good people in the world show compassion, they will first show compassion to people of conviction, and not to people without conviction. When visiting, they first visit people of conviction, and not people without conviction. When accepting gifts, they will first accept those from people with conviction, and not from people without conviction. When teaching the Dhamma, they will first teach those with conviction, and not those without conviction. A person of conviction, on the break-up of the body, after death, will arise in a good destination, the heavenly world. For a lay person, these are the five rewards of conviction.
"Just as a large banyan tree, on level ground where four roads meet, is a haven for the birds all around, even so a lay person of conviction is a haven for many people: monks, nuns, male lay followers, & female lay followers."
A massive tree
whose branches carry fruits & leaves,
with trunks & roots
& an abundance of fruits:
There the birds find rest.
In that delightful sphere
they make their home.
Those seeking shade
come to the shade,
those seeking fruit
find fruit to eat.
So with the person consummate
in virtue & conviction,
humble, sensitive, gentle,
delightful, & mild:
To him come those without effluent —
free from passion,
free from aversion,
free from delusion —
the field of merit for the world.
They teach him the Dhamma
that dispels all stress.
And when he understands,
he is freed from effluents,
totally unbound.