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6 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

continued to add to it transcripts mobile-first design, we renamed clips of a wide variety of Buddhist
and audio and video recordings of the website studybuddhism.com teachers, both Tibetan and Western
my further lectures. so that newcomers and Google from all four Tibetan traditions,
would identify more easily what it answering the most frequently
By 2015, the website had grown to is. We launched the upgrade of our asked questions posed on Google.
over 1200 written English items, website in May 2016. Automatically For the sustainable future of
with many of them translated adjusting in size to show properly Buddhism, it is vital that teachers
into 20 other European and Asian on all digital devices, from the join efforts in projects such as our
languages, including six from the most expensive smartphone online interviews, to foster a non-
Islamic world. It was reaching to the cheapest mobile, people sectarian face of Buddhism and
over 5000 users each day. But everywhere can now access the site attract a wide audience.
modern educational trends had any time, any place. This is very
been changing rapidly over those important because more than half In addition, we have prepared our
previous ten years and it was time of Internet usage is now through first online course of four three-
for an upgrade. mobile phones, and this percentage minute videos, “An Introduction
is increasing ever faster. to Buddhism,” as a pilot project
Heeding His Holiness the Dalai for developing a modern online
Lama’s call for 21st-century Making a modern website educational program. As a further
Buddhism with an emphasis on accessible on all devices, however, pilot project, we have also produced
study, we accepted the challenge. is not enough. People need to find our first animated video, “How to
Although His Holiness advises the website. This is not easy. There Gain Peace of Mind.”
studying the works of the seventeen are over a billion websites on the
Nalanda masters, these texts are Internet, with over 150,000 being Study buddhism is still in its
beyond the scope of beginners. added each day, all competing developmental stage. We are
Newcomers to Buddhism need for people’s time and attention. still in the process of migrating
more basic teachings to gain Therefore, to improve Google all the language sections from
access to the Dharma contained in ranking so potential users can the old to the new format. Once
those advanced texts. They need find us, we have employed the this is completed, we plan to add
to be guided step-by-step and, in latest search engine optimization discussion forums for debate and
keeping with the developments techniques, including making some other interactive features. We also
of the Digital Age, this guidance of our written material media rich plan to develop a full program of
needs to be provided first through with photos, illustrations and audio online video education courses,
the Internet, especially for young and video clips. in the format of three-minute
people, and then, when these clips, which will include further
students are prepared, through Even if users can find your website, animation material. Gradually
personal study with qualified if the aim of the website is to we will make all these resources
teachers. Our task at Berzin educate users, it is necessary to available in the current 21
Archives was to provide that access engage your users and encourage languages of our website, and all
to the Nalanda tradition for the them to come back. To meet this will remain free of charge.
newcomers of the 21st century, in need, we have expanded our social
keeping with Buddha’s emphasis on media presence on Facebook, Our hope is that our efforts will
using skillful means. prepared new YouTube and Sound inspire others to follow our
Cloud channels, and launched a example and develop it further.
With an easier to navigate interface, monthly newsletter for our growing Many Buddhist teachers already
a more user-friendly information number of core users. We have have an online presence and so
architecture and a more modern, also started a series of short video they have the vehicles for making