Guidelines for Contributors

Although the Ozarks Dharma Community recognizes the importance of the Theravada tradition and the Pali canon for guiding and inspiring our practice, members of our community value teachers from many Buddhist traditions. These Practice Pages provide a place for us to acknowledge that diversity, learn from one another, and offer practical support to each other.

Here are some guidelines for those of us who would like to contribute to these pages.

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1. Daily Practices
2. Recommended Resources
3. Book Reviews
4. Topics of Interest
5. Retreat Sites and Practices

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1. Daily Practices

We have a lot to learn from one another. Below are some possible questions for our reflection and mutual sharing. You don't have to answer all or even any of these questions.

• Why and when did you begin your meditation and/or Buddhist practice?
• What elements are most important in your practice (e.g., meditation, yoga, chanting, charitable giving, etc.)?
• Do you have any routines?
• How has the practice impacted your life? (Give practical examples if appropriate.)
• What are the most common challenges in sustaining your practice?
• Have there been any experiences, teachers, or specific books that have been especially influential in your practice?
• If you take refuge in the Triple Gem, what does that mean to you?
• Do you have a favorite teaching or story of the Buddha?
• What do you think is the central teaching of Buddhism?

Send your reflections to . 

Include your name and a title of your post. If we edit what you've written, we'll make sure you have the opportunity to re-read it for your approval before it is posted. Thank you!

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2. Recommended Resources

There are so many resources available to us that it can sometimes be overwhelming. Recommending resources to one another can help us invest our time wisely and improve our practice.

If you would like to recommend a resource, please include the following information:

1. The title and author(s) of the resource
2. The format of the resource (article, book, podcast, mp3 download, etc.)
3. Where to find the resource (an internet link is sufficient)
4. A brief description of the content
5. A summary of why you are recommending it

Send your recommendations to . 

Include your name and a title of your post. If we edit what you've written, we'll make sure you have the opportunity to re-read it for your approval before it is posted. Thank you!

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3. Book Reviews

Here are some guiding ideas if you'd like to contribute a book review to our website. Book reviews do not have to be Dhamma books or even specifically Buddhist, but they should have a clear relevance to our spiritual practice of generosity, virtue and/or meditation.

1. Make sure you give the details of the book. Include: author, title, place of publication, publisher, date, and number of pages. For example: 

Rick Hanson & Richard Mendius. Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom. Oakland, CA : New Harbinger Publications, 2009. 272 pp.

2. Describe the book. Briefly share why you believe the book to be relevant to our community. Why was it important to you? Tell us anything of interest about the background of the book or author(s) that we should know. Give a brief overview of the book's purpose and main ideas.

3. Evaluate the book. Explain how reading the book affected you and if the author(s) achieved their goals. Let us know what made the book easy (or difficult) to understand. Include both what the book does well (and why) and what the book could do more effectively. 

4. Summarize the significance of the book. Can you recommend it? Why or why not?

Send your reviews to .

Include your name and a title to your review. If we edit the review, we'll make sure you have the opportunity to re-read it for your approval before it is posted. Thank you!

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4. Topical

From time to time we'll invite contributions on a specific topic. This may be for thoughts on a certain type of practice, responses to a specific teaching or sutta, or even reflections on a current event or issue.

Watch for an announcement or recommend a topic by emailing us at .

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5. Retreat Sites and Practices

Personal meditation retreats are often important parts of our path of practice. We'll be sharing member reflections about different retreat sites, retreat experiences, and retreat practices here. If you'd like to contribute your reflections, please make sure you include at least one of the following:

the name and contact information of the retreat site (e.g., telephone number or website)

a brief description of your retreat

recommended retreat practices

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Thank you!