The Dharma Overground is the public site of the members-only site Dharma Underground. Here's the deal: there were some hardcore practitioners of meditation that wanted a place to be able to have honest conversations, posts and resources about their practice free from the taboos that usually surround talking about actual attainments, goal oriented practice, the states and stages of the path, enlightenment, and all that goes with that. They created the Dharma Underground as a safe haven to do so.

However, as some members rightly pointed out, the point of this revolutionary movement is to promote the notions that practice really can lead to remarkable results and that meditation culture should be conducive to talking about these things in straightforward, honest, open, empowering terms. Some feared that having a members-only site defeated the purpose, while others pointed out that they would only feel comfortable talking about things with complete honesty in a private site. Thus, the Dharma Overground is the bridge, the link to the outside world.

Here the members of the Dharma Underground may share their visions of how things could be and try to promote the kind of dharma they want to see in the world without having to risk full disclosure if they don't want to.

Further, here is where those who believe they might benefit from being members of the Dharma Underground may demonstrate a resonance with its basic principles and attitudes, which in general favor pragmatism over dogmatism, diligent practice over blind faith, openness regarding what the techniques may lead to, a lack of taboos surrounding talking about attainments, and the spirit of mutual, supportive adventurers on the path rather than rigid student-teacher relationships.

One could easily argue that the Dharma Overground is the whole point, and the Dharma Underground is for those who are not ready for it yet.

It is hoped that through the Dharma Overground, perhaps one day there will be no need for a Dharma Underground. Until then, enjoy! Make yourself at home. Discover the possibilties of how straightforward, down-to-Earth, and practical the Dharma can be. May all find something here that is of value.

It should be noted that, while this is in theory an open place, there will be times when moderation helps keep things in the realm of reason, and apologies of that moderation should every seem arbitrary.


Special thanks to Ian Blakely at sinikdesign@yahoo.com for the logo image. Oh, yeah: the ads have nothing to do with us and are just how wetpaint makes its cash.