I recently took time off from blogging in order to concentrate on two projects: publishing student writing and creating a portal for Unflattening. While taking the time off, I also evaluated the focus of my blog.

For the past few years, I have used the Brahma Viharas as the underlying theme for postings: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. As my academic work and interests have changed over the years, the emphasis on these four themes as they relate to teaching had become too confining to address many of the areas in which I have been working. Furthermore, given the parameters I had placed on my writing, it was impossible for me to address issues that both interested me and to which I believe I could engage in meaningful dialogue.

Attending the 2015 HASTAC Conference confirmed my decision to revise the parameters of Etena Sacca-vajjena. I went to a number of sessions and participated in some great conversations about which I wanted to write but couldn’t under the parameters I had set for the blog.

I will continue to write about the four themes which have been my focus; especially the relationship of compassion in educational environments. But I will expand the themes about which I will write.

I am keeping Etena Sacca-vajjena as the name of the blog because it signals that one of the important lenses through which I view the world is rooted in the Buddha Dhamma; particularly in the Theravada tradition. While this is my lens, my intent is neither to promote nor to explain Buddhism. Nor am I interested in trying to convince others to adopt my lens.

In Etena Sacca-vajjena, I will continue to reflect on my behavior and thoughts and actions while providing positive contributions to important discussions taking place in academia.

–Steven L. Berg, PhD

Recent Publication

Although I have not been posting on Etena Sacca-vajjena, my “The Pedagogy of Trolls” was published on Hybrid Pedagogy (26 May 2015).