Buddhism & Blockchain? Lotos Network Aims To Build Global Meditation Community On Ethereum Blockchain

Religion and cryptocurrency don't really seem to be related at all.

In fact, the religion seems to be one of the last things that people would connect to digital currencies - but still, Blockchain Technology has the ability to disrupt even this sector!

The Lotos Network aims to bring Blockchain and Buddhism together!

RETHINKING RELIGION - The Lotos Network will create world's first buddhist cryptocurrency following the noble path and aims to build a global meditation community.

What is the Lotos Network?

Lotos Network aims to bridge the gap between Buddhism and Bitcoin, by building decentralized spiritual communities on the Ethereum blockchain.
It combines religion with technology to form world's first decentralized spiritual community, and a complete ecosystem for meditation.
With the help of Blockchain Technology, Lotos Network offers solutions to problems in the spiritual community, providing safety and transparency, and teaching people how to meditate in exchange for Karma Tokens.

The Buddha envisioned a new society - a flourishing communal life based on the principles of Buddhism. In this community, all members are equal in training they receive, regardless if they are men or woman, monks or laypeople. This is a far cry from what is normative in most Buddhist traditions today. “The current state of affairs contradicts and distorts what appears to be Buddha’s original intent and flies in the face of the values of equality and human dignity that characterize the modern age”. #### Lotos is a project to explore and realize Buddha’s vision in modern times.

Karma Tokens

There are two concepts that the Lotos Network will make use of in order to pair the purity of religion with a new form of money that isn't corrupt.

• First: a religious social network for Buddhism, where teachers can spread and share their wisdom. Students on the other hand can access these teachings globally and effortlessly.
• Second: The Karma Token - world's first Buddhist digital currency.
  The native currency of the Lotos network is the Karma Token (KRM), and ERC20 token on the Ethereum Blockchain. These tokens will be used by teachers who get rewarded for their work this way, and by students who exchange tokens in order to receive guidance and teachings.

“Everyone has seen a donation box at the front of a temple, church, or other religious institution. Wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly where that money went?”

Buddhist symbol 'knot of eternity' on the left, modernized Karma token icon on the right

Buddhist Economics

Traditionally, money seems to have a bad reputation in buddhism.
But it's not necessarily money or wealth itself - its how we use money and how it influences us.
Buddha only became enlightened when he accepted wealth by rejecting asceticism. Buddha himself was an economist, lawyer and businessman and did not despise money itself. He stated that "avoiding wealth was deplorable, and one should circulate it in a noble way."
The accumulation and usage of Karma tokens are compliant with the Noble Path - the Lotos Network follows the standards of Buddhist Economics and manages to create a new combination between religion and pure money through modern technology.

In Buddhism, wealth can provide contentment, which is a good foundation for spiritual development. Economic activity is a means not only to a good life, but also a noble one.

In Buddhist economics, happiness is achieved between a balance of economics and ethics, by achieving the “Middle-way” between materialism and asceticism. Buddhism acknowledges the role of economic activity in the creation of happiness.

Example screen of the meditation network where users can purchase and schedule classes in exchange for karma tokens

What problems does the Lotos Network aim to solve?

• Transparency of organizations, teachers, donations, and other funds received for religious purposes - therefore eliminating corruption
• Giving students access to a database of teachings, in order to help them progress on their meditation learning experience
• Creating a network / marketplace for teachers and organizations, helping users to distinguish scammy “gurus” from genuine meditation masters
• Giving spiritual teachers the opportunity to get rewarded in a fair way, according to Buddha's noble path
• Enabling anyone to create their own organization on the Lotos Network - their own "temple" built on a smart contract.
• Progression of scientific research of meditation and collection of data

Lotos focuses on community and live interaction. Buddhism is often seen as a solitary path, however, practicing with a healthy community and making wholesome friends is incredibly important for developing Buddhist qualities.

Personal opinion

One of my very first Steemit Posts has been about meditation.
I personally am a big supporter of meditation, it doesn't only relax the mind and helps deal with pressure, anxiety and over-thinking, it also encourages mindfulness, gratitude, kindness, openness and acceptance.
Meditation isn't even something that only happens inside of us - countless studies have already proven how meditation literally affects our bodies and our brains.
That's why I was especially excited when I stumbled upon with buddhist token that aims to help the network of meditation students.

I'm very interested to see where this project will go in the future!

What do you think about the concept of merging buddhism and blockchain, or religion and blockchain in general?

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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