As of now, the
Mission is still small. However, it
is definitely not lacking in people with devotion, enthusiasm, and a desire to
spread it in any way possible. We
all want to see the Message reach every person in the world, and Call them to
our cause. The faster we find the
Elects and show them the Truth, the faster we can create the Communities of
Light and begin to bring the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
This is our vision.
However, we do not
currently have the resources for large campaigns, advertisements, missionary
work, etc. So how do we, the few but
willing, spread this Mission in the way that it should be spread?
One possible answer may be: Online social networking.
Social networking
(websites such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc.) has become one of the most
popular and most influential parts of the Internet world.
It is not only for people; companies, governments, politicians, etc. use
it extensively to market and/or promote themselves and their ideas.
Why is it so powerful? It
seems to be for two main reasons.
First, anything that is put on one of these websites has the potential to reach
millions of people all over the world. Second,
using these sites effectively takes very little work, and, more importantly,
it’s free :).
The Mission has
already been using these sites. We
have a presence on Facebook (here
and here), on
Myspace, and on Ning (Alliance
for a New Humanity and
Beyond Mind).
On each of these sites, many of us have also made personal pages and
posted the website, The Greatest Sign, etc.
There are probably other sites where the Mission is listed as well.
Some of these listings were created years ago, and have not been updated
for a very long time. Yet, they
still show the base of the Teachings, and provide a link to the website for
anyone who comes across them.
That is the beauty
of the Internet: Nothing goes away.
It is not like putting up fliers, or giving a lecture.
Fliers will rot, or fall off, or be taken or ripped up.
A lecture will only reach those who attend it.
However, almost everything you post or create on the Internet, especially
on large, well-known websites (such as popular social networking sites), will
stay, exactly as you made them, for years or even decades (or longer).
Not only that, but you would be amazed how many people end up seeing what
you have done. Without looking for
them, I have found posts in forums from 2000, 2003, etc., telling people that
Maitreya is here and linking to the website.
I guarantee other people have also been finding them, year after year,
one by one by one.
Therefore, there
is a great opportunity to reach a huge number of people in a very simple way.
If one of us finds a social networking site, sign up and create a page
for the Mission. It doesn’t have to
be complicated: The Greatest Sign, the website, a small description, whatever
else you feel inspired to add. Once
you get the hang of it, a page like this takes less than 15 minutes to create.
Then, let the rest of us know about it, so we can all join, create pages,
and link to the Mission page.
Suddenly, there are 10 new spots where someone can be directed to the Mission.
Repeat this a few times, and before we know it the Mission will be
everywhere.
We can also
continue to expand on the bigger websites, such as Facebook and Myspace.
These websites are constantly coming out with new widgets, experiments,
etc. When Facebook started, you
could only make personal profiles. Then
it added groups. Now it has fanpages
(where people can support artists), causes (where people can support and donate
to cures, charities, etc.), addons, etc.
So, why not a Mission page (we
have one!),
and a Mission cause, and a Mission addon?
If we quietly add a small Mission element to each of these, once again we
may soon find that the Mission is spreading like wildfire.
I am not saying
that this is all that we can do on social networks.
Indeed, what has been happening on Alliance for a New Humanity (all the
posting, inviting of people, etc.) is a great example of how much more can be
done! I am also not saying that
fliers, lectures, etc. are not wonderful ways to spread the Teachings.
However, with the few resources and people we have, it is important to
think about how we can reach the most people with the least amount of time and
effort. This approach to the Internet and
social networking may be one of our best options.
If we put a little bit of the Mission in every nook and cranny, perhaps
the rest will fill itself in.
All thanks to God
for the tools He gives us to do His Will.
Noor
