2008 Blogisattva Award Winners Announced

Today's the day that the world has been waiting for, when the winners are announced -- for the Blogisattva Awards! [drumroll, please] "And the winners are ... why, Buddhism blog readers, worldwide.

While our very expert blogger jurors have labored mightily and cogitated deeply and voted faithfully to determine "winners" in the midst of plenty, there is no claim that we have found absolute bests nor that there is such a thing as "absolute bests." But it is worthy -- and fun, just fun -- to seek excellence, honor it and encourage it. It is also beneficial, and the prime directive of these awards, to get out The Good News. No, not that Jesus died for your sins, but that there are excellent Buddhism blogs out there that people like you may read for pleasure and information.

I am very sorry that this announcement is bare bones; there are storms literal and metaphorical here in Sacramento as I type this. Comprehensive information about the winners, nominees, process and significance of the Blogisattas will be forthcoming tomorrow or shortly thereafter. In the meantime, we bow to the winners, all the nominees, the excellence of Buddhism blogging and the work that buddhobloggers do to bring us information and joy.

The 2008 winners, for achievement in calendar year 2007, are:

Blog of the year, Svaha!: One foot in front of the other; Michael

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Best Post of the Year: "Addressing Comments From the Meditation Thread"; Tricycle Blogs - Jeff Wilson; Jeff Wilson

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Best Achievement in Skilled Writing (The Wordsmithing Award): Ed of Bad Buddha.

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Best New Blog, 2007: Progressive Buddhism, a group blog with contributions by Ordinary Extraordinary [Justin Farquar], WH [William Harrison], Nacho Cordova, Buddhist_philosopher [Justin Whitaker], odin [Paul Jahshan], Tom [Tom Armstrong], and Joe in 2007.

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Best Achievement Blogging on Buddhist Practice or Dharma [blog; blogger(s)]: 108 Days; Lekshe

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Best Buddhist Practice or Dharma Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Briefest ruminations on the death of a child"; Monkey Mind; John Ishmael Ford

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Best Achievement Blogging in the First Person [as a diarist; writing of events in one's life; offering thoughts; or by venturing out into the world, gonzo style] [blog, blogger]: One foot in front of another; Michael

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Best "Life" Blog Post [Best Achievement Blogging in the First Person (as a diarist; writing of events in one's life; or offering personal thoughts)] ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Breaking Point"; One foot in front of the other; Michael

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Best Achievement Blogging on Matters Philosophical or Psychological [blog, blogger]: American Buddhist [the combination of American Buddhist Perspective (1/1-9/23/07) & American Buddhist in England (9/23-12/31/07)]; Justin Whitaker

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Best Philosophy or Psychology Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Zen Teachings and Idolatry"; Flapping Mouths; TedinAnacortes

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Best Achievement Blogging on Matters Scientific [blog; blogger]: Sentient Developments; George Dvorsky

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Best Science Blog Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Perils of a Digital Life"; Sentient Developments; George Dvorsky

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Best Achievement in Kind and Compassionate Blogging [blog, blogger]: One Foot in Front of the Other; Michael

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Best Kind and Compassionate Blog Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Awakening"; Budding Buddhist; EdaMommy

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Best Achievement Blogging Opinion Pieces or about Political Issues [blog, blogger]: Zen Traveler: Eric Stewart

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Best Opinion or Political Blog Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Politics: toward a Buddhist immigration policy"; American Buddhist in England; Justin Whitaker

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Best Engage-the-World Blog Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Meat eaters are bad people"; Sentient Developments; George Dvorsky

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Best Achievement in Clean, Straightforward, Unaffected Design [blog, blogger]: Hoarded Ordinaries; Lorianne DiSabato

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Best Achievement in Wonderful, Remarkable, Elegant Design [blog; blogger]: Tannishblog; Tannish

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Best Achievement in Creation or Use of Graphics in a Blog [awarded for use within posts for overall effect] [blog, blogger]: Hoarded Ordinaries; Lorianne DiSabato

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Best Single Photograph, taken by blogger or an associate, used in a post [Photo link; description; "post"; blog; blogger]: Photo link; "A Western pilgrim sitting among the small stupas and votives at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara."; "India Post #23"; Danny Fisher; Danny Fisher

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Best Achievement with Use of Quotations in a Blog [blog; blogger]: lotusinthemud; sujatin

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Best Achievement in Wide Range of Topic Interests Blogging [blog, blogger]: Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman

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Best Niche Blog, Unusual-Function Blog, Blog Service, or a Serial within a Blog[blog, blogger(s)]: Buddhist Military Sangha; Lt. Jeanette Shin et al

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Best Multi-Part Blog Post [post series; blog; blogger]: Dharma from the sky "I: legends and history", "II: Indian or Chinese dharma?"; earlyTibet.com; Sam Van Schaik

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Best Achievement with Humor in a Blog Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Vegetarian Christmas"; This Is This; Cliff Jones

2008 Blogisattva Awards Nominees Announced

Written by Tom Armstrong, awards administrator

The Blogisattva Organization is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2008 Blogisattva Awards honoring English-language Buddhism blogging during calendar year 2007. This is the third annual iteration of the awards which are given wholly for merit, and not as a measure of blogs’ popularity.

This year, ten accomplished buddhobloggers participated in the gathering of candidates and the voting that determined this year’s nominations and/or will participate in the voting that determines the winners, to be announced on February 24.

There are 26 categories of awards with an aggregate 132 nominations, making for a bounty of worthy honorees.

The prime purpose of the awards is to introduce Buddhists -- and others with a nascent interest in Buddhism -- to some of the great many excellent, varied Buddhism blogs that are out there, as close as a click away.

The 2008 nominees are:

	Justin Whitaker's American Buddhist in England, with his American Buddhist Perspective, is nominated for Blog of the Year, Best Philosopy or Psychology Blog and four post awards. Also, Justin is a contributor to Progressive Buddhism which is up for two nominations.
	Danny Fisher's Danny Fisher is a nominee for Blog of the Year, Best Kind and Compassionate Blog, Best Single Photo and three blog post awards. Danny, himself, is up for The Wordsmithing Award.
	Konchog Norbu's Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa is nominated for Blog of the Year, Svaha! It is also up for Best Kind and Compassionate Blog, three post awards and Best Photo.
	William Harryman's Integral Options Cafe is up for ten awards this year, including Blog of the Year, Svaha! Bill's blog was a big winner last year.
	One foot in front of the other, blogged by Michael, is a nominee for Blog of the Year, and in eight other categories. Michael is also nominated for The Wordsmithing Prize.

Blog of the year, Svaha!; 5 nominees; [blog; blogger]:

• American Buddhist [the combination of American Buddhist Perspective (1/1-9/23/07) & American Buddhist in England (9/23-12/31/07)]; Justin Whitaker
• Danny Fisher; Danny Fisher
• Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa; Konchog Norbu
• Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
• One foot in front of the other; Michael

Best Post of the Year; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:

• "A Case of Spirit Possession in Tibet"; Kathmandu for You; michael smith
• "Addressing Comments From the Meditation Thread"; Tricycle Blogs - Jeff Wilson; Jeff Wilson
• "Briefest ruminations on the death of a child"; Monkey Mind; James Ishmael Ford
• "The physical of spiritual"; Bad Buddha; Ed
• "Secrets"; One foot in front of the other; Michael

Best Achievement in Skilled Writing (The Wordsmithing Award); 5 nominees; [blogger, blog(s)]:

• George Dvorsky; Sentient Developments
  
• Ed; Bad Buddha
  
• Danny Fisher; Danny Fisher
  
• James Ishmael Ford; Monkey Mind
  
• Michael; One foot in front of the other

Best New Blog, 2007; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger(s)]:

• A Hoodie Monk; Zen Priest Gomyo
  
• Forest Wisdom; Gary
  
• Progressive Buddhism; Group Blog
• Zen Punk Diary; Dharmashanti
• Zen Traveler; Eric

Best Achievement Blogging on Buddhist Practice or Dharma; 5 nominees; [blog; blogger(s)]:

• 108 Days; an anonymous group blog
• Hardcore Zen; Brad Warner
• Monkey Mind; James Ishmael Ford
• Moonpointer; shian
• Mystery of Existence; Per
  

Best Buddhist Practice or Dharma Post; 10 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:

• "Addressing Comments From the Meditation Thread"; Tricycle Blogs - Jeff Wilson; Jeff Wilson
• "Blessing and curse"; One foot in front of the other; Michael
• "Briefest ruminations on the death of a child"; Monkey Mind; James Ishmael Ford
• "Buddha and Myth"; Hokai's Blogue; Hokai D Sobol
• "I Dunno--What Do You Think?"; Danny Fisher; Danny Fisher
• "Is Buddhism Too Conservative?"; Bhikkhu's Blog; Ajahn Punnadhammo
• "On Zen Koans"; Monkey Mind; James Ishmael Ford
• "Of Pizza Hut and Enlightenment"; Tricycle Editors' Blog; Andrew Merz
• "The Dharma of Wile E Coyote"; Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
• "The Importance of Rebirth"; Bhikkhu's Blog; Ajahn Punnadhammo
  

Best Achievement Blogging in the First Person [as a diarist; writing of events in one's life; offering thoughts; or by venturing out into the world, gonzo style]; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger]:

• Hardcore Zen; Brad Warner
• Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
• Kathmandu for You; michael smith
• Moving Mountains; Mugo
• One foot in front of another; Michael
  

Best "Life" Blog Post [Best Achievement Blogging in the First Person (as a diarist; writing of events in one's life; or offering personal thoughts)]; 10 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:

• "A Father's Death"; Deep Surface; Sean
• "An Epiphany: My Spiritual Awakening and Path Toward Forgiveness"; The Buddhist Blog; James Ure
• "Breaking Point"; One foot in front of the other; Michael
• "Life's Experiences"; Zen Traveler; Eric
• "Loose Ends"; One foot in front of the other; Michael
• "Matter"; Via Negativa; Dave Bonta
• "My Father's Death -- Internal Family Systems in Action"; Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
• "The Mother That Gives Birth to All Things"; Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa; Konchog Norbu
• "Quest for Fire"; Truth is Within; yuttadhammo
• "Visiting Maia's birth family"; Bodhi Tree Swaying; Bodhipaksa

Best Achievement Blogging on Matters Philosophical or Psychological; 3 nominees; [blog, blogger]:

• American Buddhist [the combination of American Buddhist Perspective (1/1-9/23/07) & American Buddhist in England (9/23-12/31/07)]; Justin Whitaker
• Deep Surface; Sean
• Mystery of Existence; Per

Best Philosophy or Psychology Post; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:

• "buddha and the ecological footprint"; Mystery of Existence; Per
  
• "ground awakening - state or not?"; Mystery of Existence; Per
• "I'm an Atheist, Sort of"; Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
• "Why Buddhist Ethics? - and how"; American Buddhist in England; Justin Whitaker
  
• "Zen Teachings and Idolatry"; Flapping Mouths; TedinAnacortes

Best Achievement Blogging on Matters Scientific; 3 nominees; [blog; blogger]:

• earlyTibet.com; Sam Van Schaik
• Inverterate Bystander; John
• Sentient Developments; George Dvorsky
  

Best Science Blog Post; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:

• "Christianity in early Tibet"; earlyTibet.com; Sam Van Schaik
• "Consciousness & The Scientific Model"; Inveterate Bystander; John
• "How will our Universe die?"; Sentient Developments; George Dvorsky
• "Neuroscience and Buddhism"; Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
• "Perils of a Digital Life"; Sentient Developments; George Dvorsky

Best Achievement in Kind and Compassionate Blogging; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger]:

• Danny Fisher; Danny Fisher
  
• Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa; Konchog Norbu
  
• Monkey Mind; James Ishmael Ford
  
• One Foot in Front of the Other; Michael
  
• The Buddhist Blog; James Ure

Best Kind and Compassionate Blog Post; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:

• "Awakening"; Budding Buddhist; EdaMommy
• "Briefest ruminations on the death of a child"; Monkey Mind; James Ishmael Ford
• "Doggone Tough"; Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa; Konchog Norbu
• "Face to face"; One foot in front of the other; Michael
• "Interconnection & Our Suffering"; WoodMoor Village; Nacho
  

Best Achievement Blogging Opinion Pieces or about Political Issues; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger(s)]:

• Bodhi Tree Swaying; Bodhipaksa
• Genius of Insanity; James Ure
• Progressive Buddhism: A group blog - Justin Farquar, Justin Whitaker et al
• The Mahablog; Barbara O'Brien
• Zen Traveler: Eric Stewart
  

Best Opinion or Political Blog Post; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:

• "Five Miles, Uphill Each Way"; Zen Traveler; Eric
• "Romney offends my religious position"; Mumon's Diary at Daily Kos; Mumon
• "Politics: toward a Buddhist immigration policy"; American Buddhist in England; Justin Whitaker
• "The Virginia Tech Shootings and Iraq"; Genius of Insanity; James Ure
• "War is Madness"; Bhikkhu's Blog; Ajahn Punnadhammo

Best Engage-the-World Blog Post; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:

• "Buddhism: a recipe for social action"; American Buddhist Perspective; Justin Whitaker
• "Facing Facts"; Bhikkhu's Blog; Ajahn Punnadhammo
• "Meat eaters are bad people"; Sentient Developments; George Dvorsky
• "On Buddhist Environmental Activism"; Danny Fisher; Danny Fisher
• "We Cannot Forget about Myanmar"; Danny Fisher; Danny Fisher

Best Achievement in Clean, Straightforward, Unaffected Design; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger]:

• Bodhi Tree Swaying; Bodhipaksa
  
• Hardcore Zen; Brad Warner
• Hoarded Ordinaries; Lorianne DiSabato
  
• jack/zen; Jack Ricchiuto
• The Level 8th Buddha; Gerald Ford
  

Best Achievement in Wonderful, Remarkable, Elegant Design; 5 nominees; [blog; blogger]:

• Moonpointer; shian
  
• Tannishblog; Tannish
  
• The Urban Monk; Barry Graham
  
• WoodMoor Village; Nacho
  
• Zen Under the Skin; chalip
  

Best Achievement in Creation or Use of Graphics in a Blog [awarded for use within posts for overall effect] ; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger(s)]:

• Dharma-Burgers "2" and "2a"; Rod Meade Sperry [Dharma-Burgers was moved rather recently, its blogging programming taken out from under it. But the posts can still be seen at the links given as part of theworsthorse.net ezine where the Dharma-Burgers resides.]
• Hoarded Ordinaries; Lorianne DiSabato
  
• Kathmandu for You; michael smith
• One foot in front of the other; Michael
• That Was Zen, This is Tao; An Xiao
  

Best Single Photograph, taken by blogger or an associate, used in a post; 5 nominees; [Photo link; description; "post"; blog; blogger]:

• Photo link; "A Western pilgrim sitting among the small stupas and votives at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara."; "India Post #23"; Danny Fisher; Danny Fisher
• Photo link; "One of the things you learn from meditating is how your own mind is like a meadow."; "Foggy meadow";Hoarded Ordinaries; Lorianne DiSabato
  
• Photo link; "...the proceedings marking the first anniversary of the consecration of Khamariin Khiid’s sacred Shambhala site..."; "Special Delivery"; Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa; Konchog Norbu
• Photo link; "Tompkins Square / East Village / Manhattan"; "Untitled [Jan 15, 07]"; One foot in front of the other; Michael
• Photo link; "Peg attains perfect stillness and silence..." From the post "The teaching of emptiness by Zen master Peg"; Ordinary Mind Zen - Austin; Peg Syversen

Best Achievement with Use of Quotations in a Blog; 3 nominees; [blog; blogger]:

• Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
• lotusinthemud; sujatin
• The Buddhist Blog; James Ure
  

Best Achievement in Wide Range of Topic Interests Blogging; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger]:

• Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
  
• peaceful turmoil; tinythinker
  
• Precious Metal; Nate DeMontigny
• The Buddha Diaries; Peter Clothier
• Tricycle Editors' Blog; Philip Ryan et al

Best Niche Blog, Unusual-Function Blog, Blog Service, or a Serial within a Blog; 3 nominees; [blog, blogger(s)]:

• Buddhist Military Sangha; Lt. Jeanette Shin et al
• Dharma-Burgers [2 & 2a]; Rod Meade Sperry; [Dharma-Burgers was moved rather recently, its blogging programming taken out from under it. But the posts can still be seen at the links given [2 & 2a] as part of theworsthorse.net ezine where Dharma-Burgers resides.]
• Gratitude; Serial within a blog; Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
  

Best Multi-Part Blog Post ; 5 nominees; [post series; blog; blogger]:

• "Collage: Blurring the Line Between Memory and Nightmare" I, II, III, IV, V; Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
• Dharma from the sky "I: legends and history", "II: Indian or Chinese dharma?"; earlyTibet.com; Sam Van Schaik
• "Drop karma", "Drop karma (2)" & "Karma of excellence" Hokai's Blogue; Hokai D Sobol"
• God" part 1: living with myths; part 2: the meaning of things; part 3: tentative resolutions; American Buddhist in England; Justin Whitaker
• "Pondering the meaning of liberation from suffering" part 1, part2 & part 3; peaceful turmoil; tinythinker

Best Achievement with Humor in a Blog Post ; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:

• "Austin winter deepens"; Zen Odyssey; Peg Syverson
• "Dogs' Bodies"; Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa; Konchog Norbu
• "Happier = Smarter"; Tricycle Editors' Blog; Philip Ryan
• "The teaching of emptiness by Zen master Peg"; Ordinary Mind Zen - Austin; Peg Syverson
• "Vegetarian Christmas"; This Is This; Cliff Jones

The UU Blog Awards

The fourth annual UU Blog Awards, honoring Unitarian Universalist blogging in 2007, is past its nomination stage and is now in an open voting stage that determines winners in fifteen categories.

I learned about this from a post today in the UU blog Philocrites written by Chris Walton, who blogs using the pseudonym Philocrites. His post tells his readers of the voting, but it is also, unmistakably, a not-terribly-subtle suggestion that these readers link over to the awards site and cast votes for his blog. Anyone can vote. The nominee that gets the most votes in each of the UU Awards's 15 categories is a declared winner. Polls close a minute before midnight, Central Time, on February 15.

The UU Blog Awards are admirable. I wish I had the tech moxie and means to pull together some of the things I see at the UU Blog Awards site for this Blogisattva Awards site.

Still, I am very glad the Blogisattvas have taken the road less travelled, making a determined attempt to honor blogs for merit only -- and decidedly not by a means of open voting that becomes significantly, if not almost wholly, a measure of popularity rather than excellence.

The Blogisattva Awards are determined by a small pool of voters -- excellent buddhobloggers, all -- committed to objectivity and a task of seeking excellence. There's no campaigning.

Campaigning is now brisk for the UU Blog Awards. Ms. Kitty of Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show writes in a post today, "Please consider voting for Ms. Kitty in a few categories! Thanks." The anonymous minister of the blog Peacebang wrote today, "go vote for me as Best Something this year. I put a lot of heart and soul into my blogs and I ain’t gonna lie to ya: it would be nice to be honored with your vote." She then lists her seven nominations. In a post titled "Vote for ... ME!", Minister Debra W. Haffner, in her blog Sexuality and Religion, tells us, "I feel a little silly asking, but if you like what you read here, I hope you'll take a minute to go [to the webpage where votes are cast] and vote!"