Dhamma Talks - High Tech High Suffering :: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

Technology is developed more and more every year. Sometimes we seem not to catch up, for instance take the computer, some people have no idea how it works or how to work with it. Technology seems to get involved in our life, some things in our daily life are much easier than before and some things are more difficult than before. It is said ‘something good and something bad’; nothing is extremely good or bad. All things depend on us; how we consume the world’s resources or make use of them. It is very important that we talk about consumption. If we don’t know how to consume things, we will cause a lot of problems to ourselves and to others.

The Buddha taught his disciples how to consume things and to use only the necessities, - clothes, food, accommodation and medical care. We should consume only the necessities. As we see, in this very world, we suffer from those things that we consume. It is true that people are affected by what they have consumed. There are many diseases caused by wrong consumption. Technology, as well, has consumed so much that global warming is the result. And because of high technology human beings waste their own ability as they depend on technology. Eventually they become slaves to it. They don’t want to do anything by themselves, they just leave their work to the machine. Then it causes a lot of pollution and damage to nature. On the other hand, if some people cannot have the modern technology, like their friends, they are struggling and trying to get it, even if it is wrong.

It is said that high tech increases suffering. Why is that? That is because of the desire to please our senses. But they will never be completely pleased or satisfied, even if we commit our life to that task. When we have accomplished one desire, another one is waiting. This will be followed by other desires, the list is endless. We have to resist it or be wise enough to use it, otherwise we suffer from technology. Contentedness seems to be the best solution, but it must be balanced by wisdom, and right understanding. When we understand, we can use technology in the right way that does not cause any harm to ourselves and others. With wisdom, we will know how much or little we should use technology, and save the energy resources for the next generation. It is lucky for us to be born in the age of high tech, so we can develop our life along with it. If we become aware of the way we use technology now, our world will last.