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One thing that I’ve seen over and over is that when people think of technology, they think of words like “cold”, “impersonal”, and so on. When I talk about technology for living, I mean exactly that: Technology to help you live. Not simply survive, but help you live. But I keep thinking of the Styx song Mr. Roboto:
“The Problem’s Plain to See, Too Much Technology”.
When you look at technological advancement, most of it has been in realms that most would consider silly and/or dangerous. There’s an old saying that most technological breakthroughs come from or go towards two ends: Weapons and toys (with some serious overlap).
This is very true, but is only part of the story. While this has been a great driving force of how we develop technology, it’s isn’t the end. We’ve managed to do some impressive, useful things with technology that was originally intended for war. The internet comes to mind.
“Machines To Save Our Lives…”
A race for better technology serves no purpose in-and-of itself. But, it is important to remember that the driving force is always “How can we do it better?” Is “better” what we really want? Yes and no. Wireless telegraph was just a “better” way of sending a telegraph, which was just a “better” way of sending a long distance text message, and so on. The content doesn’t really change. We are who we are.
The whole point of learning these techniques is to bring about what you want in your life. The topics I write about are as current as I can present them. But in truth, they go way back. As far back as you can think of. Just as text messaging on your phone goes way back, so do the most modern of internal techniques. Just because they’re new, doesn’t mean that they are any more “new-fangled” than their predecessors were.
“Machines Dehumanize”
Now we come at last to the core of the problem. When people think about applying an internal technique, they start to worry. Often they will think that there is something “artificial” about the process, and thus if they use it that they themselves are artificial.
When a doctor uses state-of-the art drugs and surgery to remove a cancer, that person doesn’t feel artificial. Even when someone has some artificial parts in their body, that does not make them less than they were before. The person is the same.
The doctor is a time-honored profession. Despite some claims to the contrary, I believe that the oldest profession in the world is that of the healer. From as long as there have been humans on the world, there has been someone to help others heal. The methods have changed. People have put in lifetimes of study to know how our bodies and minds work.
The fact that now there are advanced tools to assist the doctors and nurses does not change this simple fact. The fact is that behind that mechanical tool lies the same caring heart as always. The same heart that had nothing to work with other than roots and herbs. The heart is not diminished by the fact that they use more advanced tools. Instead, they are only grateful that they have the tools that they do and keep looking for new ones.
The same is true in the realm of inner technology, only more so, because the “tools” are just thoughts, ideas. What’s more, you are the one at work. Nobody can do it for you, but the flip side of that is that you are the one who reigns supreme. Your inner world is what you make of it. As long as you maintain awareness and compassion, you’re not likely to go wrong trying to improve your inner world.
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***The November 2007 Challenge***
This is the badge for my two goals. There are two “points”: One for each piece of the challenge. (Living up to the “Blogging Promise” at right and maintaining a good, consistent meditation practice each and every day.) The challenge began 11-9-2007 and ends 12-9-2007. Comments, suggestions, and feedback welcome!
