Daily Meditation: Friday, September 16, 2011

Technical progress - the dangers: making humans weak and dependent

09/16/2011

So many possibilities are available to humans now, thanks to technical advances! But all these new facilities mean they expect everything to come to them and they have become careless, reckless and superficial. They can neglect their health, because there are always chemists, doctors, surgeons, dentists and so on. They can waste paper, damage machinery, break objects, stain and tear their clothes and throw food away, because there is plenty more in the shops! And so their attention, care and discernment are becoming increasingly blunted. Why develop them when there are so many people and products to put right the stupid things they do? All the researchers and experts are there ready to come to the aid of those who are clumsy, careless and unaware. Actually, it is the manufacturers they are helping to get rich; as for the users, they are more likely making them weak and increasingly dependent. I am not saying technical progress should be halted, no, but while humans benefit from this progress, rather than neglect the inner realm they should cultivate awareness, caution and self-control.