We live in an age of exploding information technology. Exponential advances in science and technology have brought wonderful conveniences into our daily life. Our world has become a global village on a small screen. Yet with all this progress most people are still sad, anxious, and poor. This is the biggest dilemma of our times.
The precision of the physical sciences and the usefulness of technology have increased enormously. Tasks that took days or months to complete can now be done at the click of a button. Internet that was once used only by large business and research organizations has become a tool for everyday shopping. Cell phones have redefined the way we stay connected and the tradition of writing letters has faded into history. Progress has reached the level where a doctor can treat a patient in any corner of the world with his high-tech gadgets – all from his own office.
In September of 2004, NASA honoured a few talented Indian scientists who proposed a multifaceted plan to establish a 16,500-population-town on the moon. This plan anticipated all possible conveniences for the people who would live there. It was surprising that this plan did not mention one very critical aspect of humans: their mental and emotional condition in 20 or 50 years. The objective here is not to criticize the new inventions in space or the conveniences that science is giving us. The question is whether we are also making commensurate progress at the spiritual, mental and emotional levels as well. Whether or not we are developing ourselves to be able to use these gifts of science wisely is a serious issue.
The powerful attraction of technology is such that most of the world is already in its grip. The results of this are easily seen, both the good and the bad. But even in this time, spirituality remains a hazy mystery. Because of its credibility it has not been rejected, but it has not been consciously accepted as much as technology because it does not offer immediately tangible results. Sheldon B. Kopp, Ph.D., a modern-day psychotherapist and popular author, wrote about this issue in his book titled “If You Meet Buddha On the Road, Kill Him”. He mentions that our generation has progressed greatly in the technological fields but has regressed in the mental and emotional ones. In these fields, he maintains that we are regressing to the level of aboriginal or uncivilized people. We have progressed on the outside, but inside we are reverting to barbarism. In this age of modernization, such a mindset will prove to be even more dangerous than it was in ancient times.
In these technological times, our velocity has taken us to the astounding achievements of the global village. This velocity is constantly increasing, but our mental position is the same. We still go to wars in the name of religion, nation, and society, but these are only expressions of the barbaric tendencies which have taken deep roots in our minds. We argue and fight so habitually that any civilized person would balk at calling us humans.
We have surpassed all the earlier standards of physical progress, and yet our overall situation is apathetical. We have aged, but we are only spoilt children in the bodies of adults. If we could see an image of ourselves we would be ashamed of our own doings. According to Sheldon Kopp, for true well-roundedness we must pay close attention to our inner progress along with our outer behaviour.
Today’s situation is quite frightening for our scholars and researchers. They have come to believe that technology, which originated from materialism, is responsible for the downfall of human values. We have forgotten the necessity of these values, and our present challenge is to change this mindset. To save ourselves and make our lives purposeful, we must understand that tangible and immediate gains are not everything.
We must begin to consciously cultivate the virtues like justice, generosity, and restraint in our lives. Faith in one another and in our human values will increase mutual love and respect. By thinking about this, one can help not only himself but others. Righteous thinking and compassion are the only solutions to the problems of today and the future. We can achieve complete progress through them, and they will be the true standards of conduct and behaviour for peace and harmony in our emerging global village.
Akhand Jyoti Magazine 2008 Mar-Apr
