How the Digital Revolution is Shaping the Practice of Buddhism Today

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Buddhism, one of the world’s oldest spiritual traditions, emphasizes mindfulness, compassion, and the pursuit of enlightenment. As technology rapidly transforms human societies, it is essential to explore how these advancements intersect with Buddhist principles. This article delves into the relationship between Buddhism and technology, examining both the benefits and challenges that arise from their convergence. Historical Context Historically, Buddhism has shown a remarkable ability to adapt to various cultural and technological changes. From the oral transmission of teachings to the written scriptures on palm leaves and, later, printed books, Buddhism has continuously embraced new methods to disseminate its wisdom. Today, the digital age presents a new frontier for the spread and practice of Buddhism. Technology Enhancing Buddhist Practice Digital Dharma The internet has become a powerful tool for spreading Buddhist teachings globally. Websites, blogs, online courses, and social med

Buddhist view of death

 


Contemplating death, which we naturally inherit with birth, reduces the problems we create for ourselves in worldly life. Acting without dying is the root of many problems. Just as one's own death is frightening to everyone, even remembering the death of loved ones is deeply saddening.


In the Patama Ayu Sutra, the Lord Buddha preached, monks, "People's lifespan is very short..even if one lives for a long time, he will live for a hundred years or more." It is a common experience for everyone today that time passes by at a high speed due to the busy lifestyle. A year or two or five or ten years pass by without realising it. A hundred years would not be a very long time. The Buddha preached that "man's life span is very short" to clarify this situation.


Buddhism teaches four ways in which a person can die. The first of these is life. (Ayukkha) It can be defined as “natural death”. The second is the exhaustion of karmic energy. (Kammakkhaya) The third is the end of both life and karmic strength. (Ubhayakkhaya) The fourth is death due to accidents, natural calamities, diseases, etc., while both life and karmic energy remain. Thus it is clear that karma is not the only cause of death.


On the one hand, it is correct to say that to say that an animal is alive is to run towards death. Remembrance of death according to the following eight forms can also be done during the growth of mortality. 


This means remembering death as if approaching like a tormentor. Just like a torturer who draws a sword to behead at the king's command, does not hesitate to behead when the time comes, the death that came with him from the moment of birth, the torturer remembers that he will surely kill himself when the opportunity comes.


This teaches us to remember that every wealth in the world ends in disaster. The most valuable resource is life. That wealth of life also ends in disaster or death. 


This means that they will die like others who have passed away. If this is common to Buddha, Pasebudhu, Maharahat, what will be said about us?


The body is fairly reflective of many things. A home for all diseases. The body is fair for animals such as tigers, lions, elephants, etc. They drown in the sea, wells, ponds, etc. They die by falling from high places such as mountains and rocks. He can be like that too. To think of having a body that can be vulnerable to various calamities at any time is to think of death in a multi-body way.


This teaches us to consider the frailty of life and remember death. Living is due to breathing. If this process malfunctions, death can occur immediately. Who can say at what moment the life of such a feeble existence will end?


There are no omens to say that death lives so long. There are four things without omens. 


1. The length of time the survivor has lived 

2. The dying disease 

3. Time of death 

4. The place where the body is buried after death


No one can say that these are premonitions.


The idea here is to remember life in periods, taking the ultimate life as 100 years or a little more or less. A hundred years later, however, today people who belong to much older ages die. Apart from this, life is short. Death does not happen according to the order of elders.


Remembering that life is moment by moment. Living is changing from thought to thought. If you didn't live in the past, there is no living now. When a car rolls over and when it is parked, it hits the ground in the same place. Also, the existence of the animal exists only during the state of thought. To break it is death. Thus, remembering death in all these ways is very beneficial for the life of this world as well as the life of the hereafter.



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