We are living in some of the most challenging times in the past couple of thousand years with the prospect of either causing a great destruction, or bringing on a great spiritual awakening and light. We see at this time, just as we have been many times in the past, the division, or rather say the conflict, between the forces of light and those of regression into the darkness, between those who are firmly holding on the so-called ‘values’ of the pure materialism, and those who live in the Light of the Spirit.
As our humanity is entering into the golden time of spiritual unfolding, in addition to the great uprising in technology and robotics, we must, in order to survive a human race, also ask many important questions, and that is the one of the advancements and at the same time the overuse of technology. We are not only addicted to pleasures but are equally addicted to speed! They seem to go together.
Why is there such a profound lack of depth of thought among most of the leading minds of humanity? Why is there so much of a rush to make everything move and grow fast? Welcome to the race with an unknown destination! Here I list just a few observable facts:
The real problem for the modern humanity and its questions and problems of technology is that it does not have the depth of insight. This shortsightedness is created by the lack of deep thought and most commonly greed, speed and desire for pleasurable life.
Every time in history has its own paradoxes. This may be explained by using the yin-yang philosophy or some other Easter model of this relative reality.
For example, it may look rather strange that today the technology has in many ways increased the capacity of people to communicate electronically worldwide twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, therefore changing our concepts of space and time, and yet we discover that at the same time, we find it difficult to connect with our children, friends, our neighbor, or a salesperson in a local shop that we visit frequently. It looks ‘more convenient’ to have that ‘connection’ from the cozy space of our rooms rather than to actually take the time to meet somebody.
Technology is a sell-off for the lack of time created by the very technology and the current human paradigm.
It is a sell off for the real contact with one another and with Nature.
Keeping the computer or our phone all the time on is a poor way of keeping the track of our connections. Rather try to take the time to physically, psychically and spiritually connect with people, the Nature, animals, including the little rocks and bushes and grasses, and create your heart connection with the large world ‘out there’. We are yet to learn what the word ‘connection’ means!
- We have no time to let our knowledge and understanding, not even our children, or vegetables, or animals grow at their own natural pace.
- We have no time even to enjoy the things we love. It might be wonderful to be able to download a thousand of songs and e-books but ask yourself how much of the real, quality time do you get to listen or read them any of them?
- As we are spending more and more time on our computers and shuffling between our I-phones and I-pads, etc., do we remember the Life itself?! Do we remember to look at the Sky and the Sunrise, or feel the softness of a baby’s hand? When was the last time that each one of us took a moment to look at deeply in somebody’s eyes?
Let us keep in mind that the movement towards the artificial life and intelligence may mean a complete severance from Mother Nature, the very Mother that we owe our life to? What is this all drive for? Has life become the ego-driven race of humanity to its self-destruction?!
Surrounded by smart machines in their cozy homes or offices humans have turned their backs to Mother Nature and do not notice their Mother any longer. And She has become sad. They have become simply desensitized by choosing the life of artificiality with all its tempting baits. Mother Nature is within us. She is our bodies, our minds and life-force. People have become out of touch with their bodies, their feelings and hearts, and consequently with that of the other peoples’ feelings and lives, and Mother Nature Herself. They feel alone and unhappy; their silent suffering is profound.
The pain can be easily removed if the humans make a greater effort to remove themselves from their virtual reality, they have become encapsulated by and awaken from their dream of isolation, and begin to pay attention to their needs as well as that of the needs of other beings. Mother Nature is all.
Yet, let us not lose hope. There is a new generation of spiritually inspired people who have eyes to see, hearts to feel and the minds to understand, and who are ready to lighten the path of those who are have lost their mooring in this world of temptation.
Here is a call to open your heart to the Mother Nature and welcome Her gifts daily in the forms of open skies and glorious Sun and the Moon, the mountains, rivers, lakes and the oceans.
May the words of Swami Sivananda lead us all back to our Mother, through the meditation on unity of all:
“See life as a whole. All life is one. All life proceeds from the Absolute, which is the only one and only Reality. The world is one home. All are members of one human family. All creation is an organic whole. No man is independent of that whole. Man makes himself miserable, by separating himself from others. Separation is death. Unity is eternal life. Cultivate cosmic love. Include all. Embrace all. Destroy all barriers that separate man from man. Recognize the non-dual principle, the immortal essence, within all beings.
Protect animals. Let all life be sacred. Then this world will be a paradise of beauty, a heaven of peace and tranquility.
Smile with the flowers and the green grass. Play with butterflies, birds and deer. Shake hands with the shrubs, ferns and twigs of trees. Talk to the rainbow, wind, stars, and the sun. Converse with the running brooks and the waves of the sea. Speak with the walking stick! Develop friendship with your neighbors, dogs, cats, cows, human beings, trees, flowers, etc. Then you will have a wide, perfect, rich, full life. You will realize oneness or unity of life. This can be hardly described in words. You will have to feel yourself.”
Swami Sivananda
