Comments on: Windows to the Material World http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:05:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Matthew http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/#comment-51 Matthew Fri, 02 May 2008 19:30:29 +0000 http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/#comment-51 Here is a thought: taking a vow to only check one's mail 3 times a day: morning, midday and night, barring any extreme circumstances or legitimate needs of some other kind. It may help to prevent being our being slavishly drawn in by the fiber-optic umbilical cord at all times. A friend and I did this a few months back and it helped me see how conditioned I am by the culture of "just checking my email" all of the time. Here is a thought: taking a vow to only check one’s mail 3 times a day: morning, midday and night, barring any extreme circumstances or legitimate needs of some other kind. It may help to prevent being our being slavishly drawn in by the fiber-optic umbilical cord at all times. A friend and I did this a few months back and it helped me see how conditioned I am by the culture of “just checking my email” all of the time.

]]> By: Vivek http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/#comment-49 Vivek Thu, 01 May 2008 15:39:00 +0000 http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/#comment-49 Haribol Prabhu! Amazing post. I've been thinking about this for the past few months now. The simple life = the good life. Your servant, Vivek Taneja Haribol Prabhu! Amazing post. I’ve been thinking about this for the past few months now. The simple life = the good life.

Your servant,
Vivek Taneja

]]> By: Janakirama dasa http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/#comment-29 Janakirama dasa Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:47:50 +0000 http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/#comment-29 Thank you Maharaja for this note. I have thought about these points for many years. As I see it, there is a genuine conflict you bring out here: On the one hand we want to use all sorts of technologies in the service of God, on the other hand there are the sorts of draw-backs you've lucidly mentioned. Since most will not be able to dislodge themselves from technological means, I think that it would be helpful for Vaishnavas, and religious practitioners in general, to have examples of people who have. If this does not happen, humanity may simply forget that a non-technocrat life is even possible, and indeed complete. Thank you Maharaja for this note. I have thought about these points for many years. As I see it, there is a genuine conflict you bring out here:

On the one hand we want to use all sorts of technologies in the service of God, on the other hand there are the sorts of draw-backs you’ve lucidly mentioned.

Since most will not be able to dislodge themselves from technological means, I think that it would be helpful for Vaishnavas, and religious practitioners in general, to have examples of people who have. If this does not happen, humanity may simply forget that a non-technocrat life is even possible, and indeed complete.

]]> By: Kaustubha das http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/#comment-24 Kaustubha das Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:49:54 +0000 http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/#comment-24 <p>Oh, the irony of the complex age we live in. We receive such a thoughtful message about the perils the computer's influence on introspective thought, via..... the internet.</p> <p>Thank you Maharaja.</p> Oh, the irony of the complex age we live in. We receive such a thoughtful message about the perils the computer’s influence on introspective thought, via….. the internet.

Thank you Maharaja.

]]> By: Gary http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/#comment-23 Gary Sat, 16 Feb 2008 14:24:01 +0000 http://bhakticollective.com/2008/02/16/windows-to-the-material-world/#comment-23 This is exactly the issue I have been thinking about for the last day or so, and I was pleasantly surprised to see this post. I heard something on the radio (is radio hot or cold?) about Nature Deficit Disorder and how the use of national parks in the USA has declined alongside the rise of the internets. Many illnesses of the mind appear to be linked as well, notably ADHD. Multitasking, so admired in corporate life and thought to be a sign of intelligence, seems to be rather unhealthy. Computers make it easy, and the mind loves it. But, I agree, something is wrong. This is exactly the issue I have been thinking about for the last day or so, and I was pleasantly surprised to see this post. I heard something on the radio (is radio hot or cold?) about Nature Deficit Disorder and how the use of national parks in the USA has declined alongside the rise of the internets. Many illnesses of the mind appear to be linked as well, notably ADHD. Multitasking, so admired in corporate life and thought to be a sign of intelligence, seems to be rather unhealthy. Computers make it easy, and the mind loves it. But, I agree, something is wrong.

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