Buddhism versus technology
Friday, September 24th, 2004 02:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
robinturnerI'm re-reading The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler. It's a wonderful book which provides many insights into the human condition. I am also looking at thinkgeek.com.
This means that I am torn between two theories of happiness. The first tells me that if I discipline my mind and cultivate compassion towards all sentient beings, I will be happy. The second tells me that if I buy a bunch of cool technology, I will be happy. The embarrassing thing is that I find the second argument more convincing. You can devote your life to the well-being of sentient beings, and they can still turn round and bite you, but a lava lamp is your friend for life.
This means that I am torn between two theories of happiness. The first tells me that if I discipline my mind and cultivate compassion towards all sentient beings, I will be happy. The second tells me that if I buy a bunch of cool technology, I will be happy. The embarrassing thing is that I find the second argument more convincing. You can devote your life to the well-being of sentient beings, and they can still turn round and bite you, but a lava lamp is your friend for life.
