| Many people these days believe that technology, and | | | | Bill Gates is an excellent example of a tech-head who |
| in particular Information Technology, is the key to | | | | has crossed over (unless his intentions by building |
| attaining a future world that is both ecologically and | | | | software were always altruistic, were they?) into a |
| environmentally sustainable. | | | | more spiritual world of compassion and generosity. |
| Many people these days believe that technology, and | | | | The world's richest man and his wife now run an |
| in particular Information Technology, is the key to | | | | organization ( that invests huge amounts of money |
| attaining a future world that is both ecologically and | | | | into medical research so that human children of the |
| environmentally sustainable, as well as being socially | | | | future needn't die of disease. They are focusing in |
| stable. Are they right? Others believe that a balanced | | | | particular on helping poor children in developing |
| spirituality, one that focuses on generosity, peace, | | | | nations. Strangely enough, Bill has been strongly |
| and compassion will have to be the main ingredient in | | | | criticized by colleagues who don't see these ventures |
| a recipe for true human evolution. What do you | | | | as being profitable. However, many others have been |
| think? Is this a black and white issue? It seems that | | | | inspired by such generosity and so have invested |
| most challenges that humanity comes across these | | | | billions in the same schemes. |
| days are solved by thinking laterally, often with | | | | On the other hand, a friend of mine told me the |
| multiple answers and solutions being utilized. This | | | | other day about how one of the most famous |
| diverse approach to solving problems may be the | | | | spiritual leaders in the world, Tibet's 14th Dalai Lama, |
| 'angle' that we need to take in order to become the | | | | has just put a website on the Internet at Now |
| safe, healthy, happy world that we have always | | | | people interested in Buddhism all over the world can |
| dreamt about. Could technology and spirituality one | | | | read about and even communicate with this |
| day combine to form one mighty force? Some might | | | | renowned peaceful human being. On the Internet: and |
| even ask, "Is it already happening now, right beneath | | | | he's not the only one sharing wisdom on the web, let |
| our noses?" | | | | me tell you. Do you see the picture slowly |
| Working for an Internet company I am pretty much | | | | materializing in your frontal lobe? There's something |
| surrounded by 'technical' people; analytical people, | | | | going on here. |
| problem solvers. When I first arrived in the office I | | | | Some people think that technology will 'save' us. |
| was shocked by the complete lack of biological and | | | | Others think we need to go back in time, back to |
| aesthetic life here. No plants, no photos or paintings | | | | tribal ways of living in order to create the social |
| on the wall. It was definitely not a place one would | | | | cohesion necessary for our species to grow together |
| think of when contemplating spirituality. Spiritual places | | | | and survive as one. The answer could be more |
| are forests, oceans, ancient temples, art | | | | simplistic than we ever may have imagined. Building |
| galleries-definitely not I.T. offices. I wondered how | | | | software is great, but if the maker's sole intention is |
| my fellow species could survive in an environment so | | | | for personal gain and immense wealth, well, be |
| devoid of beauty, nature, and creativity-ironically the | | | | careful if you're investing. I've read that if one builds |
| one power we need to develop new technologies. | | | | a fence with anger and suffering (yelling at the planks |
| They all looked so content staring into their blue | | | | of wood when they don't line up properly), relations |
| computer monitors, fingers ticking softly and speedily | | | | with neighbors may deteriorate. If one cooks a meal |
| on their keyboards. It was actually frightening; a | | | | with love and enjoyment through the meal-making |
| horror film where the soft, constant, monotonous | | | | process, your family and friends will enjoy the flavors |
| ticking is the only sound filtering through the empty | | | | more, and show more gratitude for your efforts. |
| silence. | | | | Sound like superstition? Attitude is everything. |
| After studying and reading about many different | | | | Technology may be a major factor in our world's |
| religions and cultures one gets a pretty good picture | | | | survival, but only if it walks hand-in-hand with an |
| of what a spiritual person looks like. Or do you? Are | | | | attitude that is truly focused on the betterment of |
| people that transparent that you can tell what their | | | | humankind. What better thing to work for? We all |
| intentions are just by observing their material/physical | | | | spend a lifetime chipping away at our goals and |
| self? Are all priests generous? Are all tech-heads | | | | dreams. Why not build your next program with the |
| oblivious to the larger pictures of the Earth and the | | | | intention of evolving our species to the next level? |
| infinite Universe that we are part of? The answers | | | | Or, is that what you've been doing from the start? |
| are starting to reveal themselves. | | | | |