The accelerated process of globalization that we are witnessing at this beginning of the new millennium, particularly in telecommunications, has definitely converted the world into a 'global village' where it is possible to have real-time information of any event happening anywhere, and has brought to light the tremendous inequalities existing in the quality of life among the different parts of the world.
This situation is mainly propelled by the greed and materialistic hedonism, both at individual and collective levels, of the so called 'developed world', in which social success and happiness are associated to acquisitive capacity.
Modern people are constantly manipulated through mass media to live in anxiety and fear, the former forces the individual to work hard to be able to buy all kinds of alluring commodities that promise to deliver happiness, yet never fulfills it, while the latter keeps people submissive and conformist...
but, just in case one may stop to think about this situation, society provides all kind of entertainments to dull discernment.
The competition among mass media for audience ratings has resulted in pervasive sensationalism and a highly distorted view of the world, whose dire consequences are that individuals and societies live trapped in vicious cycles of fear and aggression that block wholesome responses of solidarity and cooperation.
In these conditions, pursuing a spiritual path that will counterbalance the all-pervading materialism and lack of perspective and meaning in life is a must, not just for soteriological reasons but for more direct ones, such as mental and physical sanity, both at the level of the individual and the society.
David R.
Loy has recently written an insightful essay on the issue of Global Economy from a Buddhist perspective.
In his conclusions he says: "Buddhism began with the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha.
His 'awakening' (the literal meaning of 'Buddha') shows us the possibility of a different way of life, based on a different way of understanding the relationship between ourselves and the world.
From a materialistic perspective, including the 'social science' of economics, religious responses are superstitious and escapist.
From a Buddhist perspective, however, economic growth and consumerism are unsatisfactory alternatives because they evade the basic problem of life by distracting us with symbolic substitutes such as money, status, and power.
Similar critiques of idolatry are found in all the great religions, and rampant economic globalization makes that message all the more important today.
" We are living a historical time in which it is possible to have access to tons of information from serious hermeneutic investigations, accurate translations -even direct instructions from living teachers- of most of the spiritual traditions available in the world.
The last century was definitely a time of encounter for East and West; a time full of surprise and misinterpretations, but also of tremendous potential.
This century could be when all that unavoidable and perhaps necessary turbulence will settle into new spiritual approaches that, without tergiversating principle, will adapt to the new global reality.
I believe that a more cooperative society with well-lubricated mechanisms of solidarity is necessary for its individuals to find genuine happiness since it depends directly on the happiness of all beings of the globe.
For this to happen, it is absolutely necessary the decisive power to constructively transform our-selves and our society, and ultimately find an awakened place in it.
I believe this to be the ultimate purpose of meditation.
This situation is mainly propelled by the greed and materialistic hedonism, both at individual and collective levels, of the so called 'developed world', in which social success and happiness are associated to acquisitive capacity.
Modern people are constantly manipulated through mass media to live in anxiety and fear, the former forces the individual to work hard to be able to buy all kinds of alluring commodities that promise to deliver happiness, yet never fulfills it, while the latter keeps people submissive and conformist...
but, just in case one may stop to think about this situation, society provides all kind of entertainments to dull discernment.
The competition among mass media for audience ratings has resulted in pervasive sensationalism and a highly distorted view of the world, whose dire consequences are that individuals and societies live trapped in vicious cycles of fear and aggression that block wholesome responses of solidarity and cooperation.
In these conditions, pursuing a spiritual path that will counterbalance the all-pervading materialism and lack of perspective and meaning in life is a must, not just for soteriological reasons but for more direct ones, such as mental and physical sanity, both at the level of the individual and the society.
David R.
Loy has recently written an insightful essay on the issue of Global Economy from a Buddhist perspective.
In his conclusions he says: "Buddhism began with the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha.
His 'awakening' (the literal meaning of 'Buddha') shows us the possibility of a different way of life, based on a different way of understanding the relationship between ourselves and the world.
From a materialistic perspective, including the 'social science' of economics, religious responses are superstitious and escapist.
From a Buddhist perspective, however, economic growth and consumerism are unsatisfactory alternatives because they evade the basic problem of life by distracting us with symbolic substitutes such as money, status, and power.
Similar critiques of idolatry are found in all the great religions, and rampant economic globalization makes that message all the more important today.
" We are living a historical time in which it is possible to have access to tons of information from serious hermeneutic investigations, accurate translations -even direct instructions from living teachers- of most of the spiritual traditions available in the world.
The last century was definitely a time of encounter for East and West; a time full of surprise and misinterpretations, but also of tremendous potential.
This century could be when all that unavoidable and perhaps necessary turbulence will settle into new spiritual approaches that, without tergiversating principle, will adapt to the new global reality.
I believe that a more cooperative society with well-lubricated mechanisms of solidarity is necessary for its individuals to find genuine happiness since it depends directly on the happiness of all beings of the globe.
For this to happen, it is absolutely necessary the decisive power to constructively transform our-selves and our society, and ultimately find an awakened place in it.
I believe this to be the ultimate purpose of meditation.
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