Alright guys, this semester I'm going to trying something new. Instead of posting one gigantic work every few months I'm going to try to incorporate you guys in the process. At the end of the semester I'll post my finding for everyone to enjoy and contemplate. Sounds like fun, right? You bet! Over the next few months my topic of study is going to be how one can practice Buddhism in a contemporary culture fraught with capitalism and materialism. The further we venture into the digital frontier the more cyborg-like we become, and who says cyborgs can't be Buddhists. Even the Dalai Lama has a twitter! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride! If you have anything to contribute, participation is always welcomed. 

"The 21st Century Buddhist" Part I

       For centuries the spiritual practice of Buddhism has advocated the exorcising of material possessions. Buddhism focuses on the impermanence of the world and teaches individuals to let go of the external. Therefore, according to Buddhism, materialism, judgement, and the attachment to outcomes are all irrelevant in the grand scheme of the Universe. By casting off these things individuals are free to explore their spiritual selves, which in turn allows one to reach a state of enlightenment.

       I myself have been a practicing Buddhist for just over a year. Over the course of the last 12 months I’ve come to one extremely challenging, yet important realization: growing up in the western world has made the “exorcising of material possessions” exceptionally difficult. When capitalism and materialism lurk around every corner, it is sometimes tough to say no; especially when one considers the exciting advancements humanity has made on the technological frontier over the last decade. Our reliance on technology grows exponentially every year, because of this phenomenon many would say that our ability to meditate on “the spiritual self” has been greatly diminished, however I disagree.

       After considering several contemporary ideas in the field of embodiment and the cognitive sciences--most notably Andy Clark’s notion of “the extended mind”--I’ve surmised that technology isn’t hindering our enlightenment, but instead helping our progression. Within this paper I plan on illustrating how technology is quickly becoming an integral part of our “physical selves” and why it isn’t detracting from our “spiritual selves,” making way for the era of the 21st century Buddhist.