Detachment in society today is a result of technology; while it used to be a choice in seeking liberation. In Karen Armstrong’s Buddha, Gotama’s process of detachment is illustrated throughout, in addition to detachment being a personal choice it is also emphasized in his teaching. Detachment is sought in an attempt to achieve Nirvana. In today’s society, however the practice of detachment is due to technology. As a result of detachment in our society, there is a loss of communication and interpersonal skills. Playing a key role in the narrative and in society today, it is clear that the process of detachment with a focus can produce enlightenment while an unfocused process can produce entrapment. Armstrong has broken up Buddha’s life into
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A quest for seclusion in the Buddha’s case and for people of society a quest for great technology. The quest is to seek the knowledge or the item. The quest the Buddha goes on is an action to release one’s self from the desire to want. Detaching oneself from desire is key. “By desire they did not mean those noble yearnings that inspired human beings to such inspiring and elevating pursuits as the holy life, but the type of craving that makes us say “I want” (Armstrong39). This quest can be healthy and fruitful/ The quest for new technology may not be though. Due to our nature as humans, we obsess to find the best. We search online and in stores till we find the “best” phone out there. This search may take a whole week it may interfere with plans simply because technology is a priority for people. A priority that pulls us away from all …show more content…
“An essential element has been what Gotama called “seclusion” (Armstrong69). Today we see this seclusion everywhere. Walk into a Starbucks, you are bound to see 2-3 people at their own table or on their phone. “Sitting under the rose-apple tree, his mind had been separated from desire for material things and from anything unwholesome and unprofitable” (Armstrong69). In contrast to the Buddha’s thoughts in this seclusion we find ourselves doing the exact opposite. We are buying things on amazon, checking Facebook and searching how to improve our lives. This detachment is not intentional but is a result of our compulsive actions with
A quest for seclusion in the Buddha’s case and for people of society a quest for great technology. The quest is to seek the knowledge or the item. The quest the Buddha goes on is an action to release one’s self from the desire to want. Detaching oneself from desire is key. “By desire they did not mean those noble yearnings that inspired human beings to such inspiring and elevating pursuits as the holy life, but the type of craving that makes us say “I want” (Armstrong39). This quest can be healthy and fruitful/ The quest for new technology may not be though. Due to our nature as humans, we obsess to find the best. We search online and in stores till we find the “best” phone out there. This search may take a whole week it may interfere with plans simply because technology is a priority for people. A priority that pulls us away from all …show more content…
“An essential element has been what Gotama called “seclusion” (Armstrong69). Today we see this seclusion everywhere. Walk into a Starbucks, you are bound to see 2-3 people at their own table or on their phone. “Sitting under the rose-apple tree, his mind had been separated from desire for material things and from anything unwholesome and unprofitable” (Armstrong69). In contrast to the Buddha’s thoughts in this seclusion we find ourselves doing the exact opposite. We are buying things on amazon, checking Facebook and searching how to improve our lives. This detachment is not intentional but is a result of our compulsive actions with