In today’s society, living without technology is almost impossible. As aspiring devotees living in a techno-centric society, we usually think of technology as a neutral tool that can be used for devotional purposes.
What we may not realize is that our relationship with technology is not one-way, but two-way. It is not we alone who use technology; technology also uses us.
How?
Technology is deeply, even inextricably, associated with certain uses. For example, television is so widely used for materialistic entertainment that its use for watching spiritual programs, though hypothetically possible, is practically rare. Even when we are using it spiritually, we may succumb to using it sensually at any moment. After all, the temptation is just one click away – always.
We are especially vulnerable to such temptations because the materialistic uses of technology are far more aggressively marketed than its spiritual uses. Additionally, to use technology, we often have to place ourselves in temptation zone, a cultural ambience that injects us with material desires. Due to these subtle but strong influences, we sometimes get carried away and waste our irreplaceable time on anti-devotional indulgences. Thus we end up being used by technology. That is, we end up exploited by those materialists who use technology to get to our time, heart and finally money.
To use technology safely, we need to adopt the self-protection measures outlined by Gita wisdom. Firstly we need to regularly connect ourselves with Krishna through exclusive devotional activities that remind us of the devotional purpose of everything, including technology. And secondly, whenever we are in a temptation zone, we need to conscientiously watch our mind and senses, as indicated in the Gita (02.68). Then and then alone will we be able to stop the materialistic influences associated with technology from sabotaging our devotional intentions.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 68
“Therefore, O mighty-armed, one whose senses are restrained from their objects is certainly of steady intelligence.”
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