Are we living inside an echo chamber?

Are we living inside an echo chamber? – Suppose we are walking through nature, while wearing  earphones to hear music. Suppose further we are unwittingly heading into a dangerous marsh, and a well-wishing passerby loudly warns us. Unfortunately, if we have made the music so loud as to block out all other sounds, then we may walk into danger, even disaster. 

We may rarely endanger ourselves like that while walking, but may frequently endanger ourselves by living inside an echo chamber. Therein, we encounter only beliefs or opinions that coincide with ours and don’t even consider alternative ideas. Over time, we start thinking that our view is not just right but is, in fact, the only right view. 

Some people go even further; they surround themselves with yes-men who reinforce their megalomania that they are not just powerful, but peerless (16.15). In Ramayana, Ravana was such a megalomaniac; he surrounded himself with demons, who though powerful in their own right, were still his yes-men. When assessing Rama’s forces, they told Ravana what he wanted to hear: Rama’s forces were no match to his and would be easily crushed. The only dissenter was Vibhishana. But Ravana rejected Vibhishana. And thus he blocked out the voice that could have saved his life. 

Might we be living inside echo chambers? Yes, if we become defensive or offensive when hearing thoughtful people who disagree with us on important issues. By learning to give them a patient, objective hearing, we can avoid potential trouble. What if our view is right? Still, by seeing the issue from different perspectives and by understanding where others are coming from, we can become wiser. 

One-sentence summary:

If we hear only those people who say what we want to hear, then we don’t grow; only our illusions grow. 

Think it over:

• Why is living inside an echo chamber dangerous? 
• How can we come out of our echo chamber?
• Is there any important issue on which you need to hear a different perspective?

***

16.15: The demoniac person thinks … “I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is none so powerful and happy as I am. I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give some charity, and thus I shall rejoice.” In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance.

To know more about this verse, please click on the image
Explanation of article:

Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save”