The Buddha’s Teaching and Modern Technology

As we are Buddhist monks, we have to spread the Buddha’s teaching to people in the society as much as we can. There are many way to spread the Buddha’s teaching or Dhamma such as giving the Dhamma talk in the public place, written some article in newspaper, teaching in the school, using modern technology and so on. Among them, using modern technology is one of the most effective ways to spread the Buddha’s teaching. First and foremost, I am going to discuss about modern technology as many people use it in the age of 21^th century. Then I will explain the Buddha’s teaching. Finally, I will discuss what is good and effective in modern society.

 Modern technology means I think that modern techniques of scientific invention, the way to use computer, Ipad, internet, online TV shows and projector etc. For instance, the MCU TV-broadcast of the teaching of the Buddha on TV. Sometimes we could see the monk preaching the Dhamma on a MCU TV show: sometimes they discuss the Dhamma with laity to encourage them in their life and some other religion. This is one way modern technology spreads the Buddha’s teaching. “Technology has become ever present in different aspects of our lives, but most increasingly in our education system and for the student in these schools” (Juliani, Michelle 2013)

 Many people use modern technologies such as mobile phones, speakers, television, computers and internet. Using modern technology to spread the Buddha’s teaching is very good for people in the society. Now Because of modern technology, we could find the Dhamma easly from internet. As we are Buddhists we also have to spread the Buddha’s teaching by modern technology. And then we also can see other religions broadcasting their teachings by modern technology. So I think that it is very good to spread the teaching of the Buddha by modern technology. On the other hand, I think that modern technology also might have some bad effects. Because if you spread wrong information about the Buddha’s teaching the society will be wrong. Then the society will have bad effects.

 I am going to mention the teaching of the Buddha. The Dhamma or the Buddha’s teachings, are such as the Four Noble truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the three characteristics, five precepts, eight precepts and ten precepts etc. The Buddha’s teaching or the Dhamma is based on Sīla (morality) Sammādhi (concentration) Pannā (wisdom). The whole point of the Buddha’s teachings are in the Vinaya Pitaka, Suttanta Pitaka and Abhidhamma pitaka. Venaya means basket of discipline. The Suttanta Pitaka is a collection of all the discourses in their entirety delivered by the Buddha on various occasions. Abhidhamma Pitaka is described as philosophy, psychology, metaphysics. These are what we  call the Buddha’s teaching. “Venerable Pnnyavaro thinks the Buddha would have been quite at home using the new technology of the internet to propagate his teachings.” (Buddha Net Magazine Magazine Articles 2o12)

To sum up, in human society if all human beings can follow the Buddha’s teaching accurately, the society will be peacefully. Everybody thinks life is worldly and full of suffering both mental and physical. So everybody has to research or know and spread the Buddha’s teaching. Everybody has to know such as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path and so on. It is necessary to know the Buddha’s teaching. To use modern technology to spread the Buddha’s teaching is a very effective and good idea. I think that all of us have to use modern technology and spread the Buddha’s teaching as well. This is very good effective for all human beings and modern society.