Nature of Experience - Nowadays

We are in the midst of transformation. Changes in environment and technology are often talked about. Digitization and the speed of change are mentioned many times. I am interested to understand what seems to be at stake here. The central question is what does the rate of change in ‘outside’ environment (technology, digitization) result in the ‘internal’ change in consciousness? I will briefly talk of areas in which change is perceived:

1.       Language – We no longer or very rarely use the language of literature. We overuse the language of management and finance and anything related to the idea of personal consumption.

2.       We seem to delve a lot on virtual environment and the demands/ constraints of real environment seem to be conveniently ignored. This increases the gap of context with idea.

3.       Our experiences are majorly influenced by what the virtual environment offers us – experiences are getting lesser influenced by real environment. We do not know what environment are we a part of – seasons, flora, fauna, natural processes – all of these are forgotten or not known or not considered – which means that we are getting ‘disconnected’ by the natural behavior of the environment – we seem to fool ourselves by living in some kind of a virtual limbo. This raises the question  - what is authentic feeling or authentic wisdom?

4.       Since we live in a virtual world, (or an idea world), we act as if we no longer remain “tied” or grounded to the local context! Thus, we keep “floating” and a sense of placelessness has crept in our minds. Placelessness is disorienting, if felt for a longer period of time – and therefore, we look for “anchoring” ourselves again – in a situation, or a constraint, or a relationship or a job or anything that will make us think of the local situation and force us to respond! Full circle from the times when we were complaining of excessive constraints imposed by situations!!

5.       Our thoughts are fragmented and racing ahead – all a result of digitization. We are not aware of a comprehensive scenario and our character seems fractured. No thought is long enough, or deep enough or sustained enough. We are superfluous people – so superfluous that nothing seems to matter or concern us – neither the past or the future or present.

6.       This brings finally to the experience of “memory”. Memory, previously, was a result of environmental survival, communal living, social, cultural, implications and our own responses – i.e. we were grounded and emphatic. Nowadays, “memory” seems individual, disconnected with environmental, social, cultural implications, volatile, shallow.

7.       Thus, the significant rate of change is leading to less of memory creation and less impact of ‘time’ on us – we can’t figure out our own memories and time phenomenon.

The above state of existence may be confused with a spiritual state of mind. But the path to spirituality is embedded in “deep anchoring” (or engagement) with the worldly situation  - and not despite it. To reach universal or spatial experience, the “object” is the gateway to proceed ahead. In other words, “anchoring” our experiences and responses to environment, social, cultural, climatic, material dimensions is an inevitable journey for us. The manifested world and its constraints can’t be ignored – we must respond to it in order to move beyond. 

It may look exciting to be in the world of ideas – but they have to take some ‘form’ and manifest as a response to our situations. For this, our relationship with Memory and Time are crucial ingredients.