Author: | Ravi Chandra | ISBN: | 9780990933939 |
Publisher: | Pacific Heart Books | Publication: | September 30, 2017 |
Imprint: | Language: | English |
Author: | Ravi Chandra |
ISBN: | 9780990933939 |
Publisher: | Pacific Heart Books |
Publication: | September 30, 2017 |
Imprint: | |
Language: | English |
We are who happens to us, and what we make of the happening. Who do we become when we relate online?
Facebuddha: Transcendence in the Age of Social Networks is a rich modern memoir of relationship online and off, an exploration of psychological research about social media, and an engaging introduction to Buddhism. What happens to the mind and heart as we engage online? Ravi Chandra is a psychiatrist and Buddhist who values conversation, relationship and their ultimate goals: love and the feeling of society. And he thinks we are in danger.
In these politically charged and divided times, how can we connect? Social media offers many inspiring possibilities. Facebook has become popular because we need belonging and meaning. But our time on social media is a bardo, or dream-realm, that has traps for the self-centered ego, which Chandra describes thoughtfully and with humor.
We have a Find my iPhone app - but we need to find our "I". Who am I, and who do I become when I engage on social media? How do I come to myself and my highest, most transcendent possibilities? How do I cultivate wisdom, compassion and love in this shrinking world that threatens to tear itself apart?
Online, we seek belonging, self-expression and meaning, essential to our humanity. Social media can be a curio for the exploration of the self. Social networks might be an empowering means to address our social ills. But the online world has traps for our habitually and unconsciously self-centered egos, cause of so much of our suffering in life. Our transcendent spirits are challenged and even imperiled by the realms we enter through our screens.
Chandra writes, “Social media is not just a medium. It is a new religion. The Tweet is our Call to Prayers. We thumb our Phones like Rosaries. Food Porn is our Communion and our Offering to the Cloud. The Status Update is our Sermon on the Mount. The Selfie our personal Anointment and Beatification. Facebook Messenger is our Messiah. The Apple Store is our modern Cathedral, our Silicon Sanctuary. New Emoji are released to the fanfare of a new Pope.” Where is this religion taking us?
Thoughtful, humorous, engaging and enlightening, Facebuddha will be a conversation starter for years to come.
We are who happens to us, and what we make of the happening. Who do we become when we relate online?
Facebuddha: Transcendence in the Age of Social Networks is a rich modern memoir of relationship online and off, an exploration of psychological research about social media, and an engaging introduction to Buddhism. What happens to the mind and heart as we engage online? Ravi Chandra is a psychiatrist and Buddhist who values conversation, relationship and their ultimate goals: love and the feeling of society. And he thinks we are in danger.
In these politically charged and divided times, how can we connect? Social media offers many inspiring possibilities. Facebook has become popular because we need belonging and meaning. But our time on social media is a bardo, or dream-realm, that has traps for the self-centered ego, which Chandra describes thoughtfully and with humor.
We have a Find my iPhone app - but we need to find our "I". Who am I, and who do I become when I engage on social media? How do I come to myself and my highest, most transcendent possibilities? How do I cultivate wisdom, compassion and love in this shrinking world that threatens to tear itself apart?
Online, we seek belonging, self-expression and meaning, essential to our humanity. Social media can be a curio for the exploration of the self. Social networks might be an empowering means to address our social ills. But the online world has traps for our habitually and unconsciously self-centered egos, cause of so much of our suffering in life. Our transcendent spirits are challenged and even imperiled by the realms we enter through our screens.
Chandra writes, “Social media is not just a medium. It is a new religion. The Tweet is our Call to Prayers. We thumb our Phones like Rosaries. Food Porn is our Communion and our Offering to the Cloud. The Status Update is our Sermon on the Mount. The Selfie our personal Anointment and Beatification. Facebook Messenger is our Messiah. The Apple Store is our modern Cathedral, our Silicon Sanctuary. New Emoji are released to the fanfare of a new Pope.” Where is this religion taking us?
Thoughtful, humorous, engaging and enlightening, Facebuddha will be a conversation starter for years to come.