Digital Detox - Reclaim Your Mind (short video dharma)

[JudyM]

Weaning Ourselves Off of Screens by Resisting Compelling Thoughts

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram—these sites and other social media platforms can be emotional minefields, and they eat up far more time than many of us are OK with. Although the Buddha didn’t offer guidance on how to act mindfully on Facebook, he did outline five practices that can help us disengage from the compelling trains of thought that often dominate our use of social media. In this video, Bodhipaksa shows how these practices can help us to take control of our online impulses.
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As we become mindful of a feeling that’s driving us, we realize that we don’t have to react to it and be driven by it. Instead, we can simply observe it, recognize that it represents a part of us that is suffering, and have compassion for that part of us.

https://tricycle.org/dharmatalks/mindfulness-for-social-media-addiction/

(The first couple minutes of the vid are intro, so about 11 minutes of dharma content.)

He talks about what keeps us hooked online, including craving easy continual input, craving validation from others, angry reactions to others (which solidifies ego)... and that these are perpetuating our suffering. By switching our attention toward skillful objects/mindful presence and realizing that this moment, as it is, is enough, and that we are enough, can start breaking the compelling pattern of staying glued to our screens.

He uses the Buddhist analogy (new to me) of using a small peg to knock out a large peg, which doesn’t happen all in one shot, but by repeatedly retrieving our attention when we get lost online.

I thought it was a good little dharma talk, hopefully my DU sangha mates here will too.

With Metta. 🙏

[Newest Reality]

1. Nice One!

Thank you very much. This is a good recommendation.

Be Well!

Tashi Delek