In this Dhamma talk, Bhante Joe explores how Buddhist practice can stay strong in a world shaped by smartphones, social media, and AI. He begins by questioning the common idea that “older = purer,” pointing out that while the Buddha’s time was ideal because the Buddha was present, the path itself isn’t about clinging to ancient tools—it’s about training bodily, verbal, and mental action. From there, he looks at why communication technology can be especially risky: modern platforms are built around attention-capture architectures that can hook the mind through anticipation and reward. He then offers practical guardrails—using clear intention, boundaries, and “funneling” online interaction toward more meaningful connection (and ideally, real face-to-face relationships). In Q&A, he reflects on AI, “taking what is not given,” and whether digital detox can support practice when used wisely.
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Welcome!
TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 — Opening & Why “Technology + Practice” Matters
00:00:21 — Religion, Conservatism, and Idealizing the Founder’s Era
00:01:53 — Why the Buddha’s Time Was “Ideal” (And What That Does Not Mean)
00:02:13 — Simplicity Isn’t Automatically Purity: The “Simple Tech” Argument
00:05:37 — The Vinaya, Human Extremes, and the Buddha’s Skillful Framework
00:06:31 — Modern Prosperity, Convenience, and the New Challenges
00:09:38 — The Core Principle: Focus on Actions, Not Nostalgia for Tools
00:15:46 — Why Communication Tech Is the Biggest “Practice Risk”
00:16:28 — The Scroll Trap: Reward/Anticipation Architecture & Addiction
00:26:19 — A Monk in the Modern World: Adopting the Existing “Architecture”
00:27:04 — “Raise the Teachings to Meter”: Accessibility vs Elite Control
00:29:09 — “The Medium Is the Message”: How Platforms Shape Human Relationships
00:30:16 — The Slippery Slope: Boundaries That Prevent Getting Pulled In
00:31:22 — Face-to-Face Connection, Loneliness, and “Junk Food” Socializing
00:32:42 — A “Funneling System”: From Likes → Groups → Value-Rich Connection
00:37:19 — Q&A: Where Technology Trips Us Up (And What Guidelines Help)
00:38:16 — Guardrails: Identify What Pulls the Mind Away vs Supports Practice
00:39:41 — Q&A: AI, “Taking What Is Not Given,” and Digital Detox
00:40:21 — AI + Intellectual Property: How This Relates (and Doesn’t) to the Precepts
00:42:31 — Digital Detox as Experiment: Use the Time for Practice & Relationships
00:43:35 — Closing Reflections: Make Technology a Paving Stone, Not a Wall