Computers make me totally blank out.

"Computers make me totally blank out." – Dalai Lama

In the world of rapid advancement, where every day brings new inventions and technological wonders, there is a profound truth spoken by the Dalai Lama: the mind, in its natural state, can be overwhelmed by the sheer complexity and speed of the tools we create. He speaks not just of computers, but of the way in which the flood of modern information can cause even the most focused among us to momentarily lose touch with ourselves. The Dalai Lama, whose life is dedicated to mindfulness and meditation, offers a reflection on the disconnection that comes from the incessant flow of data and the dehumanizing effect that modern technology can have on the soul. To him, the computer, for all its potential, can cause one to lose clarity, to forget the stillness of the mind, and to become caught up in the distractions of the world.

The ancient world understood that true wisdom was found not in the accumulation of knowledge, but in the ability to quiet the mind and to engage in deep reflection. The great philosophers, such as Socrates, spoke of the importance of self-examination, the art of focusing on the present and of finding clarity in a world often filled with chaos. Socrates famously said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." To him, knowledge came not from the flood of information, but from stilling the mind and seeking truth in the quiet spaces between thoughts. The Dalai Lama’s reflection on computers echoes this timeless wisdom: while technology brings us knowledge, it often drowns us in its constant noise, leaving little room for the kind of deep, meaningful reflection that leads to true understanding.

Consider the life of Buddha, who, in his quest for enlightenment, turned away from the distractions of the world. He sat beneath the Bodhi tree, choosing stillness over action, peace over distraction, and silence over noise. In his meditation, Buddha sought not external knowledge, but an internal understanding of the self and the nature of the world. The computer, by contrast, is a modern symbol of external knowledge. It offers us information at a speed and volume that can overwhelm the senses and the mind, much like the endless stream of sensory distractions that Buddha sought to escape in his search for peace. In this, the Dalai Lama’s words remind us that while the world offers many tools for learning, true wisdom comes from within—through quiet, mindful reflection.

In ancient China, Laozi, the founder of Taoism, spoke of the importance of simplicity and stillness. He taught that to understand the world, one must first learn to understand oneself, and this could only be done through stilling the mind and seeking alignment with the natural rhythms of the universe. Laozi’s Tao Te Ching reminds us that in a world filled with distractions, it is only by quieting the noise that we can hear the truth. His wisdom, though born thousands of years ago, speaks to the very issue the Dalai Lama addresses: the way in which modern technology, with all its promise of progress, can lead us away from the simple, natural state of the mind. By embracing the power of stillness, we regain access to the deeper truths that technology cannot provide.

The world has changed, and with it, our relationship with information. In the Industrial Revolution, human beings first began to grapple with the mechanization of labor, and the world moved faster. Today, in the digital age, we face the overabundance of information, and with it, a kind of mental overload. Consider the way in which the printing press revolutionized human communication, bringing books and knowledge to the masses. What was once a luxury became ubiquitous, and the floodgates of information were opened. Yet, with this great gift came a new problem: the challenge of sifting through the vast sea of information to find truth. Now, the computer offers even greater power, but with it, the potential for even greater disconnection from the clarity of the mind.

The lesson in the Dalai Lama’s words is clear: the mind, in its natural state, is a vessel for peace and clarity, but when overwhelmed by the endless noise of the digital world, it becomes lost. The computer, though a tool of immense power, can be both a force for good and a cause of disruption, depending on how we choose to engage with it. It is not the technology itself that is the problem, but the way we allow it to control us. Like the great philosophers and sages of the past, we must find balance—using technology as a tool to enhance our lives without allowing it to replace the deep, reflective stillness that allows us to connect with the truths of existence.

Thus, in our own lives, we must practice mindfulness—whether through meditation, reflection, or simply stepping away from the digital world—to maintain our inner peace. We must remember that while computers and technology may offer us knowledge, they can never replace the wisdom that comes from quiet self-examination. Let us not be swept away by the flood of information, but instead, seek to still our minds, to reconnect with the world around us, and to find the clarity and insight that the digital world can sometimes obscure. True wisdom comes from within, and it is through mindfulness and stillness that we can reconnect with the eternal truths of the universe.