Francis Wong
February 7, 2023

On 3 February, Venerable Dr. Jue Wei, Director of the Humanistic Buddhism Centre, delivered an online dharma talk titled "Buddhism in a Technologically Advancing World" in response to an invitation from the NUS Buddhist Society at the National University of Singapore. Twelve students and doctoral candidates enthusiastically participated in the interactive workshop, which focused on themes such as "Attention," "Bodhicitta" (Awakened Mind), and "Mettā Verses" (Loving-kindness).

The workshop, conducted through Q&A and interactive methods, aimed to guide participants in contemplating how to effectively apply Buddhist teachings to daily life and learning through the thoughtful use of technology.

Venerable Jue Wei explained that while Buddhism was traditionally transmitted orally before the 6th century, in the 20th century and beyond, the rapid dissemination of Buddhist teachings relies on advanced technology and cloud platforms. Venerable Jue Wei emphasized the importance of mindfulness in leveraging technology to effectively propagate Buddhist principles.

Addressing the question of how to integrate Impermanence, Non-self, and Dependent Origination into daily life for positive impacts on studies and work, Venerable Jue Wei highlighted the concept of the "Attention Economy". She suggested that individuals should focus their attention on sharing, wisdom, ethical, and positive life practices rather than falling into the commodity trap of technology-based business models like social media and smartphones.

Particioants of the dharma talk. photo／The Life News Agency

Venerable Jue Wei further elaborated on the cultivation of Bodhicitta, emphasizing its role in nurturing compassion and loving-kindness. By developing a compassionate mindset, individuals can redirect their attention to understand the suffering of sentient beings, fostering empathy and translating concern into practical actions that benefit society at large. Using the "Mettā Verses," she explained the interconnectedness of communities, promoting positive emotions and decrease negative emotions, decreasing chronic pain, reducing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), slowing down biological aging, and increasing empathy and compassion.

Encouraging active participation in weekly online "Community of Practice" sessions, Venerable Jue Wei emphasized the significance of recognizing the cohesive power of community groups.

Students provided positive feedback, praising the creative concept of the "Mettā Verses" and expressing appreciation for the "Community of Practice" as a secure online platform for interaction, idea-sharing, and exchanging experiences in learning Buddhism.