Eknath Easwaran is quoted, “I’m not against technology at all…” I can be, however, in the sense that even though it may indeed be used more wisely and have positive effect, shouldn’t the “price” – serious harm to source of life – be in the equation? IF so, “options” become significantly fewer.

An article entitled “Advanced Technology: Does Society’s Obsession Reflect a Form of Collective Mental Illness?” https://www.activistpost.com/2020/07/advanced-technology-does-societys-obsession-reflect-a-form-of-collective-mental-illness.html discusses this aspect in some detail, and in many ways dovetails with Patricia’s article here.

It’s suggested that if the well being of the planet is taken fully into account, there’s no such thing as safe (advanced) technology. “Advanced” being the keyword.

For me, ‘advanced’ means anything powered directly by other than human, animal or natural forces – water, sun and so on (NO solar panels, wind blades or batteries – not “green, clean” by any means 🙂

A case is made also that advanced technology can be seen as an addiction, maybe worse than any drug, based on its extreme ‘tease’ of a techno-human character flaw: Material lust, from Negative Green of the Heart energy – Acquisitiveness. I like to call it Thing-Possession Happiness.

Author José Argüelles aptly defined (advanced) technology as a “feedback loop of artificial dependencies, leading to neurotic and addictive behavior” (sometimes recognized as such, but mostly considered ‘normal’ – even if ultimately suicidal).

Similarly, Marshall McLuhan: “We shape our tools and then our tools shape us.” Loop-de-loop. De-loopy.

This “collective” illness, or psychospiritual imbalance, is referred to in the article as Nature Alienation. (Patricia: “The vast majority of the West has yet to recover its intimacy with Nature, which is a human birthright.”)

It has allowed techno-humans (as opposed to indigenous) to stand by while Source of Life has been raped/poisoned — “to meet human needs,” is the rhetoric. But it seems the “East” is pretty far gone on that note as well?

So, for example, while there may be conceptually, “…nothing wrong with football,” for people to see it on TV, doesn’t it imply the entire complex of earth rape and technomasturbation now taking down the ecosystem?

What about the landfill-bound synthetic gear and miles of tape required to make armored bulldozers of the players? Not to mention, Little Caesar’s is now the “official” pizza of the NFL? 🙂

Shouldn’t it be two-hand touch? 🙂 Where athletic skills are shown, minus extreme violence?

Even then, however, what about athletic shoes, which today are so material-complex (foam, rubber, plastic, textiles, and other synthetics) their ultimate destination is also a landfill.

Should it be played barefoot? Maybe canvas “sneakers” wouldn’t be too bad.

Anyway, you get the idea, which, in principle, is that for survival we may need to de-tech in a serious way – gradually, of course. it will take generations to break the addiction/dependency.

And it seems we’ll need Wireless Anonymous? 🙂

Much has been taken for granted in society that seems normal, natural, spontaneous. But the rabbit hole of manipulation and control is ancient and deep, indeed.

There’s fatally sparse awareness overall in our culture of just how far down the wrong road the Power driving technociety has led a drove of panting, tail-wagging economic slaves called consumers, debtors and taxpayers. The system is sanctified, and must only be “fixed.”

But it’s (unnecessary) neo-feudalism on steroids, where governments play the lord role. In the aggregate, it’s enslavement sold as freedom. “How Power Created, Shaped, Manipulates and Controls Techno-Human Society: A Synthesis – Part 1 of 4: The Power Hierarchy”
https://www.activistpost.com/2021/09/how-power-created-shaped-manipulates-and-controls-techno-human-society-a-synthesis-part-1-the-power-hierarchy.html

Finally, a note on “the Church,” etc. Before, and especially with, institutionalization, ostensibly post-pagan, monotheistic religions ‘obscured’/displaced ancient Wisdom – the sense of self as a Light Being at one with Universal Consciousness, other humans, and Nature, as opposed to the sense of being a separate-from-God-Nature-and-each-other pile of animated dust, and born in sin to boot: Disempowerment/belittlement for domination and control?