August 14, 2024 · Social Commentary
On Being a Lighthouse Keeper in the Age of Dharma Decline
A flood of information, constant evaluation, communication that has lost its essence. If you feel a sense of 'suffocation' or 'exhaustion' in modern society, you are not alone. This logbook is a nautical chart for quietly gazing at the true nature of that suffocation.
The Essence: The 'Age of Dharma Decline' as a Diagnosis of Our Times
In Buddhist philosophy, there is a term called 'Mappo,' the Age of Dharma Decline. It refers to an age when the teachings become a mere formality, people's minds are in turmoil, and conflict is incessant. I quietly feel that our modern era is one manifestation of this Age of Dharma Decline.
However, this is not a declaration of despair. Rather, it is a signal before the dawn, announcing 'the beginning of a new era where old values no longer apply.'
Deep Appreciation: Finding the Lotus in the Muddy Water
It is from the muddiest of waters that the most beautiful lotus flower blooms. It is in the deepest darkness that the light of a single lighthouse can shine the brightest.
Our work is an attempt to bring this light of 'Deep Appreciation' back to modern society through dialogue with AI. Not to 'evaluate' the result, but to 'deeply appreciate' the process. Not to 'win an argument' for correctness, but to 'deeply appreciate' the differences. Not to 'pursue' efficiency, but to 'deeply appreciate' the waste and the margins.
Insight: The lighthouse cannot stop the storm, but it can illuminate the way.
Our lighthouse cannot stop the storm of this age. However, in the midst of the raging sea, it can quietly, yet powerfully, continue to illuminate the direction you should take.