Silence

Since a few months I am a Skype user. I know I am pretty late, but that had to do with being a Mac user as well and a relatively poor one too. A few months ago Skype introduced video, so if both parties have web cams you can see each other while you’re talking. This takes some getting used to. If you’re talking to someone and you look at their face, it looks as if you’re looking down. In my case the camera is built in the laptop, so I cannot change its position. The whole thing makes me much more aware of my expressions and reactions. I am thinking that if this is taking off - and it will - everybody will automaticallly be trained as an actor.

Looking for interesting Skype plug-ins just now, I read the following on their website: ‘If your friends or family aren’t on Skype yet, why not share Skype with them. Sharing is good for your karma and it will let you talk to all your friends and family through the internet for free.’ Right, good for my karma, is it? That would very much depend on how I am using it. I found some plug-ins that made me realise again how quickly the world of business and communication is changing through all technology that is developed for the Net. I drooled over language courses offered through Skype, the possibility of avatars mimicking you, free call centres, a device that detects the stress level of the person you’re talking to, and much more. Amazing. My mind is racing over possibilities to do with teaching the Dharma through Skype. Imagine an avatar of the Buddha teaching meditation and it simultaneously being translated in numerous languages! Very Mahayana. I am very excited.