"Islands Onto Themselves"

 In the Cakavattisahanda Sutta, Buddha is addressing monks to be islands onto themselves, before he launches into a larger discussion on the ideal ruler or monarch. This sutra is very beautiful not only because it talks about the proper social roles of monastics and monarchs alike, but also because it talks about the them of self-governance, a kind of self-discipline which is based on turning inward rather than being propelled by the exigencies of the moment. 
   Although modern Western society does not appear to have a close connection of religious figures (such as monastics) and political leaders, there is certainly a tension between belonging within society and wanting to turn inward to see beyond it. During our group discussion after the meditation practice tonight, one participant used Facebook as an example of what modern life can often look like when one looks to images to define who they are. Facebook seems engineered to make people feel genuinely liked and attended to, even when getting attention often takes the form of a single click, emotional reaction, or 'like'. In a sense, this kind of interface gives the illusion that people can easily inspire like in others, when in fact it's the technology itself that makes 'liking' something much more disposable than in face-to-face connections. Think of it this way: when is the last time you have ever heard someone say that they like something about someone else, in person? Doing so requires a kind of vulnerability that often doesn't take place in social contexts, unless there is an established bond or understanding between people. On the other hand, the technologies of social media often make it deceptively easy to like something (or press 'like') even though the medium itself isn't transparent about the degree of liking that a person has for something.
    As one of the participants in the group meditation observed, it's only when a person can step outside the framework of social media that one gets a real understand of what it means to like one's life or to be content with it. Meditation is certainly one good way to settle the mind and allow things to be more clearly seen. But there are other social rituals, such as walking alone or going into a forest or secluded area, that can sometimes give people opportunities to reflect inward, rather than being carried away by the likes and dislikes of others.