Attention & Smartphones

by stewart

I just read an article entitled, ‘Keep Your Focus,’ in AARP Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 10, which is published by American Association of Retired Persons and they were discussing the use of Smartphones on our thought and personal focus (attention).  This article indicated that the average American touches their Smartphone over 2617 times per day; that works out to over 109 times per hour and nearly 1.82 times per minute; when you factor in hours of sleep, when we are not using our phone, the number of touches per minute goes up.

I wonder if 1.82 times per minute is more times than the average adolescent boy thinks about sex or the average ascetic during meditation repeats the Holy Name?

Years ago, I remember reading a book which described one monk’s spiritual journey as continually repeating the Holy Name; this spiritual traveler who reported this practice, of repeating the Holy Name, helped him reach a higher state of consciousness. This repetition, over time, became internally automatic.  As reported, after a time of continual repetition, there was a part of his consciousness that just took over and God/Light was all he thought about.

We all must be vigilant concerning what we put in our minds; too much of just about anything, including Smartphone use, can disrupt our balance and take our attention to places that become very troublesome.

-SB

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