The mind absorbed a great deal of poison from the outer environment by continuous exposure to suggestions from others. This mental passivity has become especially baneful with the development of the mass media. Radio, television and newspaper, pulp, journals and tabloids, blare their messages at us every time of the day, and their power of penetration is reinforced by the ingrained human disposition to accept what we are told and to comply with what we are urged to do. Bombarded left and right by ten thousand inducements, we no longer think our own thoughts, feel our own emotions or initiate our own actions; instead, we think as others want us to think, feel, as others want us to feel, act in ways that will win the approval of our peers and superiors. The pull of the crowd has become irresistible.

Every time we open a newspaper, turn on the radio, or sit down before the television set, we immediately subjected to propaganda, advertising and subtle social suggestions. This is done daily, deliberately and systematically. All these media are teachings us to suspend our capacity for thought, or if we are to think. Newspaper, for instance, seek to command assent not only by their editorials and opinion column, but by their layout languages and lines of emphasis.

Those who exploit the media in this manner generally small but powerful groups: the owners and sponsors of the media, advertising agencies, the masters of commerce. Such people are motivated primarily by self-interest, greed for wealth and power, and a sense of self-importance. Often they play dominant roles in various walks of life, including politics, business, law, medicine and education. Among the general public the role of a reason tends to be subordinate to that of emotion, while mental inertia and indifference make the conquest of reason easier. Hence, by shaping public opinion through the manipulation of the media, a small minority is able to control the majority.

Those who comprise this small but powerful minority all have something to sell. Commercial advertisements make us want more and more goods that brings us no real happiness, no real peace of mind. We are told that our felicity depends on having a radio, television, video player, stereo set, and computer games. Yet, however much we deck ourselves with all these instruments of diversion, we still feel our lives painfully lacking.

The speed, power and efficiency of all these technological and social developments within a purely materialistic social such as ours has led to a rising incidence of stress disease and mental breakdown. Those who do not crack under pressure find other escape routes, such as drugs, alcohol, and psychotic cults, while for those who cannot cope at all there remains the last resort: suicide, which has reached alarming proportions in our midst.

How then is a Buddhist to protect himself or herself from the baneful influences which we are everywhere exposed in the modern world? As lay Buddhists we should always adopt a critical attitude towards the written and spoken word and should always apply mindfulness to protect ourselves from being emotionally swayed by those who seek to win our favour. We should stand back from the topic under review and examine it objectively from all angles. Only after appraising the alternatives should we arrive at a decision or evaluation.

When we hear a particular opinion being voiced, we should make an effort to find out who the writer or speaker is, what interests he or she represents, including political affiliations, religious leanings and social background. We should also never forget that there are at least two sides to any issue, and that we are more likely to arrive at a correct stand if we first give unbiased consideration to both sides. Before arriving at a conclusion, one should gather all the relevant facts, maintain a calm mind free from emotional excitation, and prevent oneself from being swayed by preferences and anger, praise and blame. The same principle of objective thinking should also be applied to other matters in everyday life.

If we properly understand the working of kamma and rebirth, we will recognize that no one can be alike, and thus we will also avoid drawing comparisons; for this is a world of comparisons as well as of propaganda. The only meaningful comparison that one should make is between the person that one was a month ago, a year a go, or a decade ago, and the person that one is now; physically, intellectually, morally and financially. If there has been no improvement, or insufficient improvement, one should inquire why this is so and remedy one’s deficiencies without delay. If this annual stocktaking is done regularly, it will be most beneficial. Putting aside pride and prejudice, revising one’s values and outlook, one will then lead a simpler, saner and happier life.