CONTEMPLATION OF THE DISSOLUTION OR OBSCURITY AND DELETION OF THE DIGITAL SELF 

back to contemplation of the elements

This contemplation involves imagining the digital self entering into obscurity and eventual deletion. Set 10-30 minutes aside, and begin by grounding yourself in your breathing (as in the liberating effort exercise). After grounding yourself for a few moments, go ahead and bring the idea of the digital self to mind, focusing on the manifestation of that self on one platform. Now imagine the future, where you and everyone who interacted with that digital self is dead or disconnected. No one posts anything to the profile. No one views the profile. When someone does come across it, they have no idea who you are and don't care. Eventually, your account is archived and becomes an abstract digital file that no one ever accesses or cares to access, and, finally, the file is deleted. As you contemplate, remind yourself that this is the fate of your digital self: total obscurity and emptiness. This is the nature of your digital self, and you cannot escape it. The digital self cannot be permanent. The digital self cannot be a lasting identity. The digital self cannot provide lasting satisfaction. 

When you realize this completely through the practice of liberating contemplation, you no longer crave satisfaction in what cannot satisfy; you no longer crave identity in what cannot be self; you no longer crave permanence in what cannot be permanent. With this deep realization, you cut off the craving that leads to dissatisfaction and suffering. 

All that is left of the path of liberation is deconditiong the final residual habits of craving by cultivating the deep peace of concentration.