Mahayana Analog Databases
Contemporaneity, it could be argued, is predicated on the relational database and its progeny. The important ideas from relational database theory here are the uniqueness of each and every record and the ability to consider each record both individually and in relation to others; the ability to categorize records and relationships as we see fit and the very real world effects databases have on our material circumstances. There are so many parallels in this description with Buddhist, especially Mahayanan thought. Aren’t all events and object both unique and more deeply understood, at times categorized and in relation to all the other events and objects? Isn’t the only thing missing from the perfect database the aspiration for the liberation of all beings? If so, I believe its shape should be more African to remind us of our goal.
