The Cyber Bodhisattva and the Catharsis of the Social Media
While cleaning the data, we could observe the massive accumulation of troubles from a detached, almost omniscient perspective. What we felt was an overwhelming vastness of helplessness. Is this the “suffering of all beings” that calls for “compassion and kindness”? If a god truly existed, one who could hear the cries of humanity, would they feel the same powerlessness in the face of these endless prayers describing suffering?
In temples, worshippers bow deeply to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and deities on high altars, finding spiritual objects they can rely on. But who, or what, are the people replying to these posts addressing their questions to?
Are these respondents—including us—placing their trust in a virtual, illusory “Cyber Bodhisattva”? We are, of course, aware of the absurdity of it all. The replies to these posts are nothing more than coincidences of numbers and ambiguous statements. Yet even so, there are still hundreds of thousands of earnest replies under these posts, with numbers continuing to grow. What exactly are we seeking assurance from? Surely, the people replying know deep down: there is no god, no cure.
We believe in nothing, but we seem even more lost.
Digital divinations on the internet are not like prayers to deities. They require no honorifics or formalities, only a direct declaration of one’s wishes and desires. In ancient times, troubles expressed by people found their way into poetry, such as “Longing for someone under the moon” or “Standing before flowers”—or more practical worries like “No hope for promotion, no recognition earned.” Only a small fraction of “valuable” works from “famous” individuals have survived and are visible to modern readers.
The function of writing has evolved continuously—from recording events to praising accomplishments, to reflecting reality in literary works. Could our predecessors have imagined a world where countless ordinary people could send out words on the internet to perform digital divination?
赛博菩萨与网络的宣泄
在清洗数据的过程中，我们能够以超越的、局外的、甚至俯瞰的角度观察巨量的烦恼的累积，我们感受到一种广阔的无力。所谓众生悲苦，慈悲为怀？如果真的有神存在，祂也真的能够听到人类的哭喊，在面对这些不断涌出的描述苦难的祈愿的时候，祂是不是拥有同样的感觉？
在寺庙里对着高台上的佛祖们、菩萨们、神仙们深深许愿的信众们，尚且在精神上有真实的对象可以倚赖，但帖子中回复的人究竟是在向着什么发问呢？
回复的人们（包括我们自己）是在倚赖着一个虚罔的赛博菩萨么？我们当然知道这有多荒谬，那帖子的解答不过就是一些数字巧合加上一些模棱两可的说辞罢了。但即使如此，帖子之下还是有十几万的认真回复，且还在持续增加。我们到底是在向什么祈求着保证呢？回帖的人一定都清楚：根本就没有神存在，没有解药。我们什么都不信，可我们似乎更加不知所措。
在网络的占卜发问不是像对神明的发问，不用带有敬语、虚词，直接面对自己表明的愿望或欲望。古人能发表出来的烦恼存在诗词当中，例如“对影思人”或“花前月下”，又或是“升职无妄”得不到器重。只有极少数“成名”的人创作的“有价值”的作品才能流传至今，被现代人所看到。
文字的功能从最初的记录事情到颂扬功绩，再到描写现实的文学作品，经历了不断的演变。前人是否能想象如今万千的普通人可以通过网络发送文字进行数字占卜呢？
