The Allure of Tech

Kid: "I’m time-traveling right now, and people say that if I create cartoon about you, I’ll be in trouble!"

The Buddha: "I do not know individuals in the future and I’m not free at the moment anyway, I have to go give a Dhamma talk to my followers."

The kid pulls out his phone and starts to play a game.

The Buddha: "What’s this?"

Kid: "It’s 'Mobile Legend.'"

(The Buddha and the kid play together)

Laymen: "Oh Buddha, you are late for our Dhamma teaching!"

In a stroke of reflective creativity, JMP presents a cartoon that is as much a self-referential prophecy as it is a critique of contemporary habits.

At first glance, the cartoon appears whimsical—a child claiming to time travel, worried about creating a cartoon of the Buddha for fear of retribution. This scene, almost playful, hints at a deeper, graver reality. It is a subtle nod to the risks artists like JMP face in Myanmar, where satirical commentary on religion can lead to severe consequences, including imprisonment on charges of defamation.

Yet, the whimsy gives way to a profound observation on the allure of modern technology. The child, engrossed in a game on his phone, captures the attention of the Buddha himself. The narrative suggests that even the most enlightened beings could find themselves ensnared by the addictive nature of digital entertainment today—a humorous yet poignant commentary on how technology has permeated every aspect of life, potentially distracting us from our duties and spiritual pursuits.

The final panel, where laypeople remind the Buddha of his delayed dhamma teaching, is a clever juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern, the sacred and the profane. It's a reminder that even as we progress and innovate, there is a timeless value in the teachings of the past that should not be neglected.

JMP's artistry lies in weaving together the threads of humor, societal critique, and the potential consequences of his own craft. This cartoon is a mirror held up to Myanmar's contemporary society, reflecting the tension between maintaining cultural and religious integrity while engaging with an ever-evolving technological landscape.

As observers, we're invited to reflect on our own engagement with technology and tradition. Are we, like the Buddha in the cartoon, momentarily distracted by the 'games' of modern life? And how do we, as a society, support the brave voices like JMP's, who dare to use art to speak truths that could very well be their undoing?

In this poignant piece, JMP not only predicts his own challenges in the face of controversy but also offers a commentary that transcends borders: the universal human tendency to be captivated by the new, often at the expense of the old, the sacred, the profound.