His Holiness the Dalai Lama welcomed a delegation of more than 120 noted academics, scientists, Buddhist scholars, business leaders, and policymakers to his official residence in Dharamsala this month for the 39th annual dialogue with the Mind & Life Institute. Co-organized by the Mind & Life Institute, Mind & Life Europe, and the Dalai Lama Trust, India, this meeting of minds and traditions of enquiry was focused on the theme “Minds, Artificial Intelligence, and Ethics.”
The gathering, from 14–16 October and held in the Dalai Lama Library and Archive building, sought to examine the potential of artificial intelligence to alleviate suffering, advance equity, and support human and planetary flourishing. The delegates also considered the potential risks posed to health, education, work, politics, and climate.
“This year’s dialogue focused on ‘Mind, Artificial Intelligence, and Ethics,’ because how humans will coexist with AI will be a defining question of our time,” said the chairman of the Mind & Life board of directors, Thupten Jinpa. “We will need to draw on the deepest and most diverse resources of human knowledge to prevent the terms of the discussion and debate being taken over by loud voices. The future of humanity is at stake.” (The Tibet Post)
Geshe Jinpa continued: “His Holiness the Dalai Lama has two main objectives when engaging with scientists. One is to expand the horizons of scientific enquiry itself, to move beyond the material paradigm. He wants to bring into focus the mind side of the story, including lived contemplative experience. Meanwhile, science has developed sophisticated technology to achieve brain imaging which enabled the recognition of neuro-plasticity. The Mind & Life Institute has played a huge role in opening up investigations beyond a reductionist understanding of human experience and consciousness. His Holiness’s second goal is to explore how science can serve humanity. He believes that compassion-driven motivation is essential to achieving this.” (The Tibet Post)
The delegates were joined by guests from Tibetan educational and cultural institutions.
Introducing the event, the secretary of the Dalai Lama Trust and director of the Dalai Lama Library and Archive, Jamphel Lhundrup, noted: “The Mind and Life dialogue took inspiration from His Holiness’s vision to create a bridge between the wisdom traditions of the East and the discoveries of the West. In 1987, the first meeting of Mind & Life laid the ground-work for what is now a global platform. The Mind & Life Institute has brought together Buddhist scholars and scientists with expertise in neuroscience, physics, cosmology, biology, and contemplative wisdom. A connection has been established between the brain, mind and ethics. The work of the Institute has inspired monks and nuns to include the study of science alongside their traditional curriculum.” (The Tibet Post)
Across three days of presentations, discussion, and conversation, the guests examined five key topics centered on AI:
Minds: What is intelligence? What distinguishes living minds from artificial minds?
(Dis)entanglement and meaningful relationships: How are human minds intimately entangled with artificial minds? What ethical considerations emerge from the deep entanglement of human and machine? What are the potential benefits?
Collective narratives and possible futures: How do the stories we tell about AI create self-fulfilling prophecies? What are the risks regarding human survival and the possible replacement of human rationality and awareness?
Diversity and ethics: How might a more complex understanding of intelligence impact the AI systems we develop and the regulations we put in place? Is it possible to embed ethical values into AI?
Education: What are the potential risks of AI to young people? How is AI shaping the youngest minds in terms of attention, concentration, cognitive biases, and emotion regulation? (Mind & Life Institute)
The delegates and guests also attended an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who emphasized:
“If we can hold these kind of dialogues every now and then it will be really wonderful. From a Buddhist point of view too, engaging in such dialogues, rather than performing rituals and so on is very helpful. If conditions remain stable, Mind & Life can continue into the future.
“On my part, I studied in the philosophical tradition and practiced debate when I was in Lhasa, taking both the challenging and responsive points of view. When we study, we are applying our minds. In my own case, when I was studying I too used my mind. Of course, when I studied as a child there was also an element of fear involved because I was afraid that my teacher might punish me.
“Scientists can take advantage of the logic and epistemology, the critical thinking, involved in our Buddhist traditions. They can benefit from them.
“These days I cultivate the awakening mind of bodhichita every morning when I wake up, praying that all those who place their trust in me will be well. My life is totally dedicated to the welfare of others.
“I am a religious leader wearing monk’s robes, but when I give a talk I often invoke science. This is because the critical thinking we engage in is comparable to scientific inquiry.
“The moment we are born of our mother there is experience. We have feelings rooted in consciousness. Therefore, understanding how the mind works is important because life is underpinned by mind.” (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet)
Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Mind & Life Institute was formed following a 1987 meeting between the Dalai Lama, lawyer and entrepreneur Adam Engle, and neuroscientist Francisco Varela, with the aim of bridging the divide between the empirical, materialist approach of modern science in investigating the nature of reality and improving the lives of human beings and the planet, and the advantages and insights offered by ancient contemplative and wisdom practices refined over centuries. Its mission, the institute states, is to “bring science and contemplative wisdom together to better understand the mind and create positive change in the world . . . to alleviate suffering and promote human flourishing worldwide as part of the vision of founders His Holiness the Dalai Lama, neuroscientist Francisco Varela, and businessman Adam Engle.” (Mind & Life Institute)
See more
Mind & Life Dialogue XXXIX (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet)
Minds, Artificial Intelligence, and Ethics (Mind & Life Institute)
Over 120 Experts Gather in Dharamshala to Explore Nature of Mind and the Promise and Challenge of AI (Central Tibetan Administration)
Over 120 experts gather in Dharamshala to discuss “mind, artificial intelligence, and ethics.” (The Tibet Post)
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