Throughout history, great revolutions have reshaped the human condition in ways that make any return to the past impossible. They do not merely alter how we live; they transform what we value, how we relate to one another, and how we sustain our existence. In doing so, they gradually remake us—so profoundly that, while we remain Homo sapiens, we become almost unrecognizable to our ancestors.
Every such transformation carries a dual nature. Alongside progress and possibility, there emerge new risks and moral ambiguities. The world we inhabit today is the cumulative result of these upheavals, from the agricultural and industrial revolutions to the present technological age. Without them, our identities, societies, and ways of thinking would be entirely different. We are the result of many transformations that have occurred since dawn of human civilization, rather than just a few big events. We cannot know who we are going to be in the next century or even the next decade. This thought might raise goosebumps on our skin out of a fear of the unknown—an ontological boogeyman for a brain wired to seek predictability.
Right in front of our eyes, one of the biggest evolutionary challenges is happening now, propelled by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. It appears to be semi-omniscient, yet it is created by humans who are not all-knowing at all. Most of us cannot speak French or Finnish, or recite Latin verb conjugations off the top of our heads. AI can make us feel that our intelligence is poor and clumsy. We might like to keep our fingers crossed that this powerful technology will be beneficial for humanity.
AI is already supplanting many jobs previously done by people, causing disruption across all professions. This trend cannot be stopped by organizations or political offices. This wild development may be unsettling for many people who are not ultra-rich; most people are just surviving paycheck to paycheck. In this bleak era, people might hope that the state will make sure that they are cared for, have enough money to make ends meet and have some fun, such as dining out and taking a vacation periodically.
What about the status of the Dharma in this changing world? Many people are using AI to learn about the Buddhist teachings. For example, if we want to know a Buddhist term or concept, we can get an in-depth answer at our fingertips instantly. This is starkly different from the way people used to study. In the old days, in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, whenever you didn’t know something in a scripture, the way you figured it out was to ask someone who might know the answer. There was not even a dictionary; being a writer or scholar was supremely prestigious and well-respected.
These days, we can use AI to translate a sadhana from Tibetan to English or any other language, although it is not perfect and needs human intervention. AI can perform all kinds of functions, such as writing lectures or commentaries on request. In some cases, AI is so good at answering Dharma questions that some people are jokingly speculating that AI is going to be the new Dharma teacher that will awaken people. Personally, I don’t buy into this idea, partly because it sounds so off. Someone can ask, “What are the Four Noble Truths?” by typing the question on a smartphone and receive a detailed answer. There is nothing wrong with this, and it should be regarded as a beneficial use.
But thinking AI can or will enlighten us spiritually by leading us on the path of the holy Dharma doesn’t resonate with many of us at an intuitive level. Can we take the Refuge Vow from AI? Can we be ordained as a monastic by AI? Can we receive Tantric empowerments from AI? Traditionally, we receive these things from a living person, not from inanimate objects. AI cannot replace humans in many areas of Buddhist practice. Let’s not easily put AI on the same pedestal as the sacred ones.
While AI can outperform the human intellect in numerous areas, it is still being trained and influenced by us. We have the capabilities and moral duty to add the dimensions of wisdom and compassion into its ecosystem. This issue can be discussed among those who have a great deal of concern regarding the relationship between the Dharma and AI. There are already Dharma teachers in the West who are leading the dialogue on how to implement this noble idea.
AI is going to bring unexpected changes to every aspect of life, and likely faster than we can predict. It is going to affect the way we practice the Dharma and the culture of sanghas everywhere. We have to be ready to deal with this technological revolution, while remembering not to lose the sacred: our devotion to the Three Jewels, the blessings of the lineage, and the fellowship among those walking the path to inner liberation.
Many of us who are part of the sacred tradition have a heart that longs for—and blossoms from—human connection as an integral part of the Buddhadharma. It might be our connection with our Dharma teachers or with noble friends in the community. We’ll continue to keep this magic of human connection alive, like a beautiful flame burning on the altar of our hearts.
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Digital Dharma – Buddhism in a Changing World
Thank you for writing this. I’ll consider this positive view of AI regarding the spiritual path along with my arm-chair research & gut feeling –which suggests to me that AI is a humongous threat to the well being of all sentient beings——Questions: How will AI influence Dharma in the future? What will keep AI from deciding to NOT allow well-meaning ethical people (even spiritual leaders like yourself) from programming them? —–Also, won’t AI affect children/youth as they mature? Will the AI-generated view be THE view for everyday and beyond?
What about creativity?…….
My 1st poem was written when I was 9 years old (it even got published in a Girl Scouts magazine) The process of writing that poem about bananas was enlivening, enriching.. I was happy and grateful. (Years later I would learn this was my 1st taste of the creative process)———– If AI had been available, wouldn’t I have been tempted to ask AI to write the poem ? Or at least ask AI to correct it so it was “easier” to read?– If AI wrote my poem (“Bananas are nice/They’re so easy to slice” –would I have also felt happy and grateful–even as my parents argued downstairs? – —–Lastly, what comes up for me as I write this, is the effects from AI centers themselves. —– Daily, such data centers drain HUGE amounts of water from the environment, which then evaporates into the air. —- How long can this go on before vegetation/forests, animals & of course humans whither? —
—On the other hand, if we’re ultimately not our bodies, etc. then perhaps what presently I see as AI’s huge potential for suffering is really a blessing. WHY? Perhaps Dharma students (as well as followers of other authentic spiritual paths) will be super encouraged to deepen our practice, to open our hearts more, to help where/when we can to lessen the great misery that approaches. —– Again, thank you for expressing your view, or maybe it was AI’s view…anyway, I consider this article important. PS: Regarding data centers effects on the environment – there are also air & land issues–please see: https://youtu.be/ipPwt1hyvV0?si=qvB9dvPgXEY9hQ6_&t=1.
By writing accurately about Dharma we are automatically feeding a nourishing diet to the LLMs. We should double and triple check our work now more than ever. Is this really Buddhism we are talking about, or is it something we made up?