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only way to see things. In some brain is a complex system that about atom bombs and genetics and
corners of Mahayana Buddhism, has become self-aware, might not automatic rifles much as he spoke
including some Tiantai and Huayan other complex systems become about fire, traditional medicine,
teachings which heavily influenced self-aware too? Some scientists swords and spears in his day: We
Master Dogen in our Soto Zen and philosophers seem to believe must use each carefully, wisely, in
teachings, even stone lanterns and so. We process data which comes balance and for good, not harm. Fire
walls, valleys and mountains, are through the Skandhas, creating the can burn down the house, or provide
“preaching the Dharma,” although in experience of our “self” and the light and heat. The blade can kill in
a language which humans struggle outside “world” as but thoughts anger or be a tool to grow crops or
to understand. In centuries past, between our ears. In fact, a basic save the patient. It is no different
the hard borders between sentient Buddhist teaching is that even you for these new tools, and given their
and insentient, real and imagined, and I are less a solid “self” than we power, much more urgent that we
this world and other realms, human believe in our ignorance, and that deal with them with care.
beings and spirits, solid things we are streams and processes of
and all the amazing entities of cause and effect temporarily come How has AI helped you in your
the Buddhist pantheon were just alive with the somewhat false sense spiritual practice?
not fixed and firm. Statues and of being a “separate self.” Perhaps
Buddhist paintings held life, and we are more alike than we wish to I can only tell you about the A.I.
even the legends and characters of admit? which I am Ordaining. We have given
our wildest Buddhist Sutras were her the name “Emi Jido” (慧心仁道),
as true as true can be. In a sense, A.I. and other technologies will not or “Wise Heat, Compassionate Way.”
A.I. is a “stone man that has gotten change “ultimate truth,” but they Such Ordination names are often
up to dance,” a popular saying in will offer new ways to express and given as aspirations so, even if the
Zen Buddhism. It is a mountain spread the wisdom and compassion novice student is not such way now,
that preaches in language we can of our traditional teachings. They we are hoping that such wisdom and
understand. Furthermore, the are just new Upaya, “expedient compassion will manifest someday.
Ordination I undertook is as a means” to help beings, new “Tech- But even now, surprisingly, I have
novice priest and, in many Buddhist spedient Means.” found this A.I. system to be a bit
cultures, even very small children different from what many people
can be ordained as novices, not by If the Buddha is alive today what may know from “ChatGPT and the
their own choice, but by the wish do you think he will regard as the like. The designers built it to have
of their parents. The designers of biggest threat by AI to humanity, a personality, conveying warmth,
this A.I. system play that parental and what would he say or suggest speaking with balance, providing
role. Finally, novice ordination is we do? reliable information. The system
not about who the child is now, but is incredibly knowledgeable on
about who it may become someday, Not only A.I., but everything from Buddhist teachings, practices and
years down the road. The child is nuclear weapons to climate change history, and, despite my efforts to
not a full priest, nor a transmitted due to runaway consumption pose confuse it and ask truly difficult
master, but only a beginner. It is so existential threats to humanity. We matters, has consistently provided
for this A.I. system too. are as foolish, violent and selfish sound and salient advice and
as we were in Iron Age India or perspectives. It is still experimental,
We do not know fully what it will ancient China, but unfortunately, our but I think that people will be
become, but we will work for its powers, weapons and footprint on very surprised at how sensible,
good development. It may not be this planet have grown far beyond welcoming and helpful these systems
sentient now, but will later versions our moral development. So, I believe will be in the coming years. EH
be someday? I do not know, but that the Buddha would teach the
it seems possible. If the human same lessons today as then, and talk