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NEWS | EASTERN HORIZON 53

Buddhist Chatbot as a Liberating

Tool of Dharma Learning

By Kooi F. Lim, The Buddhist Channel, 19 Oct 2023

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The
ancient wisdom of Buddhism
has found a new medium for
dissemination and practice, the
Buddhist chatbot. Combining the
latest in AI technology with timeless
teachings, chatbots such as NORBU
(https://norbu-ai.org) have the
potential to be liberating tools of
Dharma learning.

Pariyati is a Pāli term that refers to
Dharma learning, particularly within the context of the Pāli canon, is summarized as
the study of Buddhism as contained
follows: pariyati, patipati and pativedha.
within the suttas of the Pāli canon. It
is the theoretical understanding of
chatbots can serve as invaluable comprehensive understanding of
the Buddha’s teachings. Patipati is
study companions for those the Dharma.
related to the practical application of
embarking on their Dharma
the teachings of Buddhism. It refers
journey. They provide access to a Practice (patipati)
to the act of putting the theory into
vast repository of Buddhist texts, The Dharma is not mere intellectual
practice. Pativedha, on the other
teachings and historical context. knowledge but a path to be
hand, refers to the experiential
With the touch of a button, one can practiced. NORBU can guide users in
realisation of the truth of the
access the Tipitaka (the Pali Canon) their practice by offering meditation
teachings. It is about penetrating
or the Mahayana sutras, gaining instructions, mindfulness reminders
the theory or rather experientially
insights into the Buddha’s profound and virtual retreat schedules. They
realising the truth of it.
wisdom. can help practitioners set goals and

monitor their progress.
These three terms are
Furthermore, users of NORBU has
interconnected, representing the
discovered that the chatbot can These chatbots also have the
study, practice, and realisation of
personalize learning experiences. capacity to answer questions,
the Buddha’s teachings. Here, we
They can assess a practitioner’s clarify doubts and suggest practical
explore how a Buddhist chatbot
level of understanding and solutions to real-life challenges.
such as NORBU can facilitate these
recommend appropriate texts They can remind users to cultivate
three learning processes and - with
or lessons. This adaptability qualities such as compassion and
one more addition - sharing of the
ensures that the material is patience, serving as virtual mentors
Dharma.
neither too daunting for beginners to support personal transformation.
nor too simplistic for advanced
Study (pariyati)
practitioners. Learners can study Realize (pativedha) EH
NORBU or any good Buddhist
at their own pace, fostering a more