Gen AI in Spiritual Science

Substack

I recently attended an AI/ML conference, where I gained in-depth insights into prompt engineering and explored groundbreaking advancements in generative AI at national and global levels. The foundation of AI and ML as disciplines traces back to the mid-20th century, with several pioneers contributing to their development. However, Alan Turing and John McCarthy are widely regarded as among the earliest visionaries to revolutionize the field of AI.

Many presentations discussed developing smart chatbots and financial advisors focused on promoting financial wellness. This got me thinking: what if we use ChatGPT to explore answers to spiritual questions? AI has existed for decades, but it wasn’t until tools like ChatGPT emerged that it became accessible and transformative for the common person. The ability to type a question and receive an answer made large language models (LLMs) surprisingly user-friendly and impactful.

When I began my spiritual journey 2 years ago, the biggest questions I had:

• Which books or gurus should I follow?

• How should I approach the search for my inner quest?

If I were a beginner today, relying on internet-based answers, I would likely turn to ChatGPT and ask these questions. I’ve selected a few questions and answers from the book “I Am That”. Let’s compare them with the responses given by Nisargadatta Maharaj (NM).

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Q 1: Why is there so much suffering in the world?

NM: If you stand aloof as an observer only, you will not suffer. You will see the world as a show, a most entertaining show indeed.

ChatGPT: Suffering arises from a combination of ignorance, attachment, desire, and resistance to change. It is often seen as a catalyst for growth, understanding, and the realization of deeper truths about life and existence.

Q 2: What is the purpose of meditation?

NM: We know the outer world of sensations and actions, but of our inner world of thoughts and feelings we know very little. The primary purpose of meditation is to become conscious of, and familiar with, our inner life. The ultimate purpose is to reach the source of life and consciousness. Incidentally, the practice of meditation deeply affects our character. We are slaves to what we do not know; of what we know we are masters. Whatever vice or weakness in ourselves we discover and understand its causes and its workings, we overcome it by the very knowing; the unconscious dissolves when brought into the conscious. The dissolution of the unconscious releases energy, and the mind feels adequate and becomes quiet.

ChatGPT: The purpose of meditation is to quiet the mind, cultivate awareness, and connect with one’s true self, fostering inner peace and clarity.

Q 3: What is the centre of consciousness?

NM: That which cannot be given name and form, for it is without quality and beyond consciousness. You may say it is a point in consciousness. Like a hole in the paper is both in the paper and yet not of paper, so is the supreme state in the very centre of consciousness, and yet beyond consciousness. It is as if there is an opening in the mind through which the mind is flooded with light. The opening is not even the light. It is just an opening.

ChatGPT: The centre of consciousness is often viewed as the "I" or the ego, which is the sense of self that we identify with. In spiritual traditions, particularly in Advaita Vedanta, it is said that this sense of self or individual identity is an illusion. The true "centre" of consciousness is not tied to the individual ego but is instead beyond the mind and body. It is often referred to as the "Self" (with a capital S), pure awareness, or the unchanging witness to all thoughts and experiences. In this view, consciousness is not localized but is an all-pervading presence, and the ego's sense of centrality is a result of identification with the body and mind. From a psychological or scientific perspective, the centre of consciousness can be seen as the mind or brain, particularly the conscious awareness of thoughts, perceptions, and emotions. However, much like the spiritual perspective, it is still a subject of inquiry whether consciousness has a specific location or if it is a more diffuse, holistic phenomenon.

Q 4: Can I think I am God?

NM: Don't identify yourself with an idea. If you mean by God, the Unknown, then you merely say: 'I do not know what I am'. If you know God as you know yourself, you need not say it. The best is the simple feeling 'I am'. Dwell on it patiently. Here patience is wisdom.

ChatGPT: In many spiritual traditions, including Advaita Vedanta and other non-dual philosophies, the idea that "I am God" is considered both true and ultimately liberating when understood in the right context. In this view, the notion of the individual self (the "I") is seen as a limited expression of the infinite, universal consciousness or God. The true nature of the self is not separate from God but is one with it, transcending individual identity. In Advaita Vedanta, for instance, the essence of every being is the same as the ultimate reality, which is often called Brahman. The "I" or ego is a temporary, illusory identity, and the realization of one's true nature is the awakening to the fact that there is no separation between the self and the divine.

Q 5: When I meet a European with some education and talk to him about a Guru and his teachings, his reaction is: 'The man must be mad to teach such nonsense'. What am I to tell him?

NM: Take him to himself. Show him, how little he knows himself, how he takes the most absurd statements about himself for holy truth. He is told that he is the body, was born, will die, has parents, and duties, and learns to like what others like and fear what others fear. A creature of heredity and society, he lives by memory and acts by habits. Ignorant of himself and his true interests, he pursues false aims and is always frustrated. His life and death are meaningless and painful, and there seems to be no way out. Then tell him, there is a way out within his easy reach, not a conversion to another set of ideas, but a liberation from all ideas and patterns of living. Don't tell him about Gurus and disciples - this way of thinking is not for him. His is an inner path; he is moved by an inner urge and guided by an inner light. Invite him to rebel and he will respond. Do not try to impress on him that so-and-so is a realized man and can be accepted as a Guru. As long as he does not trust himself, 'he cannot trust another. And confidence will come with experience.

ChatGPT: You could tell him that true wisdom often transcends conventional thinking, and many profound spiritual teachings may seem unconventional or difficult to grasp from the perspective of the intellect. You could explain that the teachings of a Guru often point to deeper truths about the nature of the self, consciousness, and reality, which may not be immediately apparent to someone who has not explored these areas. It’s important to approach such topics with an open mind, as wisdom can be found in unexpected places.

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I believe that there are multiple answers to the same question, ranging from simpler to more complex responses. The dilemma then becomes: which answer is the correct one? How can we ensure the validity of the answers provided by the ChatGPT / LLMs model? What do you think of the above answers? By now, you might understand that nothing can truly replace human creativity, ideation, and expertise. While ChatGPT and YouTube videos can assist us, they cannot replace professors/subject matter experts. However, they can be valuable tools for support. There are limitations, such as a lack of emotion, nuance, fairness, and personal connection, that prevent these platforms from fully replicating the human element.

I’ll conclude this post with a simple question: Would you be comfortable visiting a hospital where 100% of the operations are assisted by AI? Think about it for a moment.

Sharing a quote on the Supreme from NM

When you demand nothing of the world, nor of God, when you want nothing, seek nothing, expect nothing, then the Supreme State will come to you uninvited and unexpected. The Supreme is the easiest to reach, for it is your very being. It is enough to stop thinking and desiring anything but the Supreme.