The Dasuttara Sutta and Global Peace in the AI Era: From Structured Wisdom to Sustainable Human Development Scholars Suggest the Numerical Framework of the Dasuttara Sutta Can Inspire Human Development and Ethical AI Governance
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) increasingly influences human life, economies, and decision-making worldwide, scholars of Buddhism, ethics, and technology are examining the Dasuttara Sutta, a discourse in the Dīgha Nikāya of the Sutta Piṭaka, as a valuable model for organizing knowledge and promoting sustainable development in the digital age.
The Dasuttara Sutta presents a systematic compilation of Buddhist teachings organized by Venerable Sāriputta into numerical categories ranging from one to ten. This structure was designed to help practitioners study, remember, and apply the teachings effectively, guiding them toward the reduction of mental defilements, the cultivation of virtue, and ultimately liberation from suffering.
Within the discourse, the teachings are classified into various categories, including qualities that should be abandoned, qualities that should be developed, and truths that should be fully realized. This framework represents a comprehensive process of human development, beginning with self-correction, progressing through ethical cultivation, and culminating in wisdom and insight.
Experts in education and knowledge management note that this method closely resembles modern approaches to AI development, which depend on structured information, clear objectives, and progressive learning processes to achieve reliable and beneficial outcomes.
According to AI ethics specialists, one of the greatest challenges of the modern world is ensuring that technological advancement is accompanied by moral development. Without a balance between knowledge and ethical responsibility, technology may contribute to inequality, conflict, and threats to global stability.
The Dasuttara Sutta’s emphasis on moral conduct (sīla), concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (paññā) is therefore gaining attention as a framework for human development in the AI era. Ethical conduct promotes social responsibility, concentration strengthens emotional stability and sound judgment, and wisdom enables individuals to use technology thoughtfully and constructively.
Peace studies scholars argue that lasting global peace cannot be achieved through technological innovation alone. It must begin with inner peace and the reduction of greed, hatred, and delusion—the root causes of many personal and social conflicts.
Furthermore, the Sutta’s systematic arrangement of teachings reflects the concept of lifelong learning, a principle highly relevant in a rapidly evolving digital world where individuals must continuously develop knowledge, skills, and ethical awareness.
Experts conclude that the Dasuttara Sutta is more than a religious guide. It offers a timeless model for balanced human development. When integrated with ethical AI governance, its principles can help create societies that combine technological progress with moral responsibility and psychological well-being, laying a strong foundation for sustainable global peace in the future.



