Amid the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), scholars in Buddhist studies and peace research are highlighting the teachings of the Cūḷadukkhakkhandha Sutta from the Majjhima Nikāya as an important framework for promoting global peace and ethical AI governance.
The discourse begins with a question raised by Prince Mahānāma, who wondered why greed, hatred, and delusion continue to arise in the mind even when a person understands the teachings of the Dhamma. The Buddha explained that as long as individuals have not experienced a higher and more refined happiness beyond sensual pleasures, they will find it difficult to abandon attachment to worldly desires completely.
The sutta further describes the dangers of sensual craving as a root cause of conflict, competition, resource struggles, and violence within human society. These consequences can be observed at every level, from families and communities to nations and international relations. The teaching resonates strongly with today's world, where digital technologies and AI are increasingly used both for development and for competition among global powers.
Experts in AI ethics note that this Buddhist principle aligns closely with modern technological challenges. AI functions as a reflection of human intentions and values. If humanity remains driven by greed, hostility, and the desire for domination, intelligent technologies may be used to increase inequality, manipulate information, and intensify global conflicts.
The Cūḷadukkhakkhandha Sutta also contrasts self-mortification practices with the cultivation of the mind. The Buddha emphasized that the happiness arising from meditation, wisdom, and self-understanding is more stable and noble than material wealth or worldly power. Even the happiness enjoyed by a great king cannot compare with the inner peace developed through spiritual cultivation.
Peace scholars suggest that these teachings can be applied to AI development by emphasizing the cultivation of “inner wisdom” alongside “artificial intelligence.” Such an approach encourages the design of AI systems grounded in human values, compassion, responsibility, and peaceful coexistence.
According to experts, building global peace in the twenty-first century depends not only on technological progress but also on humanity’s capacity to understand suffering, reduce mental defilements, and develop wisdom for the ethical use of technology. If human beings can overcome greed, hatred, and delusion, AI can become a powerful force for peace, justice, and sustainable development worldwide.
The Cūḷadukkhakkhandha Sutta is therefore not merely an ancient religious teaching. It offers a contemporary vision showing that true peace begins with the transformation of the human mind. When human wisdom works together with artificial intelligence under the guidance of ethical principles, the world can move toward a more peaceful, harmonious, and sustainable future.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น