The teachings of the Cūḷasāropama Sutta, found in the Majjhima Nikāya of the Sutta Piṭaka, are attracting growing attention among scholars of Buddhism and technology as a valuable framework for fostering global peace in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The discourse emphasizes the importance of pursuing the true essence of development rather than becoming attached to external achievements and superficial success.
In the sutta, the Buddha engages in a dialogue with the brahmin Piṅgalakoccha and employs the analogy of “searching for the heartwood of a tree” to illustrate the distinction between superficial attainments and the ultimate goal of spiritual practice. A person who sets out in search of heartwood but becomes satisfied with branches, leaves, bark, or sapwood has failed to achieve the true purpose of the journey.
The Buddha compares material gains, honors, fame, and social recognition to the branches and leaves of a tree. Moral discipline (sīla) is likened to the outer wood, concentration (samādhi) to the bark, and knowledge and insight (ñāṇadassana) to the sapwood. While these qualities are valuable and necessary for personal development, they are not the highest objective of the spiritual path.
The central message of the Cūḷasāropama Sutta is that “cetovimutti,” the enduring liberation of the mind from defilements, is the true heartwood and ultimate goal of practice. Those who become attached to preliminary achievements or who use knowledge, morality, and abilities to elevate themselves above others risk losing sight of the path that leads to the complete cessation of suffering.
Experts note that this teaching is especially relevant in the AI era, as nations and organizations compete intensely in technological innovation, data acquisition, and economic influence. Many institutions may prioritize prestige, market dominance, and technical advancement over the deeper purpose of using technology for the benefit of humanity.
AI ethics scholars warn that if AI development focuses solely on efficiency, speed, and profit while neglecting morality, responsibility, and social consequences, it may contribute to inequality, conflict, and harmful applications of technology.
Conversely, applying the principles of the Cūḷasāropama Sutta encourages a model of AI development that goes beyond outward success. Such an approach promotes understanding, compassion, transparency, and peaceful coexistence among people across the globe.
Many experts agree that the pursuit of the “heartwood,” as described in the sutta, can be compared to creating technologies that genuinely improve human well-being, reduce suffering, and serve the common good rather than advancing narrow interests or power struggles.
The Cūḷasāropama Sutta therefore serves not only as a spiritual teaching but also as a contemporary guide for humanity. It reminds us that true success lies not merely in fame or technological progress, but in cultivating a mind free from greed, hatred, and delusion—the fundamental causes of conflict. Such cultivation provides a pathway toward lasting peace and harmony in the age of AI.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น