As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to play an increasingly significant role in daily life, economics, politics, and international relations, scholars of Buddhism and technology have suggested that the teachings of the Saleyyaka Sutta can serve as an important foundation for building peace and ethical governance in the digital age.
The Saleyyaka Sutta, found in the Majjhima Nikāya of the Sutta Piṭaka, records a discourse delivered by the Buddha to the villagers of Sālā, who questioned why beings are reborn into different realms after death. The Buddha explained that such differences are not determined by fate or supernatural powers, but rather by each individual's own actions.
The Buddha taught that the Ten Unwholesome Courses of Action—including harmful bodily conduct, destructive speech, and mental states rooted in greed, ill will, and wrong view—lead to decline and unfortunate destinations. Conversely, the Ten Wholesome Courses of Action, characterized by ethical conduct, compassion, and wisdom, lead to prosperity, happiness, and favorable rebirth.
Experts in AI ethics note that these principles are highly relevant to the challenges of the modern world. AI technologies have the capacity to generate tremendous benefits, but they can also cause widespread harm if developers, policymakers, and users lack moral responsibility. Such risks include misinformation, violations of privacy, algorithmic discrimination, and intensified social conflict.
According to scholars, applying the Ten Wholesome Courses of Action to AI development means promoting transparency, honesty, accountability, and compassion. The goal is to ensure that technology serves as a tool for improving human well-being, reducing inequality, and fostering international cooperation, rather than becoming an instrument of rivalry and destruction.
The Saleyyaka Sutta also emphasizes a fundamental principle: every action produces consequences. This teaching closely aligns with the concept of ethical AI governance, which stresses careful consideration of the long-term effects of technological decisions on humanity and the environment. Decisions made without wisdom and foresight may affect millions of lives in the future.
At the conclusion of the discourse, the villagers of Sālā developed deep faith in the Buddha's teachings and declared themselves lay followers who would take refuge in the Triple Gem for life. This transformation demonstrates the power of wisdom and right understanding to profoundly change human attitudes and behavior.
For the AI era, the lesson of the Saleyyaka Sutta is clear: genuine peace cannot be achieved through technological advancement alone. It requires morality, responsibility, and awareness of the consequences of one's actions. If humanity can sincerely apply the principles of the Ten Wholesome Courses of Action to the development and governance of AI, it may take a significant step toward creating a peaceful, sustainable, and compassionate global society for future generations.
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