As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly becomes a driving force shaping economies, societies, and human life, an important question emerges: Should knowledge and technological power be concentrated in the hands of a few, or should they be shared for the benefit of all?
The teachings found in the Lohicca Sutta of the Dīgha Nikāya offer a profound response to this question. The discourse recounts a dialogue between the Buddha and the Brahmin Lohicca, who held the mistaken view that those who attain spiritual realization should not teach others, believing that doing so would merely create new attachments and obligations.
The Buddha explained that such a view was a form of wrong understanding. He illustrated this by comparing it to a ruler who keeps benefits and resources exclusively for himself. Such behavior harms others, deprives society of opportunities, and reflects a lack of compassion toward fellow human beings.
This teaching speaks directly to the modern AI era. As knowledge, data, and technology increasingly influence humanity’s future, monopolizing intelligence or restricting access for narrow interests may deepen inequality, fuel conflict, and limit collective progress.
The sutta further classifies three types of teachers who deserve criticism: those who teach without having genuinely realized the truth themselves, and those whose teachings fail to lead students toward meaningful practice and results. In contrast, the teacher beyond reproach is the Tathāgata, perfected in virtue, concentration, and the Eightfold Higher Knowledges, and therefore capable of guiding others beyond defilements and mental obstacles.
Applied to the technological age, this principle highlights the responsibility of intellectual and technological leadership. AI developers, scholars, and policymakers must possess not only expertise but also ethics, transparency, and the ability to ensure that knowledge contributes meaningfully to society.
Another central message of the Lohicca Sutta is that true knowledge does not end with personal understanding. It must extend into sharing, service, and generating benefits for the wider community. Wisdom kept exclusively for oneself cannot create lasting peace.
Ultimately, after hearing the Buddha’s explanation and teachings in full, Lohicca accepted the truth and declared himself a lay follower who would take refuge in the Triple Gem for the rest of his life.
At a time when humanity possesses unprecedented technological capability, the Lohicca Sutta delivers a timely message: peace will not arise from controlling knowledge, but from sharing wisdom, applying knowledge with compassion, and directing progress toward the common good of all humanity.
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