Recently, I was asked in a podcast how ancient wisdom can guide us in integrating advanced technologies like AI into society so that they support rather than diminish our humanity.
It is fascinating to know that artificial intelligence has its base in another AI that is Absolute Intelligence. This absolute intelligence is what is governing the whole universe, and spirituality is nothing but getting in touch with this absolute intelligence present within you.
The question is not whether machines will become intelligent. The real question is whether we can kindle and sustain our human values, whether we can work with technology to further these human values of love, compassion, and service. In the age of AI, people are getting depressed, lonely, and unhappy, and that is a grave concern. You might have television in your home, but if you are depressed, you do not want to switch on the television.
The purpose of technology is to bring comfort to humans. It makes life easier and gives expression to the creativity within you. But comfort alone is not enough. Technology must enable connection, wisdom, joy, and the journey within.
The fear around technology is not new. When calculators first arrived in India during my school days, mathematics teachers were worried that students would stop memorizing multiplication tables and become dull. Then computers arrived, and again people feared that technology would damage human potential and intelligence.
That did not happen.
Technology made many things easier and freed human beings to focus on more complex and creative tasks. AI, too, will challenge people to become more original, more creative, and more aware.
Of course, balance is essential. Too much of anything becomes harmful. Vitamins are good for you, but if you consume too many, they harm the body. In the same way, gadgets and technology are useful, but becoming completely attached to screens and devices weakens the mind and disconnects people from life around them.
AI challenges your intellect and creativity. It pushes you to do something original. But for creativity, you need inner peace. Someone who is very disturbed cannot be truly creative. If you are asked to write an article or develop an idea, you might say, “I need some time alone in my corner.” So you move to a quiet place with no distractions, and then ideas begin to flow. Every invention needs silence, not only outer silence but inner quietness as well.
If your mind is burdened with worries, anxiety, or agitation, you cannot think clearly or create anything meaningful. That is why meditation and technology must go hand in hand. Inner peace brings inner comfort. From that comfort comes clarity, creativity, and innovation.
We know from history that many discoveries have happened when people were relaxed, and not when they were restless or stressed. When did Archimedes discover the principle of buoyancy? When he was resting in the tub. Whether it was Archimedes or Newton, something suddenly clicked when their minds were calm. For that, a certain stillness is needed. Meditation and breathing techniques help cultivate that stillness.
Today we speak so much about artificial intelligence, but we must also ask, what is intelligence?
Intelligence is not just about stuffing information or processing data. There is also emotional intelligence, intuitive intelligence, and a deeper intelligence that arises from consciousness itself.
There is intelligence everywhere. That one consciousness which envelops the whole planet, the whole universe, and maintains natural order is intelligent; I would call it Absolute Intelligence. Absolute Intelligence is already here and all around us. Human consciousness is a part of this Absolute Intelligence. This intelligence is of a higher quality. I don’t think any machine can replicate this!
Ancient wisdom has long spoken about consciousness as the basis of existence. It is fascinating that scientists today are saying that objects we call ‘inanimate ‘ have consciousness. There are experiments showing how crows recognise people and pass information to future generations. In our tradition, we believe planets have consciousness. That is why the Navagraha Puja has been performed for thousands of years. The microcosm and macrocosm are connected. Every part of the body is linked to nature, colours, birds, and planets. The universe itself is floating in an ocean of consciousness.
Technology by itself is neither good nor bad. Everything depends on the consciousness with which it is used.
As AI becomes more integrated into society, education too must evolve. Children should become familiar with AI and technology at the right age. Alongside this, short-term courses and accessible public education can help people from all backgrounds adapt confidently to technological change. But along with teaching technology, we must also teach our young ones how to manage their own minds.
Schools and colleges teach mathematics, science, computers, and economics, but almost nothing about emotions, stress, the human mind, or social harmony. People grow up strongly identifying only with their religion, race, and community. Much of the tension, conflict, and violence in the world comes from this narrowness of identity. Fanaticism and rigid thinking must give way to a broader understanding of human life.
Here, AI can actually become a powerful force for good. Artificial intelligence can help spread peace education, emotional well-being, human values, and a sense of global belonging.
The purpose of philosophy, spirituality, and wisdom is to make life happier, more joyful, and more connected. We need to cultivate a mindset that is free from prejudice and narrowness. If guided by wisdom and compassion, AI can become an extraordinary tool for helping people recognize that they are part of one humanity, one consciousness.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
