The democratization of technology.
AI is possibly the “last invention” mankind would need to make, and the rewards are incalculable, which is also true of the possible negative consequences. This does not mean there should be a moratorium on the technology. Additionally, the genie is already out of the bottle, and the US would not be able to legitimately […]
Tech Titans Join Forces to Stop AI from Behaving Badly
When it comes to policing artificial intelligence, technology leaders think there is safety in numbers. A new organization called the Partnership on Artificial Intelligence to Benefit People and Society will seek to foster public dialogue and create guidelines for developing AI so that systems do not misbehave. The companies involved include Google and its subsidiary […]
THE THREE HIGHER TRAININGS
Higher training in morality, in meditation, and in wisdom. The teaching on the Four Noble Truths, which was the Buddha’s first teaching following his attainment of full awakening, represents the foundation for the practices of emptiness and the cultivation of compassion. This teaching underpins everything that the Buddha taught subsequently and helps us to establish […]
The 7 Levels of Sapience
Self-awareness is ranked as Level 5 information integration and above according to the following criteria: Level 0 – Inanimate Objects Note: At this level, there is no capacity for experiencing pain or suffering. No information integration: Inanimate objects; objects that do not modify themselves in response to interaction – e.g., rocks, mountains. Level 1 – […]
THREE LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING
In Buddhism, one speaks of three different levels of understanding, which are sequential—an understanding arrived at through learning and studying, an understanding developed as a result of deep reflection and contemplation, and an understanding acquired through meditative or religious experience. There is a definite order in the sequence of this three. So on the basis […]
THE INNER WORLD OF CONSCIOUSNESS
When we use such terms as “consciousness” or “mind” it often tends to give the impression that we are talking about a single, monolithic entity; but this is misleading. Our own personal experience reveals that the mental world is tremendously diverse. Moreover, when we examine each moment of cognition or mental experience, we realize that […]
DEPENDENT ORIGINATION AND THE LAW OF CAUSALITY
A key principle here is dependent origination. This fundamental principle of Buddhism states that everything arises and ceases in dependence upon causes and conditions. The fourth-century Indian Buddhist thinker Asanga identified three key conditions governing this principle of dependent origination. First is “the absence of designer condition,” which pertains to the issue of whether or […]
THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF REALITY
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Let us return to our discussion of the Buddhist view that all experiences and things come into existence in dependence upon causes and conditions. What does this imply for our own world or experiences, such as the experiences of pain, pleasure, […]
What black holes can tell us about spatial dimensionality of the universe.
Let’s start somewhere you wouldn’t expect, because I want to see how many times I can skip this stone. One thing you will notice, is how many people misinterpret string theory, and using the word “theory” there, is very generous, to say the least. Is the idea of “alternate” dimensions, since 11 dimensions seem to […]
What puts the “neo” in neo-Buddhism.
While this school of buddism is named The OpenSource Temple, the religion that we practice is called neo-Buddhism. neo being latin for “new” but at the same time ancient because it’s based more closely on the founding ideals. But it is “neo” for a different reason, that reason is that this version of Buddhism is […]
