TCF 03.10.24 | Should AI Take Advice from Lord Krishna?

As we journey together through the endless possibilities of mind and spirit, this week's newsletter brings you profound insights and practical wisdom to enrich your path to wellness and understanding.

In "Should AI Take Advice from Lord Krishna?" by Deepak Chopra, the author explores the complexities of AI and consciousness. He delves into AI's current abilities, like machine learning without explicit programming and unexpected developments, contrasting these with AI's lack of consciousness and experiences. Referencing the Bhagavad Gita, he connects consciousness to the quantum field and the Vedic concept of an all-encompassing "That." Chopra emphasizes that AI, born from human creativity, cannot replicate the depth of human values that stem from consciousness, an eternal and infinitely creative field. This week, we also feature a conversation between Dr. Chopra and visionary architect Bjarke Ingels about his work and the new mindfulness city in Bhutan.

In this week’s article. “The Ultimate Happiness: A Journey Through InnerSpace and Personal Growth”, I share my reflections after reading Dr. Chopra’s book, which further reinforced my understanding of happiness as a universal pursuit and a deeply personal exploration.

Additionally, I am excited to present a captivating conversation with Dr, Jennifer Wortham from the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University. Dr. Wortham talks about moral and spiritual injury and how they can impact a person’s health. She also shares her story of writing a letter to the Pope about forgiveness and her efforts to establish a United Nations World Day for Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Violence.

We invite you to immerse yourself in these enriching discussions, reflections, and practices. May they serve as beacons on your journey towards a more conscious, connected, and fulfilling life.

Warm regards,

Poonacha Machaiah - CEO

The Chopra Foundation

www.choprafoundation.org

Should AI Take Advice from Lord Krishna?

By Deepak Chopra, MD, FACP, FRCP

Both sides who engage in AI prophecy, those who fear catastrophe and those who see a new reality emerging, must concede that no one knows the capacity of AI, not even its inventors. Machine learning has crossed a threshold. Instead of learning by mechanically shuffling around information, AI’s software allows it the freedom to learn on its own without specific instructions.

Having crossed this threshold, two startling developments have emerged. One is the phenomenon known as hallucinations, when an AI gives false answers invented out of whole cloth. The other is totally unpredicted achievements, as when AI is programmed to learn one language and masters another on its own.

But the ultimate mystery is about consciousness. The “artificial” in artificial intelligence poses a major restriction. Machines cannot have experiences, and therefore, their relationship to real life is artificial. Consider the example below.

Deepak: Do you know what it feels like to fall in love?

ChatGPT: As an artificial intelligence, I don’t have personal experiences or emotions like humans do. AI, as you can see, is programmed to report on its limitations, yet an answer was still forthcoming.

ChatGPT: Falling in love often involves a range of intense emotions such as joy, excitement, happiness, and a sense of connection with another person. It can also involve feelings of vulnerability, longing, and sometimes even anxiety. People often describe it as a powerful and transformative experience that can deeply impact their lives.

This answer echoes the input of human beings, but an unscrupulous use of an AI chatbot could simply say, “I feel a range of intense emotions.” Who would know the difference?

This is a critical question because the most famous test of machine intelligence, the Turning Test, is all about illusion versus reality. The test basically posits that if a computer can answer questions in such a way that you can’t tell they didn’t come from a human being, the machine is de facto intelligent.

But this could be seen as pure deception. In Cyrano de Bergerac, the hero is too shy to plead his love, and a standby takes his place to woo the beloved. This makes for good romantic comedy. In real life, the Turing Test uses a mechanical standby to speak with the voice of a human being. This will never be the equivalent of being conscious.

The reason was stated centuries ago in the Bhagavad Gita when Lord Krishna declared, “I am the field and the knower of the field.” In Sanskrit, the word “field” applies to the field of battle, but the deeper meaning is that Lord Krishna doesn’t simply know about the field of consciousness; he is the field. Just as importantly, this describes the divine spark that exists inside human beings.

Science can reconcile this passage with the modern concept that places the origin of physical reality in the quantum field. Ripples in the quantum field interact to form patterns that give rise to subatomic particles, atoms, molecules, and the higher levels of physical creation. But such a materialist/physicalist view doesn’t bring us closer to why we are conscious beings while stars, galaxies, black holes, etc. aren’t. <<Link to full article>>

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Visionary Architect for a more peaceful, just, sustainable, healthier and joyful world.

The Ultimate Happiness: A Journey Through Inner Space and Personal Growth

Poonacha Machaiah, CEO - The Chopra Foundation

As the CEO of the Chopra Foundation, I have the privilege of working closely with Dr. Chopra. During one of our recent meetings, he shared with me his book, “The Ultimate Happiness Prescription,” and his vision to make this an online program as part of the Foundation's NeverAlone Initiative for mental well-being. Reading this book further reinforced my understanding of happiness as a universal pursuit and a deeply personal exploration.

A Paradigm Shift in Understanding Joy

In the illuminating pages of Dr. Chopra’s book, a radical truth is revealed: the traditional markers of happiness — wealth, success, health — are not its progenitors but rather its progeny. This perspective forces us to reconsider the fabric of our everyday existence, where societal expectations often conflate our net worth with our self-worth.

The groundbreaking work of positive psychologists like Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Dr. Ed Diener, and Dr. Martin Seligman offer a scientific scaffolding to this philosophy with their happiness formula, H = S + C + V. While H represents our enduring happiness, S is the set point granted by our genes, C represents our life circumstances, and V is the segment we control — our voluntary actions.

The Happiness Set Point and the Science Behind It

Learning that about 50% of our happiness is genetically preordained may seem like a gambit by fate. This set point is the gravitational center we return to after life’s highs and lows, thanks to hedonic adaptation — the psychological phenomenon that brings us back to a baseline of contentment.

The Dynamics of Choice and Circumstance

While we cannot rewrite our genetic code, the C and V variables provide a stage for meaningful change. Circumstances set the scene, but our voluntary actions are the true scriptwriters of our happiness narrative.

The Seven Keys: A Path to Enlightened Joy

Dr. Chopra’s seven keys offer a transformative approach to achieving enduring happiness:

1. Be Aware of Your Body: Our bodies are conduits of cosmic energy, and by attuning to them, we align ourselves with the universe’s boundless potential.

2. Find True Self-Esteem: Beyond the reflective surface of self-image lies the true self — indestructible and precious.

3. Detoxify Your Life: To detoxify is to return to our inherent state of joy and to untangle the knots of negative conditioning.

4. Give Up Being Right: The act of letting go of the need to be right liberates a wellspring of energy and leads to deeper, more harmonious relationships.

5. Focus on the Present: Dwelling in the present moment, we experience life in its purest form, unbounded by the past or future.

6. See the World In Yourself: Seeing the world within us removes barriers to happiness, mirroring our inner state in our external reality.

7. Live for Enlightenment: Seeking enlightenment is the ultimate journey towards understanding our existence and uncovering a profound joy.

A Personal Reflection: The Dinner Debate

It was during a recent family dinner, in the midst of a heated debate with my boys, that the key of ‘giving up being right’ resonated with me profoundly. As voices rose and points were argued, I found myself entrenched in the need to prove my perspective. <<Link to full article>>

Peak Living with Dr Jennifer Wortham - Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University.

Chopra Foundation Research

The Power of Potential - Ryan Castle

The human journey is one of constant discovery, not just of the world around us, but also of the untapped potential that lies within. The exploration of mind-body practices reveals a spectrum of extraordinary capabilities that serve as a testament to what is possible when we harness the full power of our integrated selves. These examples not only expand our understanding of human capacity but also inspire us to push beyond our perceived limits, fostering a profound sense of empowerment and motivation to explore our own potential for growth and transformation. <<Link to article>>

Extreme Survival - Ryan Castle

The exploration of adept practitioners' capabilities to enter hibernation-like states presents a fascinating intersection between ancient practices and modern scientific inquiry, touching on themes of human potential, the limits of physiological adaptation, and the implications for health, survival, and consciousness. This comprehensive examination draws from a broad spectrum of evidence, including basic scientific research, anthropological findings, historical accounts, and contemporary medical case studies, weaving together a rich narrative that challenges conventional understanding of human capabilities. <<Link to article>>

Chopra Foundation Events

The Future of Wellbeing -- Exploring innovation in wellbeing with trailblazers : March 26th (@New York) — Register via the link

Sages & Scientists 2024 (US) - September 14-15 ‘24 @Harvard-Sanders Theater (Cambridge, MA) — Click to be added to the early registration list.

BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group Dr. Jennifer Wortham