[FutureBuddha] Archiving Old Chapters - Book Soon to be Published

[Jundo]

Dear All,

As my book is now in final editing, and is soon to be published (perhaps by the end of this year), I have archived most of the early manuscript drafts that were posted in this part of the forum, and will not be posting more for now. Thank you to all who wrote me with suggestions and insights. The title of the book will be

BUILDING the FUTURE BUDDHA:

The Zen of AI, Genes, Saving the World and Travel to the Stars

I will post here about any developments as that future publication time draws near.

And we will continue the discussion here as before, about Buddhism's impact on the future, and the future's impact on Buddhism.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

By the way, here is the cover as it stands now:

BUILDING the FUTURE BUDDHA! - NEW FRONT COVER.png

I am very content to report that the noted historian and Dogen expert, Prof. Steven Heine, just sent me his jacket blurb for the book.

"Jundo Cohen helps us lift Buddhism from the realm of dusty caves and reclusive locations in order to envision a future whereby traditional Buddhist values and virtues greatly contribute to shaping our thoughts and actions in relation to new technologies and the complicated kinds of decision-making that must be faced."

Dr. Steven Heine, Director of Asian Studies, Florida International University, Historian of Japanese Buddhism and Zen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Heine

[Houzan]

Looking forward to reading this one!
Maybe in time to put under the Xmas tree: from non-self to self.

Gassho, Michael
Satlah

[Jundo]

Here's the back cover text as it stands. Is it okay? Any suggestions? All suggestions welcome.

Buddhism will change technology and tomorrow.

Tomorrow and technology will change Buddhism.

Zen guides us to step back a bit from our machines and digital devices, to turn off the flashing lights for awhile, to rest from the quest for constant upgrades and progress, returning at times to the simple and old-fashioned ways, the slow ways, because they are beautiful ways.

Hand-in-hand, new technologies and medicine, if employed wisely, can bring peace, an end to violence, cures for diseases, ecological balance, greater love and empathy among people, remedies for poverty and homelessness, so much good in this world long dreamt of by Buddhists and others who care.

As well, AI and robotics, bio-engineering and physical enhancements, genetics and nano-implants, virtual reality and new media, medical miracles and manufacturing marvels, extended lifespans and expanded minds will impact Buddhism too. Zen will be practiced, programmed, bred and wired in; enlightenment shall flow as chemistry and light across neural and optical fibers.

ANCIENT WISDOM, CHOICES NOW, BRINGING A BRIGHT FUTURE

[Houzan]

Here's the back cover text as it stands. Is it okay? Any suggestions? All suggestions welcome.

Buddhism will change technology and tomorrow.

Tomorrow and technology will change Buddhism.

Zen guides us to step back a bit from our machines and digital devices, to turn off the flashing lights for awhile, to rest from the quest for constant upgrades and progress, returning at times to the simple and old-fashioned ways, the slow ways, because they are beautiful ways.

Hand-in-hand, new technologies and medicine, if employed wisely, can bring peace, an end to violence, cures for diseases, ecological balance, greater love and empathy among people, remedies for poverty and homelessness, so much good in this world long dreamt of by Buddhists and others who care.

As well, AI and robotics, bio-engineering and physical enhancements, genetics and nano-implants, virtual reality and new media, medical miracles and manufacturing marvels, extended lifespans and expanded minds will impact Buddhism too. Zen will be practiced, programmed, bred and wired in; enlightenment shall flow as chemistry and light across neural and optical fibers.

ANCIENT WISDOM, CHOICES NOW, BRINGING A BRIGHT FUTURE

Looks great!
If I’d have to suggest something:
The sentence “Buddhism will change technology and tomorrow” might be read as a bit optimistic by some.
I could argue that technology and tomorrow will happen with or without Buddhism.
Maybe: “Tomorrow and technology will change Buddhism, but Buddhism can also change technology and tomorrow!”
Would maybe lend itself better to the key question of the book: how can ancient Buddhist wisdom help guide us into the future?
Maybe, not sure.

Gassho, Michael
Satlah

[Jundo]

The sentence “Buddhism will change technology and tomorrow” might be read as a bit optimistic by some.
I could argue that technology and tomorrow will happen with or without Buddhism.

Thank you, Michael!

Oh, I am optimistic! Very much so (what is the option?)

Technology and tomorrow will happen with or without Buddhism, but Buddhism can change how they happen ... in good ways!

Gassho, J

stlah

[Kaitan]

enlightenment shall flow as chemistry and light across neural and optical fibers.

Hi Jundo

I don't get what you mean by flow as chemistry. To me chemistry is more about reactions, transfomations, bonding, breaking, sharing/giving/losing electrons; Perhaps these keywords might be helpful and since they resonate more in the context of chemistry than the word "flow", but I'm not sure what relation you want to point since I have no idea about enlightenment.

Gassho

stlah

Bernal

[Jundo]

Hi Jundo

I don't get what you mean by flow as chemistry. To me chemistry is more about reactions, transfomations, bonding, breaking, sharing/giving/losing electrons; Perhaps these keywords might be helpful and since they resonate more in the context of chemistry than the word "flow", but I'm not sure what relation you want to point since I have no idea about enlightenment.

Gassho

stlah

Bernal

How about "move" or "travel"? On the other hand, might we not say that the electro-chemical reactions of the nervous system "flow" along neural pathways, and that light also flows?

Thanks, Bernal.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Kaitan]

might we not say that the electro-chemical reactions of the nervous system "flow" along neural pathways, and that light also flows?

I would remove the word electrochemical, leave only reactions and change "of" by "in":

the reactions in the nervous system flow...

chemical reactions is also ok without "electro". Electrochemical is when oxidation and reduction takes place and is more used in the field of electrochemistry.

Gasshō

stlah

Bernal

[Kaitan]

I would remove the word electrochemical, leave only reactions and change "of" by "in":

chemical reactions is also ok without "electro". Electrochemical is when oxidation and reduction takes place and is more used in the field of electrochemistry.

Gasshō

stlah

Bernal

I know nothing about chemistry in the brain, it's actually much complicated than my habitual reactions I do with the beaker You were right, electrochemical reactions is fineeeee. I'm sorry

Gasshō

stlah

Bernal

[Jundo]

I just added some very sensitive paragraphs on why ... in one small section of the book ... I advocate (assuming that the technology is inevitable, is unlikely to be stopped, and has a high likelihood of being misused by despots and other nefarious types) that "good guy" researchers and ethicists get a head start on using genetics and medicine for good, to make us gentler, less violent, more charitable and empathetic toward strangers.

It is about the impact of AI on such research, so I asked AI about it:

~ ~ ~

As with every potentially mis-usable discovery or device throughout human history, it is vitally important who gets their hands on it first. The “white hats” need to head the villains off at the pass! I feel we have no choice, for if we stick our heads in the sand, the robber barons, generalissimos, despots and other rogues will just have their way. ...

It is rare to find a case where a specific type of complex human behavior is clearly caused by a single gene or a handful of genes, or by a specific region of the brain and body. In fact, thousands or tens of thousands of separate genes, in intricate patterns, contribute directly and indirectly to tendencies in human beings to behave in given ways when combined with socialization, environmental and other factors. Likewise, the relationships among our billions of neurons, their trillions of connections, and specific human actions remain a mystery. At present, the patterns of influence among that many separate genes or synapses, in combination with hormonal and other bodily systems, are so complex that human beings, even with our best modern computers, struggle to detect anything beyond the most basic interconnections and mutual influences. But will that always be the case? Although impossible for human beings today, perhaps future generations of AI will be capable of the task. In fact, I asked this question of a modern AI (GPT-4, likely very much obsolete by the time you are reading this), and it promptly answered:

Yes, it is indeed possible that sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) systems could someday help identify the relationships between thousands of genes or millions of neurons which contribute to specific complex human behaviors. The complexity of the human genome or human brain structure and their relationship to behavior are challenging problems, but AI technologies, especially machine learning algorithms, are well-suited for handling large and intricate datasets. Machine learning techniques can analyze vast amounts of genetic and neurological data and identify patterns and relationships that are beyond the capacity of human researchers. With advancements in AI, scientists have already started using machine learning algorithms to analyze genetic data and predict various traits and disease susceptibilities. Artificial Intelligence and machine learning techniques have already been instrumental in analyzing large sets of neuroscientific data. These technologies can identify patterns in gene sequences and brain activity that might be challenging for humans to discern. These methods are likely to become even more sophisticated in the future, enabling researchers to gain insights into the genetic or neurological basis of complex human behaviors. Additionally, AI can assist in integrating diverse types of data, such as genetic information, neural patterns, clinical data, and environmental factors, to create comprehensive models of complex behaviors. By leveraging AI's ability to process and analyze this multidimensional data, scientists may uncover intricate relationships between genes, neurons and behaviors that were previously difficult to discern.

The potential for sophisticated AI to suggest ways to manipulate genes or neural networks in order to influence complex human behavior is a topic of both excitement and concern within the scientific and ethical communities.

Because that terrible potential exists, if it cannot be prevented, while there is still time, it is vital that humanitarian scientists and ethicists with their “white hat” AI take the lead, before the despots, dictators and destroyers with their “black hat” AI allies do so. ...

~ ~ ~

Gassho, J

stlah

[Jundo]

Okay, quick survey ... which do you feel is better?

Buddhism can change technology and tomorrow.

Tomorrow and technology will change Buddhism.

or

Buddhism could change technology and tomorrow.

Tomorrow and technology will change Buddhism.

or (preserving the wording both ways) ...

Buddhism will change technology and tomorrow.

Tomorrow and technology will change Buddhism.

Please let me know ...

Gassho, Jundo

satlah

[Bion]

Okay, quick survey ... which do you feel is better?

Buddhism can change technology and tomorrow.

Tomorrow and technology will change Buddhism.

or (preserving the wording both ways) ...

Buddhism will change technology and tomorrow.

Tomorrow and technology will change Buddhism.

Please let me know ...

Gassho, Jundo

satlah

I would honestly go with

“How Buddhism could change the technology of tomorrow”

and

“How tomorrow’s technology could reshape Buddhism”

Gassho
Sat and lah

[Jundo]

I would honestly go with

“How Buddhism could change the technology of tomorrow”

and

“How tomorrow’s technology could reshape Buddhism”

Gassho
Sat and lah

It is about tomorrow's society and world too, not just tomorrow's tech.

But I put up a "could" option, above.

Thanks Bi.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Bion]

[FutureBuddha] Archiving Old Chapters - Book Soon to be Published

It is about tomorrow's society and world too, not just tech. But I put up a "could" option.

Thanks Bi.

Gassho, J

stlah

For me the “could” was the important bit. It is to me a hopeful “could”, an aspiration or a goal, as in “if we used buddhist thought and morals to guide the use of technology, THIS is the wondrous future we could all build together.”

Gassho

Sat and lah

[Kotei]

I am not a native speaker, so I am maybe wrong with how I am perceiving these words.

"could", to me, is a "removed from the topic" neutral observation.

"Buddhism can change technology and tomorrow." tells me that it is not a certainty that it will do so, Buddhists will need to take on this "challenge" and make the change"
"Buddhism will change technology and tomorrow." tells me that it is a certainty that it will do so, so no need for action?
"Tomorrow and technology will change Buddhism." is again expressing a certainty that this will be the case.

I understand this book to be kind of a call for action?
I think the version below reflects this best.

Buddhism can change technology and tomorrow.
Tomorrow and technology will change Buddhism.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.