Arguments Over Consciousness in the Age of AI - Swami Sarvapriyananda at Synapse 2024

Vedanta Society of New York・2 minutes read

Swami Sarvapriyananda discusses the significance of consciousness in Vedanta, emphasizing its foundational role in human experiences and the promise of profound fulfillment and the cessation of suffering. The discussion also delves into the intersection of Advaita Vedanta with scientific discoveries, challenging traditional views on consciousness and urging a deeper exploration of its nature in light of modern scientific understanding.

Insights

  • Vedanta emphasizes that consciousness, akin to a diamond, is present in everyone but often unrecognized for its true value, serving as the foundation of all human experiences like perception, thought, emotion, and action.
  • The intersection of ancient Indian philosophies like Advaita Vedanta with modern science, particularly quantum mechanics and neuroscience, prompts discussions on the nature of consciousness and its distinctiveness from objective phenomena, challenging scientific theories while highlighting the need for spirituality to align with scientific standards of truth.

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Recent questions

  • What is Vedanta?

    A school of Hindu philosophy emphasizing self-realization.

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Summary

00:00

"Consciousness in Vedanta and Science"

  • Swami Sarvapriyananda, a prominent figure in Vedanta, is introduced as a knowledgeable and eloquent speaker.
  • The discussion delves into the relevance of spirituality in the modern era of advanced science like AI, gene editing, and quantum studies.
  • The story of a washerman finding a diamond and unknowingly using it to scrub laundry is used as an analogy for consciousness.
  • Vedanta emphasizes that consciousness, akin to the diamond, is present in everyone but often unrecognized for its true value.
  • Consciousness is described as the foundation of all human experiences, including perception, thought, emotion, and action.
  • Vedanta promises profound fulfillment and the cessation of suffering if one comprehends the true nature of consciousness.
  • Different schools of Vedanta, like Advaita and dualistic traditions, offer varying perspectives on the nature of consciousness and its relationship to the world.
  • Advaita Vedanta focuses on the unity of consciousness and the self, distinguishing it from the mind and emphasizing the non-objective nature of consciousness.
  • The definition of consciousness in Advaita Vedanta is presented as "anidam chaitanyam," highlighting its non-objective and irreducible essence.
  • The discussion transitions to the intersection of Advaita Vedanta with scientific discoveries, particularly in the realm of neuroscience and the study of qualia, prompting a dialogue on the nature of consciousness in light of modern scientific understanding.

14:56

Exploring consciousness through science and spirituality.

  • When the ego self or default mode shuts down due to psychedelics, different parts of the brain communicate, leading to a unique experience of the world.
  • Consciousness is not an unchanging self observing life; it's a gradation, evolving from simple organisms to complex beings like elephants.
  • In the last 20-25 years, neuroscience has focused on consciousness due to advanced technologies like fMRI scans and AI.
  • The book "Waking Dreaming Being" highlights the ancient roots of consciousness studies in the Upanishads, suggesting a significant impact on human thought.
  • The hard problem of consciousness, as coined by David Chalmers, questions why subjective experiences exist despite being correlated with brain activities.
  • The Advaitic perspective views consciousness as fundamentally different from objective phenomena, challenging scientific theories that attempt to explain it.
  • The global workspace theory and integrated information theory propose explanations for consciousness, but they fail to bridge the gap between objective and subjective experiences.
  • All religious traditions believe something survives death, challenging the assumption that consciousness ends with the body's death.
  • Psychedelic experiences leading to mystical experiences have raised questions about whether ancient mystic experiences were influenced by substances like marijuana.
  • The intersection of science and spirituality, especially regarding psychedelic experiences, prompts discussions on the nature of mystical experiences and their potential ties to substances like marijuana.

29:50

"Consciousness, Science, and Mysticism: Exploring Intersections"

  • The hippie culture originated in Berkeley University in the late 1960s, with an ashram and Swami Ashokanandaji mentioning the presence of avatars in Berkeley.
  • The Yoga Sutras mention the use of psychedelics for extraordinary experiences but strictly prohibit their use, emphasizing that spirituality is not about such experiences.
  • Cognitive scientists like Donald Hoffman argue that what we perceive is constructed by the brain, using virtual reality metaphors to explain the brain's continuous rendering of our surroundings.
  • Distinguishing between psychedelic-induced experiences and genuine mystical experiences attained through meditation and samadhi is based on their effects on character development.
  • Advaita Vedanta does not rely on extraordinary mystical experiences but on daily experiences like seeing, hearing, and the analysis of the five levels of human personality.
  • Swami Vivekananda's interaction with Jamshedji Tata led to the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science, showcasing the openness to science within the Hindu tradition.
  • The discussion on consciousness and science highlights the need for religion to adhere to the same standards of truth as science, with a focus on the fundamental nature of consciousness.
  • The intersection of ancient Indian philosophies like Advaita Vedanta with modern science, particularly quantum mechanics, suggests a poetic alignment in exploring similar principles.
  • AI's replication of human cognitive functions like creativity and decision-making raises questions about the uniqueness of consciousness, which machines currently lack.
  • The complexity of modeling consciousness in AI, despite advancements in replicating other cognitive faculties, underscores the distinct nature of consciousness and its role in providing first-person experience.

43:56

Eternal life beyond physical death concept

  • According to the text, the concept presented is that individuals do not die, but rather their bodies do. It suggests that over the next few decades, individuals will come to the realization that they did not die, only their bodies did. The text also mentions the idea of multiple lifetimes as taught in Indian religions, with Advaita offering a perspective that involves spiritual evolution leading to freedom from the cycle of life and death.
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