Ever wish there was one trustworthy, accessible stop for all your spiritual dilemmas? Now what if I tell you all that could happen from a chatbox on your phone? Quite the oxymoron isn't it? NORBU or the Neural Omniscient Robotic-Being for Buddhist Understanding is a technology created to engage with readers in real-time, answer questions, provide insightful teachings and foster meaningful discussions about Buddhism. This pioneering project aims to bring greater accessibility, personalized wisdom and interactivity for Dharma and Nirvana seekers.
NORBU originally sought to revive the Nalanda tradition, where rigorous debate and Dharma inquiry fostered deep understanding. Nalanda emphasized intellectual engagement and critical thinking. Its demolition in the 12th century created a "dark age" for learning traditions, with Tibetan Buddhism as a notable exception.
Launched at the sacred site of Sarnath, NORBU or "Kalyan Mitra" was unveiled as a collaborative effort between the International Buddhist Confederation, the in collaboration with the ministries of culture and tourism, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies and its visionary creator, Lim Kooi Fong, during the Ashadha Purnima event on July 21. The platform's multilingual capabilities make Buddhist teachings accessible to a global audience.
Prof. (Dr) Wangchuk Dorjee Negi, Vice Chancellor of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS) at Sarnath explained the meaning of the word Dharma, as one that symbolises `absorb’ or `hold’.
“All phenomena hold their characteristics, we can distinguish these as water, wind, fire, tree, plants and these become their uncommon characteristics.”
He went on to explain that all phenomena, both mundane and supramundane, come under the general meaning of Dharma as it relates to the Universal Law or the Law of Nature, which pervades all phenomena in one way or the other. These include the qualities of morality, concentration and wisdom, he said. These teachings are being made available with the AI enabled NORBU.
Notably, AI has been making inroads in all aspects of life—business, healthcare, education, lifestyle and governance. Religion has so far been a tricky landscape for AI to enter but NORBU is a significant step forward in making Buddhist teachings accessible and engaging for a global audience. By merging ancient wisdom with cutting-edge technology, NORBU is being seen as an innovative method by those who seek enlightenment through a deeper understanding of Buddhist philosophy.
