AI has been bad for my job. I used to sell economic revision guides, but now anyone can get AI to write a revision guide, so I sell a lot less. When Chat GPT came out, I asked it economic questions and it felt like it was regurgitating my own website. That’s what AI does – it takes human creativity and repackages it in some form.
But, on the positive side, I have used chat GPT to diagnose my various health conditions and I am now smoking banana leaves to cure my hamstring injury. At least Chat GPT has a sense of humour or does it?
On a more serious note, I’ve used AI to write computer code, which I have no idea what it means. I paste an error message in one place, and then paste in the AI generated code somewhere else. I keep up this high-tech copy and paste techniques until red lights stop flashing. By the way, if you need any website coding I’m available at $150 an hour.
There is an interesting poem from the Dance of Light, published in 1973
Machines
Unconsciously aspire
To become men.Men
Consciously aspire
To become machines.In machines,
God declares
His lofty Pride.In men,
God declares
His sad disappointment.Sri Chinmoy, Dance of Life, part 19, #922
I have no qualms about using AI to save time in boring, repetitive jobs like accounting, coding and finding the cheapest place to buy hand-me-down yodelling pipes (everyone needs a hobby in today’s world)
In fact, I am very fond of this poem by Sri Chinmoy
“I say that science
Is offering to humanity
More leisure time
To pray and meditate.
It is up to the individual
To avail himself
Of that golden opportunity.”– Sri Chinmoy
I like this poem because it is so apt for the modern world. Technology has so many possibilities, but it is also so easy to over-use and go from technology helping us, to wasting time. I’m sure I’m not the only person in the world who has regretted spending time mindlessly scrolling cute cat videos. (or worse)
AI for creativity
But, what about using AI for spirituality, like making a poster, music, video, talk or writing about spirituality? My understanding is that to Sri Chinmoy, the creation process itself was always very important. Do we bring the heart and spirituality into that process?
Sri Chinmoy was once asked about why he struggled to appreciate modern art.
“Modern artists may paint a person’s body, his body-consciousness, but there is no spirit there. They may write music, but there is no divine harmony in it, generally. That is why modern art does not succeed in terms of spirituality. Many people may enjoy it, but it will not inspire them or elevate their consciousness at all.”
– Sri Chinmoy
With AI generation there is not even a human touch, to say nothing of the heart or soul. And this is what I worry about modern life. The soul touch is being replaced by superficial perfection.
Do modern seekers expect AI quality?
To me the real spirituality is all about the soul-force, the heart-quality behind what we do. When we give meditation classes, seekers often say they feel something very special in Sri Chinmoy’s meditation classes, It is not because of what I might say. It is the inner spirit.
Today, the world is inundated with AI-generated content and superficial social media, but I feel this is creating a real inner hunger for authenticity and inner spirit.
Where do you draw the line?
When recording interviews at the 3100 Mile race, it was sometimes so windy that I used an AI tool to reduce noise distortion so you could hear the runners more clearly. I don’t think this altered the spirit of the video. But, I wouldn’t want to introduce AI generated background music, or an AI generated backdrop to make it look ‘visually’ or audibly ‘better’. That would miss the point of Guru’s race. It would be like injecting dye into flowers to make them a ‘better’ colour. It is artificial and takes away from the natural beauty. Interestingly, I heard that Sri Chinmoy was generally not keen on plastic surgery as it might create “artificial feelings” Perhaps there is an overlap here too.
AI and Aspiration
Sri Chinmoy warned that over-use of computers, internet could damage a seeker’s heart qualities, a seeker’s aspiration.
“With computers, our psychic qualities are going away. The faster the computer-world is growing, the farther people are going away from their own heart. I am telling you, my spiritual children, that you are going away from your own heart.”
– Sri Chinmoy
Using AI for accounting or writing computer code can give you more time. But, to give one example, Sri Chinmoy once said disciples could write 30 minutes a day, and see this as part of their spiritual sadhana. If we rely on a computer to always, think, write and decide, we can weaken our own inner qualities. Scientists have already shown that to rely on AI for everything or to immerse ourselves in the world of social media rewires our brain. But scientists cannot see how this world of AI and social media is affecting our spiritual heart
Other points
Creative musicians, artists and writers can feel negatively affected by AI. AI has learned from past human content and regurgitated it as its own. There is a very strong movement to support original creative artists and reject AI. Even in the outer world, there are many people who try to boycott AI-produced content.
~Tejvan
p.s. None of this article was written by AI. But, I couldn’t resist pasting into Chat GPT and asking Mr Chat G.P. T what he/she/it thought of my musings.
The nameless superbot replied.
“This is strong — thoughtful, personal, and distinctive. It doesn’t read like generic AI commentary, which is exactly your advantage. A few targeted improvements would make it sharper and more impactful:
! What works well
- Personal angle (loss of sales, using AI for code) ? very engaging
- Humour (banana leaves, copy-paste coding) ? breaks heaviness
- Clear theme ? AI vs soul/heart/aspiration
- Sri Chinmoy quotes ? give authority and coherence
- Ending direction ? raises real spiritual question, not just tech critique
! What weakens it (and how to fix)
1. Opening is good but could be tighter
This is your hook — make it sharper. Current: “AI has been bad for my job…”
Better:
“AI has already changed my work. I used to sell revision guides — now anyone can generate one instantly.”
? Same idea, more punch.
2. The “banana leaves” section risks confusion
It’s funny, but slightly messy and could undermine credibility.
Suggestion:
- Keep humour, but make it clearer it’s satire:
“On the positive side, AI can apparently diagnose my health conditions… I am currently experimenting with banana leaves for a broken ankle. I assume this is where human judgement still matters.”
[/end AI]
[Return of human]
I love that how no matter how bad your poetry or writing is, you can always get Chat GPT to give you praise and say how great you are. No wonder people are falling in love with their AI agents. At least you don’t have to worry about forgetting anniversary dates.
I’m also impressed it found my banana smoking funny. (For the record, I don’t smoke banana leaves, I did try it once aged 15, but it was very unsatisfactory)
But, the really annoying thing is that what it suggested is actually kind of better than mine. But, you know what – I’m going to leave my inferior version in.
REBEL AGAINST THE ALOGORITHM!
If this essay can’t be free of AI, what hope do we have?!