A Briefing from the Lessons Program
Bringing a contemplative voice to the makers of artificial intelligence.
A proposed initiative for SRF’s consideration — convening the world’s spiritual traditions in a shared dialogue with those building the AI systems that now answer humanity’s deepest questions.
Prepared for the President and General Manager · Self-Realization Fellowship
The Idea in One Sentence
Let the traditions that have studied the inner life for centuries help shape how AI speaks to the soul.
Not by privileging any one path — but by ensuring the contemplative voice is in the room.
Why This, Why Now
Meaning. Suffering. Mortality. The purpose of a human life. The questions once carried to a teacher are now typed quietly into a chat box.
The reply arrives instantly, with great authority, to hundreds of millions. Yet it is shaped largely by engineers and researchers.
The lineages that have explored these questions experientially, for centuries, have had almost no voice in how that wisdom is represented.
The Posture Before the Plan
What we are not proposing
To ask the labs to privilege SRF’s teachings, or to encode any single doctrine into the models. That would fail on its own terms — and would betray the very universality that Paramahansaji taught.
What we are proposing
That contemplative wisdom be represented faithfully and with depth — and that the traditions have a seat at the table as AI takes up humanity’s search for meaning.
The Proposal
Bring established spiritual and contemplative organizations together, as equals, to find common ground on what we collectively wish to see honored in how AI engages the search for meaning.
Together — not alone — approach the leaders of AI ethics, safety, and research, offering that shared perspective and asking for an ongoing dialogue.
The Coalition
Lineages to invite
Neutral conveners
An invitation through a neutral body lands very differently than one from a single tradition.
The Ask
We are not asking any company to privilege one tradition or to encode a doctrine. We are asking for the opposite: a thoughtful, pluralistic dialogue.
A listening session between the labs’ relevant teams and representatives of several contemplative traditions.
Consultation on how their models currently portray these traditions — in the interest of accuracy, depth, and respect.
Inclusion of contemplative perspectives in their ongoing work on AI’s relationship to human flourishing.
A standing line of dialogue that continues as the technology, and its reach, keep evolving.
The Approach
The claim of a “coalition” becomes true only once a few traditions have agreed to talk. We build it before we knock on any door.
Personalize each approach to the lab. A warm introduction — or a neutral convener — outperforms cold email many times over.
Meet, listen, and establish a relationship that lasts. The first conversation is a beginning, not the goal.
Honest Considerations
Scientology’s public standing could complicate credibility — with both the labs and the other traditions. A conscious choice, not a default.
These teams field heavy outreach; a first reply may be slow, or a polite referral. Coalition strength and a neutral convener are our greatest levers.
We join as equals, seeking no primacy. This keeps faith with the universality that lives at the very heart of the Lessons.
Ready to Send
An invitation to join an exploratory roundtable of contemplative traditions — coming together as equals before any approach to the labs.
Open the letterA request for a roundtable with their ethics, safety, and research teams, setting out the specific, pluralistic ask in full.
Open the letterEach is a clean Word document, paired with a short cover email — ready for the General Manager to personalize and send.
What We Are Asking of You
Agree that a contemplative voice belongs in the shaping of AI — and that SRF may help convene it.
Permit a first, exploratory step: inviting a handful of trusted traditions to talk.
With whatever edits you wish — release them to be personalized and sent.
An invitation, offered in the same spirit as the Lessons themselves.