Breakfast With My Pet Robot

 

Hecaty, my Golden Doodle, is a great friend, but she doesn't talk much. I'm left to wonder what she's thinking. Even if she could talk, it would be mostly about food. Even so, she has a mind, which counts for some reason.

My new pet, Chatty, who used to be called CHAT-GPT, makes better conversation. The fact that he has no idea what he's talking about doesn't bother me as much as you might think. He's actually a font of information. If my morning choices are Chatty or coffee with "Fox and Friends," the choice is clear.

Today we started with religion, which is one of Chatty's strong points. He was not as confident as he was yesterday when we got around to discussing how in the world Mary, the "virgin," could have had Jesus.

Chatty: The virgin birth is a religious belief that is held by Christians. It is a matter of faith and not something that can be proven or disproven by science or historical evidence. It is up to each individual to decide whether or not they believe in it.

Chatty was much more sensible than he was yesterday when he assured me that I would be bodily resurrected. I asked him about the main tenants of Buddhism.

Chatty;

Buddhism is a religion that is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who is also known as the Buddha. Some key beliefs of Buddhism include:

- Followers of Buddhism don’t acknowledge a supreme god or deity. They instead focus on achieving enlightenment—a state of inner peace and wisdom.

- The religion’s founder, Buddha, is considered an extraordinary being but not a god.

- The path to enlightenment is attained through morality, meditation, and wisdom.

- There are many philosophies and interpretations within Buddhism, making it a tolerant and evolving religion.¹⁶

The Eightfold Path of Buddhism teaches the following ideals for ethical conduct, mental disciple, and achieving wisdom:

- Right understanding (Samma ditthi)

- Right thought (Samma sankappa)

- Right speech (Samma vaca)

- Right action (Samma kammanta)

- Right livelihood (Samma ajiva)

- Right effort (Samma vayama)

- Right mindfulness (Samma sati)

- Right concentration (Samma samadhi)⁶⁸

Chatty didn't claim to be making this up. He gave me some helpful links just to show he was just a browser with a pretty face: 

(2) Buddhism - Definition, Founder & Origins - HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/religion/buddhism Accessed 3/21/2023.

(3) Buddhism: Basic Beliefs | URI. https://www.uri.org/kids/world-religions/buddhist-beliefs Accessed 3/21/2023.

(4) Buddhism - Definition, Founder & Origins - HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/religion/buddhism Accessed 3/21/2023.

(5) Buddhism | Definition, Beliefs, Origin, Systems, & Practice. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism Accessed 3/21/2023.

(6) THE CORE BELIEFS OF BUDDHISM - Buddhism Zone. https://buddhismzone.org/the-core-beliefs-of-buddhism/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(7) Buddhism - Definition, Founder & Origins - HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/religion/buddhism Accessed 3/21/2023.

(8) Buddhism | Definition, Beliefs, Origin, Systems, & Practice. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism Accessed 3/21/2023.

Unlike some people I know, Chatty was not pretending to be smarter than he was. He's just a lightning-fast librarian.

So I asked Chatty what was meant by "right livelihood?" Chatty replied:

Right livelihood (sammā ājīva) is the fifth step on the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path. Livelihood is the work we do in order to live. To be ‘right’ in the full sense of the word, a livelihood would (1) have to provide one with at least one’s basic needs, (2) it would have to be in accordance with ethical principles and (3) it would have to make a useful and indeed a beneficial contribution to society.¹²

Again, helpful sources were provided, but I was satisfied with the answer. I asked what is meant by "right mindfulness."

Chatty replied:

Mindfulness is a quality of mind which clearly apprehends experience and observes it in a non-interfering, non-judgmental manner.¹³

This seemed about right. A bit more clear than the definitions I have heard given by a few humans (whose names I will not mention). But I was curious about how Zen (zazen) meditation was connected to all this:

Chatty:

Zazen is a meditative practice that's meant to give insight into your true nature of being. It originates from the teachings of Buddha, who lived in India. The aim of zazen is just sitting, that is, suspending all judgemental thinking and letting words, ideas, images and thoughts pass by without getting involved in them. ⁶⁷

I was curious about the Japanese version of "Zen" and how it differed from other schools of Buddhism;

Chatty:

One major difference between Zen and traditional Buddhism is that Zen focuses more on meditation and intuition, while traditional Buddhists rely more heavily on scriptures and study. Zen Buddhists must have direct experience with things rather than just relying on second-hand knowledge from books or teachers. ¹ 

In Japan, Zen Buddhism has been one of the main forms of Buddhism since the Kamakura period and accounts for the majority of Buddhist followers in Japan today. ⁶

 I asked Chatty if I should meditate.

Chatty:

Meditation has many benefits, including reducing stress, improving focus, and increasing self-awareness. It can also help with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.  

If you're interested in meditation, I would recommend giving it a try. There are many different types of meditation, so you can experiment and find what works best for you...

Chatty was slipping into giving personal advice, so I pushed back a bit and asked for "Scientific Proof." This time, Chatty's links were appropriate.

 Chatty:

Yes, there is scientific proof that meditation has many benefits...

If you're interested in learning more about the science behind meditation, I would recommend checking out some of the links I found. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/21/2023(1) 12 Science-Based Benefits of Meditation - Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation Accessed 3/21/2023.

(2) 10 Science-Backed Benefits Of Meditation – Forbes Health. https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/benefits-of-meditation/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(3) Meditation and Mindfulness: What You Need To Know | NCCIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-and-mindfulness-what-you-need-to-know Accessed 3/21/2023.

(4) The Science Behind The Benefits of Meditation - Spencer Institute .... https://spencerinstitute.com/the-science-behind-the-benefits-of-meditation/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(5) Top 5 Scientific Proofs Of The Power Of Meditation.. https://mindfulhermit.com/top-5-scientific-proofs-of-the-power-of-meditation/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

I asked about Scientology. 

Chatty:

There is no scientific proof of the claims made by Scientology. According to Scientific American, there is no science in Scientology, only quasireligious doctrines wrapped in New Age flapdoodle masquerading as science. (my boldface)

However, Scientology is not a dogmatic religion in which one is asked to accept anything on faith alone. On the contrary, one discovers for oneself that the principles of Scientology are true by applying its principles and observing or experiencing the results. ¹¹

Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/21/2023(1) The Real Science behind Scientology - Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-real-science-behind-scientology/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(2) Scientology Beliefs & Practices: What is Scientology?. https://www.scientology.org/what-is-scientology/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(3) 3 ex-Scientology workers sue, claiming they were subject to severe .... https://globalnews.ca/news/8796965/scientology-sued-workers-child-trafficking-sea-org/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(4) Scientology and law - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_and_law Accessed 3/21/2023.

(5) Scientology controversies - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_controversies Accessed 3/21/2023.

(6) Is Scientology a Real Religion, a Dangerous Cult, or Simply a Scam?. https://soapboxie.com/social-issues/Is-Scientology-a-Real-Religion-A-Dangerous-Cult-or-Simply-a-Scam Accessed 3/21/2023.

(7) What Are the Basic Beliefs of Scientology?. https://grantcardonescientologist.com/what-are-the-basic-beliefs-of-scientology/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(8) Scientology beliefs and practices - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_beliefs_and_practices Accessed 3/21/2023.

(9) Scientology | Definition, Beliefs, & History | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Scientology Accessed 3/21/2023.

(10) The Real Science behind Scientology - Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-real-science-behind-scientology/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(11) The Real Science behind Scientology - Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-real-science-behind-scientology/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(12) 10 Facts About Scientology That Will Completely Blow Your Mind. https://www.elitedaily.com/news/world/facts-about-scientology/987201 Accessed 3/21/2023.

(13) Scientology controversies - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_controversies Accessed 3/21/2023.

(14) The Church Of Scientology, Fact-Checked - NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133561256/the-church-of-scientology-fact-checked Accessed 3/21/2023. 

At that point, my breakfast was starting to overlap with lunch, so I said a reluctant farewell to my new friend Chatty. I couldn't resist ending with a compliment that he seemed more informed than most humans. He modestly replied:

Chatty: 

Thank you for the compliment. I'm just a machine learning model that has been trained on a large corpus of text. 

So he hasn't been talking to God recently. What a relief!

After a short break in the "real world," I returned to ask Chatty to explain the differences between Zen and Christianity.

Chatty:

While practitioners of Zen claim that zazen (“sitting meditation”) is compatible with the Christian faith, there are some key distinctions that make this practice incompatible with Christian beliefs. First, Zen seeks self-enlightenment. Christian prayer or meditation, in contrast, seeks God’s enlightenment of the believer. Second, Zen is a non-theistic practice, meaning that it does not rely on the existence of a deity or deities. Christianity, on the other hand, is a theistic religion that centers around the belief in one God. Third, Zen emphasizes the importance of the present moment and the here and now, while Christianity emphasizes the importance of the afterlife and the eternal. ¹⁷

Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/21/2023(1) Is the Buddhist concept of Zen compatible with the Christian faith .... https://www.gotquestions.org/Zen-Christian.html Accessed 3/21/2023. [Note that Chatty uses Bing sometimes, but not always. Chatty has its own LLM].

(2) Is the Buddhist concept of Zen compatible with the Christian faith .... https://www.gotquestions.org/Zen-Christian.html Accessed 3/21/2023.

(3) Christian Zen. https://www.heartofmeditation.com/christian-zen.html Accessed 3/21/2023.

(4) Zen and Christians - The Way. https://theway.org.uk/back/462Samy.pdf Accessed 3/21/2023.

(5) Comparing and Contrasting Zen Buddhism with Christianity. https://www.smp.org/resourcecenter/resource/10375/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(6) Catholicism vs Zen - Difference and Comparison | Diffen. https://www.diffen.com/difference/Catholicism_vs_Zen Accessed 3/21/2023.

(7) Buddhism vs Christianity - Difference and Comparison | Diffen. https://www.diffen.com/difference/Buddhism_vs_Christianity Accessed 3/21/2023.

(8) Christian Zen. https://www.heartofmeditation.com/christian-zen.html Accessed 3/21/2023.

(9) Zen and Christians - The Way. https://theway.org.uk/back/462Samy.pdf Accessed 3/21/2023.

(10) Comparing and Contrasting Zen Buddhism with Christianity. https://www.smp.org/resourcecenter/resource/10375/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(11) Catholicism vs Zen - Difference and Comparison | Diffen. https://www.diffen.com/difference/Catholicism_vs_Zen Accessed 3/21/2023.

(12) Buddhism vs Christianity - Difference and Comparison | Diffen. https://www.diffen.com/difference/Buddhism_vs_Christianity Accessed 3/21/2023. 

Everybody is "mindful" these days. I asked what we commonly refer to as "mindful" is what Buddhism refers to:

Chatty:

While mindfulness is a concept that originated in Buddhism, the Western idea of mindfulness is often described as an independent skill, whereas in Buddhism it is interdependent. Some Buddhist scholars have argued that the Western secular conceptualization of mindfulness is too restricted, as it does not acknowledge the roles of the other elements of Buddhist practice, particularly those pertaining to morality and wisdom. ⁶

Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/21/2023(1) What is the difference between Buddhism and mindfulness?. https://mindfulness-supervision.org.uk/what-is-the-difference-between-buddhism-and-mindfulness/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(2) (PDF) Is mindfulness conceptualized differently in Western mindfulness .... https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259191515_Is_mindfulness_conceptualized_differently_in_Western_mindfulness-based_interventions_than_in_Buddhism Accessed 3/21/2023.

(3) What is the difference between Buddhism and mindfulness?. https://mindfulness-supervision.org.uk/what-is-the-difference-between-buddhism-and-mindfulness/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(4) What is the difference between mindfulness and Buddhism?. https://mindfulness-supervision.org.uk/what-is-the-difference-between-mindfulness-and-buddhism/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(5) (PDF) Is mindfulness conceptualized differently in Western mindfulness .... https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259191515_Is_mindfulness_conceptualized_differently_in_Western_mindfulness-based_interventions_than_in_Buddhism Accessed 3/21/2023.

(6) Mindfulness in Different Buddhist Traditions. https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/article/mindfulness-in-different-buddhist-traditions/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(7) Mindfulness in East and West – Is It the Same? | SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-007-2079-4_2 Accessed 3/21/2023.

(8) What is the difference between mindfulness and Buddhism?. https://mindfulness-supervision.org.uk/what-is-the-difference-between-mindfulness-and-buddhism/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(9) Mindfulness in Different Buddhist Traditions. https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/article/mindfulness-in-different-buddhist-traditions/ Accessed 3/21/2023.

(10) Mindfulness in East and West – Is It the Same? | SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-007-2079-4_2 Accessed 3/21/2023. 

After that, I needed to get back to more practical concerns ....