Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Ch.2 4.10-11 Lecture 65 on 05 September 2026 Q&A

Discussion on AI, Language, and Discriminative Power (Viveka)

Question: How Do We Know If Our Thoughts Are Externally Influenced or Aligned with Scriptures?

Speaker 1 : I was recently listening to one of the lectures you had recommended about Harari – Yuval Harari.

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 1: So in that, he was talking about how the language tokens become the easiest for AI to adapt to.

Speaker 2: Correct.

Speaker 1: And speech is everything.

Speaker 2: Correct. Humans – correct. Correct. And for the AI, that's like sweet meat. And that's how it has already started influencing our thought process in the society. So how do we – how do we know whether what we are thinking is externally influenced, or we are thinking in accordance with the scriptures only?

The Power of Language and AI

Speaker 2: So what is language? Our speech put in a particular way. That is why language makes human beings the greatest animal on earth. He can communicate with and convey, share that knowledge with anybody. And that is what he is doing.

What is AI? It shares that knowledge. Where from has that knowledge come? All the books, all the speeches – that is called data. All that data is being consumed by it, and it keeps it in memory. And so it collates everything, and then if somebody puts a question, it is trying to give the relevant answer. Okay.

Social Media and Spiritual Influence

Speaker 1: Yes.

Speaker 2: So now, are we influenced by language or not?

Speaker 1: Absolutely.

Speaker 2: What is the social media doing? It is influencing each one of us.

Speaker 1: Yes.

Speaker 2: And so we are also influenced in a spiritual way by reading, by hearing the outpourings of wise people, rishis. Okay. Yeah, yes, ma'am. So some people are not interested in it. So our receptive capacity and believing capacity – that influences what we choose to believe. And what we believe is nothing but the thoughts. What is speech? Thought made manifest is called speech. Speech translated into language, yes. And that language is nothing but – finally, when you read something, corresponding thoughts arise in our minds, yeah. And those thoughts can influence us – are influencing us. That is called algorithms.

The Importance of Manana (Reflection)

Speaker 2: Now what I wanted to convey to you: God has given us viveka – discriminating power. We are not only supposed to hear through our ears; we are supposed to think about it. The manana process is lacking. After this is all shravana. Even if you are reading a book, that is called shravana – shravana only – through language, you are hearing somebody's thoughts.

Speaker 1: Yes.

Speaker 2: And so, simply swallowing it without thinking – that is a dangerous thing. So that is what the algorithm is trying to do: "Don't think, just open your ears. I will pour into you. Take it as gospel truth and do what I am ordering you to do."

The Four Steps of Discriminative Inquiry

Speaker 2: So we are recommended in every case – worldly knowledge or spiritual knowledge, whatever be the shape of the knowledge – you just listen to it and start manana:

1. First of all, is it true or not? 2. Secondly, is it for me or not? 3. Thirdly, is it useful for me or not? 4. Fourthly, how can I use it to make myself a better person, a happier person?

So this is very important. Manana and then nidhidhyasana must follow – whether it is worldly knowledge, not only spiritual knowledge. Even if a scientist tells you – Buddha said that – even if Buddha says, even if the Veda says – don't believe it; don't say "because I tell you." You listen, but you think over it, and it must make you a better person. That is the final test.

Practical Advice on Using AI and Social Media

Speaker 2: So AI is an instrument. So never blame any instrument. Try to see how you can use it for a better purpose. OK, yeah, so that is what I think we have to understand. Then we can clearly escape: "How much time I have to spend over this WhatsApp, over this stupid, stupid – what is called – other social medias?" Yeah, we are destroying our lives. That is why governments are forced to – now they're waking up and forcing them. They are putting bans everywhere. But we are grown-up people who have to put a ban on ourselves. Yeah, for our own good, right? That is possible only if there is manana.

Conclusion: AI as a Helpful Tool

Speaker 2: So in that order – listen, there may be good things. AI also can help me enormously, like transliteration, etc. So what is wrong with it? Do it, yeah.