Mohamed Shafeen, Mohamed Ashath (2026) Artificial intelligence and spiritual mentorship in Buddhism and Islam. Study Buddhism, N/A (N/A). pp. 1-7.
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Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed how people seek knowledge. Today, anyone with an internet connection can ask sophisticated questions about Buddhist philosophy, Islamic spirituality, meditation, ethics, or comparative religion and receive an immediate response. For many people, AI has become a widely available companion for learning, reflection, and even personal advice. Its speed, accessibility, and apparent intelligence have encouraged some to ask a deeper question: Could AI eventually replace the role of a spiritual teacher? This question deserves careful reflection. While AI is an extraordinary educational tool, spiritual traditions have always distinguished between information and transformation. Religious wisdom is not simply accumulated through acquiring correct answers. It is cultivated through disciplined practice, ethical conduct, self-examination, and relationships with those who have travelled further along the path. Both Buddhism and Islam recognize that genuine spiritual growth requires more than intellectual understanding. It requires guidance from wise human beings whose lives embody the teachings they transmit. Although Buddhism and Islam differ strongly in theology and their understanding of ultimate reality, they share an important conviction. Both traditions accept that spiritual development flourishes within relationships of trust, compassion, and moral accountability. Buddhism expresses this through the ideal of kalyāṇamitta, the "good friend" or spiritual companion, while Islamic spirituality, particularly within the Sufi tradition, emphasizes the relationship between the shaykh and the murīd, the spiritual guide and disciple. Both traditions regard experienced mentors as essential for helping practitioners navigate the complex challenges of inner transformation. The rapid development of generative AI therefore invites an important question, not only about technology but about the nature of spiritual wisdom itself. If AI can summarize scriptures, explain philosophical concepts, generate meditation instructions, and answer religious questions within seconds, what remains exceptionally human about spiritual guidance? The answer lies in recognizing the difference between possessing information and cultivating wisdom.
| Item Type: | Article (Electronic Media) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Artificial Intelligence, Spiritual Mentorship, Buddhism and Islam, kalyāṇamitta, shaykh–murīd |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics > BJ1188 Religious ethics B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BQ Buddhism |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies (Effective: 5th Feb 2014) |
| Depositing User: | Dr Mohamed Ashath |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Sep 2026 16:48 |
| Last Update: | 28 Sep 2026 16:48 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-09-Q5297 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/131542 |
| Indexed In: | UNSPECIFIED |
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