Furthermore, because the essence of cognition still falls within the domain of the human six-sense organs, it is difficult to bring about a fundamental shift in the results of human cognition.
Regardless of the tools or mathematical methods we employ, everything remains constrained within the realm of the six-sense organs. For instance, what you see is always an image formed in the posterior thalamus. Even with advanced tools such as a radio telescope or a sophisticated cinema lens, the basic principle remains the same. Sometimes, we can even further the manipulation of an image by applying filter effects. For example, by using a filter, we can modify an aging face like mine into that of a prince charming. Images are inherently deceptive, and, therefore, they cannot be considered direct valid cognition.
Regardless of how advanced these tools become and how much they broaden the scope of human cognition, the act of human perception still ultimately relies on the human observer. Even with highly developed tools, it is challenging for them to surpass the six-sense organs of humans. This is precisely why it is impossible to capture the Pure Land with a camera. There have been numerous instances of deceiving people with fake photographs. I believe many people have had such experiences. For instance, people would show you photos of the rainbow light body of some Tibetan Buddhists. These images are entirely fabricated because the rainbow light body extends beyond the cognitive boundaries of our six-sense organs. Let me ask: are you able to capture the stars you see after receiving a sudden blow to your head with an external device? This phenomenon is a human visual misperception, which still occurs within the scope of the human six-sense organs.
Even though most photos depicting the Pure Land and rainbow light bodies are fabricated, there are accounts of genuine experiences. When some enlightened masters passed away, their close disciples witnessed many unusual phenomena with their naked eyes, one of their six sense organs. These unusual phenomena, invisible to cameras, were witnessed by the naked eyes of close disciples due to the special bond between the masters and the disciples, which allowed the disciples to witness them. Therefore, if someone claims to have captured the rainbow light body with a camera, it is undoubtedly a deception. Hearing me say this, I hope you are not dismayed. Deceptive practices using mystical elements are widespread, especially within religious groups. They exploit these phenomena to inspire faith, foster devotion, and evoke emotions. Unfortunately, you may lose genuine faith in the Dharma due to these superstitious beliefs.
All the cognitive tools invented so far, no matter how advanced and sophisticated they are, still operate within the limitations of the six sense organs. This makes it challenging for human cognition to undergo a fundamental shift. Such an approach is doomed to failure; for example, the idea of using a radio telescope to see the Pure Land is absurdly nonsensical. In a sense, the use of technology can be described as 'equipping common human cognition with supernatural power'—a rather elaborate term.
Just a few decades ago, having video calls with family thousands of miles away seemed like an impossible dream. Now, thanks to the internet and smartphones, what was once inconceivable has become commonplace. These technological advancements have enabled us to experience clairvoyance and clairaudience through remote video and audio communication. Looking ahead, where will scientific innovation take us next? Perhaps sending scents through our phones will become a reality. That way, I could send a virtual hug to my dog Nio. When he detects a comforting whiff of my presence even when I am far away, he will feel content.
We can now share smiles and even virtual hugs across continents, thanks to advancements in video calling. Yet, one sense remains frustratingly elusive: smell. Unlike images and sounds readily transmitted by our smartphones, scents require a different approach for us to perceive them remotely. This is because scent relies on molecules that can't be easily transmitted through digital means. Currently, the development of technology is not oriented towards scent transmission at all. Therefore, it lacks the ability to capture and encode the molecules responsible for smells. Fundamentally shifting how we perceive the world through technology is very difficult to achieve. Any advancements in tools inevitably rely on our human six senses to take effect, as exemplified by our inability to directly perceive ultraviolet light and ultrasonic waves, even though they exist.
For example, ultraviolet light, which is not visible to human eyes, has measurable properties like wavelength that we can use to describe and represent it. Even though we cannot see it, it exists. Tools like specialized cameras and sensors translate its presence into images and data that are perceivable by humans because they fall within the range of the visible spectrum. These representations act as windows into the invisible, but they are still filtered through the lens of our own vision. We see what ultraviolet light does, not what it is. When you observe the images and wavelengths presented by these instruments, you recognize that it is ultraviolet light. However, keep in mind that what you are actually witnessing is the visual representation within the visible light spectrum; the wavelength itself remains invisible. Does that make sense to everyone?
Though invisible to our eyes, ultraviolet light exists and can be directly detected in real-time by specialized instruments. These instruments act as translators, logically informing us that ultraviolet light, with wavelengths different from those visible to us, indeed exists.
Of course, we can leverage the immense computing power of AI, which far surpasses what humans alone could achieve, to our advantage. However, fundamentally changing our cognition currently remains impossible, and this situation is likely to persist for many years to come. Let us recall the chess match between AlphaGo and the human chess master. AlphaGo's dominance in the game left the chess master feeling like a pigeon playing checkers against a grandmaster, highlighting the breathtaking speed of technological advancement.
However, no matter how rapidly technology develops, computational power is fundamentally based on the principle of binary opposition, involving the conversion of 0s and 1s. Therefore, computers cannot overcome problems rooted in mathematical logic. Whether it pertains to the five senses, mental consciousness, or computational power, it is ultimately impossible to produce a qualitative change in human cognition. It is impossible for it to be like the Buddha, omnisciently knowing all phenomena in the universe simultaneously. Computers cannot achieve this.
AI is very powerful, but it also has its limitations. For example, the processing power of the current version of ChatGPT cannot keep up with the rapidly increasing number of users. When it is too busy to answer questions, it will display the message “Unable to log in”.
I asked ChatGPT many questions. It could not answer at all. ChatGPT was defeated. It is tempting to think we could do the same thing to the Buddha with relentless inquiry, but it is impossible because he is all-knowing, a completely different thing. Computers crunch numbers and draw lines, forever caught in the dance of duality. The Buddha, in contrast, knows everything directly and in real time, like the vast ocean holding all reflections simultaneously.
Whether the Buddha thinks in the same way as we humans do has been a major debate in Buddhist scholarship. Human cognition, largely relying on inference, is partial and biased. The Buddha knows everything directly and in real time. His knowing is all-encompassing, unclouded by mental constructs, allowing him to see both the Saha World and the transcendental Buddha fields simultaneously.
A Dzogchen practitioner, in real-time, sees many Buddhafields on a Yak while still simultaneously perceiving it as a Yak. This extraordinary awareness can be explained in modern terms as a difference in time and space. However, it is unlikely that advanced tools, with all their processing power, could ever replicate it. This is because tools, no matter how advanced, still operate through our six sense organs. Imagine peering through a kaleidoscope, each fragment showcasing a vibrant piece of the world, but never the whole picture. That is how our cognition often works.
Excerpted from:Cognition and Expression Part One
