AI and the Spiritual Path

In this article, I want to share a few thoughts about using AI to assist us on our spiritual journey and then share with you a recent fascinating interchange with a chatbot that I know you will enjoy. The discussion includes the spiritual topics of the spectrum from matter to mind to spirit; then rolling in involution and evolution into the mix; and then finally a look at the spiritual states of consciousness of turiya and turiyatita and how they can assist our spiritual evolution.

I will simply say at the outset that the discussion with ChatGPT blew me away and I encourage you to take the time to read it.

AI and the Spiritual Path

In 2023, I started playing around with ChatGPT, one of the well known AI chatbots. I have always been fascinated by new technology and I wanted to see what it could do. After some introductory back and forth I decided to “test” it by asking it the following: “explain the spiritual concept of involution”. I had some thoughts in mind that I hoped it would include in its response. Some were, many were not. I responded with “so you don’t really know, do you?”. ChatGPT then gave me something that it called a “deeper dive” and everything that I was looking for was included in that answer.

I learned two things from that interchange. One is that if you are not at least somewhat familiar with the subject you are asking about, you might get a somewhat superficial response. Secondly, it pointed out to me the importance of giving the chatbot a very well thought out prompt to ensure you get what you want.

Recently I have been listening to Deepak Chopra’s new book, Digital Dharma. It’s interesting. The gist of the book is that chatbots and AI can synthesize the vast array of human knowledge available on the internet and present it to you in a concise and readable format. It’s then still up to you to take the information and apply it. AI cannot do the spiritual work for you. I agree with him on all those points. Not sure I would recommend the book unless you are a big Deepak fan, but he does have some good suggestions in the book for giving good prompts to chatbots. Listening to this, I decided to go back and see if I could prompt ChatGPT to summarize succiently many of the ideas that were floating around in my awareness.

Below I am sharing that recent exchange in full. If you have been reading my work or watching any of my videos over the past couple of years, you know that I have been teaching how we live along an energetic or vibratory sliding scale from physical matter up to mind and then on to spirit. It’s a range of our experience and focus that allows us to be in the relative world of form and time and matter on the one end while also living in the world of our thoughts and conscious awareness….but that untimately even “higher” is the realm of the Absolute, the Timeless, Spirit. We are growing or evolving to that higher level in our awareness. So part of my intention was to give ChatGPT a prompt that would allow it to fully explain this “spectrum”. Then I wanted it to roll in the ideas of spiritual involution and evolution as part of the map of the spectrum of matter-mind-spirit. Finally, having recently read Ken Wilber’s newest book, Finding Radical Wholeness, I had been thinking that spiritual practices that he outlined for “waking up” experiences of witness consciousness (turiya) and nondual awareness (turiyatita) could be connected to the map to give some practical things we could do to make this map and evolution real.

What follows is that “dialogue”. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Mark

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Dialogue with ChatGPT on Mind, Matter, Spirit, Involution, Evolution and More

Mark: Please describe the difference between the Absolute and the relative. In doing so, please outline the spectrum from the material to the mental to the spiritual and how they differ in both our experience and in vibration. Give several personal examples of how we relate to the different realms in our daily lives.

ChatGPT:

The distinction between the Absolute and the relative is fundamental in many philosophical, spiritual, and metaphysical frameworks. The Absolute refers to what is infinite, unchanging, and independent of any conditions or relations. It is often equated with ultimate reality, pure being, or the divine essence. On the other hand, the relative refers to what is finite, changeable, and dependent on relationships and conditions. In simpler terms, the Absolute is timeless and formless, while the relative is bound by time, space, and form.

Spectrum from the Material to the Mental to the Spiritual

This spectrum refers to different levels of reality or existence, often experienced as different levels of vibration or consciousness:

Material (Physical Realm):

Nature: The material realm is characterized by physical objects and forms, governed by laws of nature, time, and space.
Vibration: It is considered the densest and slowest level of vibration, where energy is condensed into matter.
Experience: This is where our bodies, sensations, and external experiences exist. We interact with this realm through our senses—sight, touch, hearing, etc.

Example: When we eat food or walk through a city, we engage with the material world. The physical act of eating sustains our body, and we experience the world as solid, real, and objective.

Mental (Psychological/Mental Realm):

Nature: The mental realm involves thought, emotion, and cognition. It is more subtle and fluid than the material world, but still conditioned by time and perception.
Vibration: This realm vibrates faster than the material, yet slower than the spiritual.
Experience: Our thoughts, ideas, and emotions belong to this realm. The mental realm is shaped by memory, logic, and subjective perception.

Example: When we are lost in thought or problem-solving, we engage with the mental realm. For instance, when planning our day or reflecting on a conversation, we are experiencing a world of symbols, ideas, and feelings rather than physical objects.

Spiritual (Transcendental/Spiritual Realm):

Nature: The spiritual realm transcends both the physical and mental. It is the domain of pure consciousness, awareness, and the sense of unity with a greater whole.
Vibration: This is the highest and most subtle level of vibration, often considered infinite or timeless. It is not subject to the same limitations as the material and mental realms.
Experience: In this realm, experiences often relate to deep intuition, mystical insight, or the direct experience of oneness. It is beyond form and thought.

Example: Moments of deep meditation or spiritual connection—when we feel profoundly peaceful, connected to all life, or experience an epiphany—are interactions with the spiritual realm. A sudden moment of clarity, where the sense of self dissolves into something larger, reflects this plane.

Differences in Experience

In the material realm, we experience separation—me and the world. Everything is external to us, and our interactions are through tangible, sensory experiences. This is where we deal with our bodies, our possessions, and our environment.
In the mental realm, we experience subjectivity. Thoughts and feelings shape our reality, and we relate to ourselves and others through mental constructs—opinions, judgments, and emotional responses. Our perception is internal, yet filtered through conditioning and memory.
In the spiritual realm, we move toward unity. The boundaries between self and other dissolve, and we may experience life as interconnected, harmonious, or as a flow of energy. Time may feel irrelevant, and our sense of identity can expand beyond the ego.

Vibration in Relation to Experience

In low vibrations (material), experiences feel dense and slow—time seems linear, and change happens gradually. This realm can feel heavy or confining, as it’s governed by survival, effort, and physical needs.
In medium vibrations (mental), experiences are more fluid. Thoughts can change quickly, emotions shift, and we navigate an inner world that feels dynamic. The pace of life here feels more subtle than in the material realm, but still constrained by the mind’s patterns.
In high vibrations (spiritual), time feels fluid or even absent. We may feel timeless, as though we exist in a state of ‘being’ rather than ‘doing.’ Intuition, love, and peace tend to dominate these experiences, giving a sense of expansiveness and transcendence.

Personal Examples of Relating to the Different Realms

Material: A typical experience of the material realm could be feeling tired after a long day of work. The body’s fatigue and hunger signal the need to rest or eat. Here, we engage in self-care by responding to physical needs.
Mental: In a moment of stress or worry about the future, we’re primarily engaging with the mental realm. The thoughts might feel overwhelming, and the emotions stirred up by them create a feedback loop, affecting our sense of well-being.
Spiritual: During a walk in nature or a meditation session, we might feel an overwhelming sense of peace. In that moment, thoughts slow down, and there’s a feeling of connection to something greater, a flow, or presence that transcends daily worries.

In everyday life, we shift between these realms frequently. Physical activities ground us in the material world, conversations and planning engage our mental realm, and moments of stillness or awe draw us into the spiritual dimension. By becoming aware of these realms and their vibrational differences, we can navigate our experience with more clarity and balance, aligning with each when appropriate.

Mark: How does this relate to the spiritual concepts of involution and evolution?

ChatGPT:

The concepts of involution and evolution are deeply connected to the spectrum from the material to the spiritual and to the distinction between the Absolute and the relative. These terms describe a metaphysical process that explains how consciousness or spirit moves through the different levels of reality, from the highest and most subtle to the densest and most material, and then returns or “evolves” back toward higher states of consciousness.

Involution and Evolution in Spiritual Context

Involution:

Definition: Involution is the process by which the Absolute, or divine consciousness, descends into matter. It refers to the movement from the highest spiritual realms down through the mental and emotional planes, eventually manifesting as physical form in the material world.
Concept: The idea behind involution is that consciousness, spirit, or the divine originally begins in its purest, most transcendent state (the Absolute), and in order to express or manifest itself, it “involves” itself in progressively denser forms of existence. This descent leads to the creation of the universe, material bodies, and individual forms of consciousness.
Experience: In human experience, involution is the process of spirit becoming embedded in the human body and mind. At birth, we are not fully conscious of our spiritual origins; our awareness is primarily centered on the material and mental realms. The sense of separation from the Absolute begins in this stage.

Evolution:

Definition: Evolution is the opposite process, where the individual, starting from a material, physical state, gradually rises or evolves back toward higher states of consciousness, eventually returning to the Absolute. This evolution happens through growth, learning, and spiritual awakening.
Concept: In spiritual terms, evolution is not just biological evolution, but the unfolding of higher consciousness. As human beings grow spiritually, they move from identification with the body (material realm), through the mind (mental realm), and ultimately to a direct experience of the spiritual or divine. This process is often described as the return to unity or enlightenment.
Experience: Evolution manifests as the gradual awakening of higher consciousness within the individual. As we evolve, we move from lower vibrations (material and mental attachments) to higher vibrations (greater awareness, love, and unity). We become more in tune with our spiritual nature and less identified with our ego or personal identity.

Relation to the Material, Mental, and Spiritual Spectrum

Involution is the movement from the spiritual toward the material. It is the process through which consciousness “descends” into the densest levels of reality:

In the spiritual realm, everything is undifferentiated, whole, and connected. As involution occurs, consciousness takes on more definition.
In the mental realm, consciousness becomes differentiated into thoughts, emotions, and individual identity, but it is still less dense than matter.
In the material realm, consciousness becomes embodied in physical form, where it experiences separation, duality, and the limitations of time and space. This is the densest and slowest vibration.

Evolution is the opposite journey, where individual consciousness begins its ascent back toward unity:

From the material realm, as we evolve spiritually, we start to seek meaning beyond physical existence, questioning the nature of life and developing a sense of purpose.
In the mental realm, spiritual evolution involves mastering thoughts and emotions, transcending mental limitations, and moving toward intuitive insight and deeper understanding.
As we evolve into the spiritual realm, we reconnect with the essence of the Absolute. Here, the experience is one of oneness, higher consciousness, and a dissolution of the ego, where duality fades and only pure being remains.

Personal Examples of Involution and Evolution

Involution (Descent into the Material):

At birth, we are more identified with the body and the physical environment. As infants, our awareness is rooted in the material realm—our primary needs are for food, comfort, and physical survival. We are unaware of our spiritual origins and are fully immersed in the physical plane.
As children grow, they start to become aware of their individual thoughts and emotions, moving into the mental realm. This is where the mind begins to form an ego, or a sense of separation from others, which is part of the process of involution.

Evolution (Return to the Spiritual):

Through life experience, some people begin to question the material focus of life—seeking deeper meaning or purpose. This often marks the beginning of spiritual evolution.
Meditation, contemplation, or spiritual practice can help shift awareness away from the material and mental realms into the spiritual. A personal example might be having a moment of spiritual awakening—perhaps during meditation, where you experience a sense of timelessness or connection to something greater than yourself.
As we evolve further, we begin to transcend the mental plane. Negative emotions like fear and anger lose their grip, and the mind becomes clearer and more peaceful. This reflects evolution toward the spiritual realm.

Evolution as a Return to the Absolute

In metaphysical systems, the journey of evolution is often described as the individual returning to the Absolute from which it descended. In this process:

The material realm is transcended, as physical needs and attachments become less dominant.
The mental realm is purified, as the ego and its limiting thoughts dissolve.
The spiritual realm is fully realized, where the individual reconnects with their true nature—pure consciousness or the Absolute.

This journey is often seen as the purpose of human life in many spiritual traditions: to awaken, grow, and ultimately return to the divine source. Involution and evolution together describe the full cycle of existence, from spirit manifesting in form (involution) to form returning to spirit (evolution).

Involution and Evolution in Daily Life

Involution in Daily Life:

When we become overly focused on material concerns—like chasing after possessions, status, or sensory pleasures—we are fully embedded in the lower vibrations of the material realm. This is part of the natural process of involution, where we experience the limitations of the physical world.

Evolution in Daily Life:

Spiritual practices like mindfulness, meditation, or acts of compassion elevate our vibration and help us shift from the material and mental realms to the spiritual. For example, taking time in nature or helping others often brings a sense of peace and connection, which is part of the spiritual evolution toward unity.

Conclusion

Involution and evolution describe the cosmic cycle from spirit to matter and back again. As we engage with the material, mental, and spiritual realms, we experience the full spectrum of existence. By recognizing this process in our lives, we can consciously participate in our own spiritual evolution, moving from the relative (separation and duality) toward the Absolute (unity and oneness).

Mark: How can spiritual practices of turiya and turiyatita play a role in our spiritual evolution?

ChatGPT:

Turiya and Turiyatita are key concepts in Hindu philosophy, particularly in Advaita Vedanta, and they describe advanced stages of consciousness that play a significant role in spiritual evolution. Understanding and experiencing these states can accelerate the journey from identification with the material and mental realms toward unity with the Absolute.

Turiya: The Fourth State of Consciousness

Turiya means “the fourth” and is considered a transcendental state of consciousness beyond the three common states:

Waking (Jagrat): The state in which we are conscious of the physical world and interact with it.
Dreaming (Svapna): The state where we are aware of our thoughts and mental images in a dream-like experience.
Deep Sleep (Sushupti): The state where the mind rests, and there is no awareness of the external world or inner thoughts, but there is still an underlying ignorance of one’s true nature.

Turiya is a state of pure awareness, where consciousness is no longer identified with the body, mind, or ego. In Turiya, one is awake to the reality that underlies and pervades all experiences, including the waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states. It is the experience of the Absolute or universal consciousness that exists beyond all relative states.

How Turiya Supports Spiritual Evolution

Breaking Identification with the Relative: Turiya helps individuals evolve beyond the material and mental planes by allowing them to observe the waking and dreaming states from a higher perspective. In Turiya, one realizes that the body and mind are not the ultimate reality but are transient states of experience.

Example: Through practices like meditation or self-inquiry, you may experience moments where you are fully aware but not attached to the thoughts or sensations of the body. This shifts your consciousness from the egoic, relative realm into a higher spiritual awareness, initiating the process of spiritual evolution.

Awareness in All States: In Turiya, one experiences the same awareness in waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. This realization of consistent consciousness helps dissolve the distinctions between “this” and “that,” leading to spiritual awakening.

Example: A meditator who regularly touches the Turiya state might become aware that even in sleep, a deeper awareness exists. This realization begins to blur the boundaries of what one considers to be the “self,” moving from individual consciousness to universal consciousness.

Inner Peace and Detachment: Regular experience of Turiya leads to a profound sense of peace because it transcends the fluctuating experiences of joy and suffering that come from identification with the mind and body. This detachment from the fluctuations of the relative world is a significant step in spiritual evolution.

Example: A person experiencing Turiya might face difficulties in the material world—such as loss or pain—but their sense of inner peace remains unshaken, as their awareness is rooted in a higher, unchanging reality.

Turiyatita: Beyond Turiya

Turiyatita means “beyond the fourth,” and it represents the state of consciousness that transcends even Turiya. It is described as the state where one goes beyond the awareness of being a witness to the waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states. In Turiyatita, not only is one aware of the ultimate reality, but one has become fully merged with it. There is no longer any separation between the experiencer and the experience, or between subject and object.

How Turiyatita Supports Spiritual Evolution

Total Unity with the Absolute: Turiyatita represents the final stage of spiritual evolution, where there is complete identification with the Absolute. The individual self (ego) dissolves entirely, and what remains is pure being, beyond any relative distinction.

Example: In this state, there is no longer a sense of “I” or “other.” A person who has reached Turiyatita operates in the world from a place of non-duality. All actions are spontaneous and in alignment with the universal will, as the individual self has merged with the cosmic self.

Freedom from Samsara: In Turiyatita, one is no longer subject to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara), because the illusion of individual existence has been completely transcended. This is the state of liberation or moksha—the ultimate goal of spiritual evolution.

Example: A realized being in the state of Turiyatita may continue to live and function in the world, but they are entirely free from any karmic bondage or attachment. Their actions are without ego, and they perceive all experiences as expressions of the divine.

Constant Awareness of Unity: In Turiyatita, one no longer alternates between the different states of consciousness (waking, dreaming, deep sleep, Turiya). There is constant, seamless awareness of unity with the Absolute in every state.

Example: In daily life, someone in Turiyatita might interact with the world just like anyone else—eating, working, communicating—but their experience is always rooted in a sense of oneness. They experience no duality between “self” and “other.”

Spiritual Practices to Reach Turiya and Turiyatita

Meditation and Mindfulness: These practices help calm the mind and move awareness beyond identification with thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. This can lead to an experience of Turiya as one transcends the lower states of consciousness.

Practical Method: By observing thoughts without attachment during meditation, one begins to realize the witness consciousness that is present behind all mental activity. This witness is a reflection of the Turiya state.

Self-Inquiry (Atma Vichara): In Advaita Vedanta, the practice of self-inquiry—questioning “Who am I?”—leads one to realize that the true self is not the body or mind, but pure consciousness. This practice aims to bring awareness to the underlying consciousness (Turiya) that exists beyond the personal ego.

Practical Method: Constantly asking “Who is experiencing this?” or “To whom does this thought occur?” can lead to the dissolution of the ego and the realization of Turiya.

Detachment and Surrender: By practicing detachment from the fruits of action and surrendering to a higher power or divine will, one can accelerate the process of spiritual evolution. This practice helps dissolve the ego, preparing one for the experience of Turiyatita.

Practical Method: Engaging in daily activities without attachment to the outcome, and instead seeing all actions as offerings to the divine, cultivates detachment and helps in transcending egoic identification.

Role in Spiritual Evolution

Turiya represents the first significant breakthrough in spiritual evolution, where one begins to experience a reality beyond the mental and physical planes. It is a state of awareness where the illusion of separation starts to dissolve, and one begins to perceive the underlying unity of all things. This stage allows for a deeper connection to the Absolute and accelerates the journey toward spiritual awakening.
Turiyatita marks the final phase of spiritual evolution, where one has fully realized and merged with the Absolute. This is the culmination of the evolutionary process, where the individual self has completely dissolved into universal consciousness, leading to liberation or moksha.

Together, Turiya and Turiyatita guide the soul’s return from the relative world of duality to the non-dual, infinite state of the Absolute. These states are not merely philosophical concepts but actual experiences that can be accessed through dedicated spiritual practice, helping one evolve beyond the limitations of the material and mental realms toward complete unity with the divine.

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