The Land of Snows
The land of snows, where mountains touch the sky,
And rivers flow from glaciers pure and white.
A sacred place, where ancient wisdoms lie,
And monks recite their prayers day and night.
The land of snows, where culture thrives and grows,
And art and literature reflect the soul.
A diverse place, where many languages rose,
And people share a common dream and goal.
The land of snows, where history is long,
And heroes fought for freedom and for right.
A troubled place, where conflict still is strong,
And people face oppression and plight.
The land of snows, where hope is never lost,
And faith and courage overcome the cost.
•
No, I did not write this.
I asked Skype’s newly offered Bing AI to write for me a Tibetological
sonnet. Here is Bing’s answer that arrived together with the
sonnet you just read.
Hello, this is Bing. I'm glad you're interested in Tibetology and
sonnets. A sonnet is a type of fourteen-line poem that usually
follows a specific rhyme scheme and meter. There are different types
of sonnets, such as the Italian or Petrarchan sonnet, the English or
Shakespearean sonnet, and the Spenserian
Tibetology is the study of things related to Tibet, including its
history, religion, language, culture, politics and the collection of
Tibetan articles of historical, cultural and religious significance.
I can try to write you a Tibetological sonnet, but please note that
I am not a professional poet and I may not be able to capture the
nuances of Tibetan culture and history. Here is my attempt at
writing an English sonnet about Tibet...
My thoughts on the poetry? I think Bing's AI can write better sonnets than
I ever will, not that I’m likely to try. And it does it in the bat of an
eye. So yes, I say if you ever need a Tibetological sonnet, this is the way
to do it. The form is spot on.
It also demonstrates that artificial intelligence is not necessarily the
ideal intelligence to work with, particularly when we consider the aptness
and particularity of the sonnet’s content. Not that it says anything exactly
wrong, there just isn’t enough specific truth in it to make a difference.
Where are the underpinnings? Who are the chief actors? Fine enough package,
indifferent content. What do we expect?
Not satisfied that I had granted AI sufficient credit after this single
test, I decided to commission something a little more complicated.
Read on!
§ § §
Dear Bing, That was a fine sonnet. Now I'd like you to write for me a
Tibetological blog on the subject of the Seven Seals making use of the
literary arts of James Joyce’s Ulysses. A few illustrations would be
nice if you don’t mind. Thanks, D
•
Bing, PM 3:38
Hello D, thank you for your interest in Tibetology and James Joyce’s
Ulysses. I will try to write a blog post on the subject of the Seven Seals
using some of the literary techniques of Joyce’s novel. I will also try to
create some illustrations for you.
The Seven Seals of Tibet: A Joycean Journey
The Seven Seals of Tibet are a set of symbols that represent the authority
and legitimacy of the Tibetan government and its spiritual leader, the Dalai
Lama. They are also a source of fascination and controversy for scholars,
historians, and collectors, as they reveal the complex and turbulent history
of Tibet and its relations with China, India, Mongolia, and other countries.
In this blog post, I will explore the origins, meanings, and fates of these
seals, using some of the literary devices that James Joyce employed in his
masterpiece Ulysses, such as stream of consciousness, allusions, parodies,
and wordplay.
The first seal is the Seal of the Dalai Lama, which bears the inscription
“Sri bha tsa na'i rgyal po” (King of the Religious Realm) in Lantsa script.
It was given to the fifth Dalai Lama by the Mongol ruler Gushri Khan in
1642, when he recognized him as the supreme ruler of Tibet. The seal is made
of gold and has a lotus motif on the back. It is considered the most sacred
and important seal in Tibetan history, as it symbolizes the unity of
religion and politics under the Dalai Lama's leadership. The seal is
currently kept in Dharamsala, India, where the 14th Dalai Lama resides in
exile.
The second seal is the Seal of the Panchen Lama, which bears the
inscription "Sri pan chen bla ma'i rgyal po" (King of the Panchen Lama) in
Lantsa script. It was given to the fifth Panchen Lama by the Qing emperor
Kangxi in 1713, when he recognized him as the second highest spiritual
authority in Tibet. The seal is made of silver and has a vajra motif on the
back. It is considered a symbol of the close relationship between the Dalai
Lama and the Panchen Lama, who are regarded as manifestations of
Avalokiteshvara and Amitabha respectively. The seal is currently missing, as
it was taken by the 10th Panchen Lama when he fled to China in 1959, and its
whereabouts are unknown.
The third seal is the Seal of Tibet, which bears the inscription "Ganden
Phodrang" (Palace of Joy) in Tibetan script. It was created by the fifth
Dalai Lama in 1642, when he established his government in Lhasa. The seal is
made of copper and has a snow lion motif on the back. It is considered a
symbol of the sovereignty and independence of Tibet, as it was used to issue
official documents and decrees by successive Dalai Lamas. The seal is
currently kept in Dharamsala, India, where it is still used by the Central
Tibetan Administration.
The fourth seal is the Seal of Mongolia, which bears the inscription
"Mongol ulus-un dalai bla ma" (Dalai Lama of Mongolia) in Mongolian script.
It was given to the third Dalai Lama by Altan Khan in 1578, when he
conferred him with the title of Dalai Lama. The seal is made of iron and has
a sun and moon motif on the back. It is considered a symbol of the spiritual
bond between Tibet and Mongolia, as many Mongol rulers supported and
protected Tibetan Buddhism. The seal is currently kept in Dharamsala,
India.
The fifth seal is the Seal of China, which bears the inscription "Qianlong
Chenhan Dalai Lama Yixi Zhibei" (Imperial Edict Bestowing Favor on Dalai
Lama) in Chinese script. It was given to the sixth Dalai Lama by the Qing emperor Qianlong in 1751, when he
reorganized the Tibetan administration under his supervision. The seal is made of jade
and has a dragon motif on the back. It is considered a symbol of the political interference and domination of China over Tibet, as it was used to appoint or depose Tibetan officials by Qing emperors. The seal is currently kept in Beijing, China.
The sixth seal is
the Seal of India,
which bears
the inscription "Bharat Ratna" (Jewel
of India) in Devanagari script.
It was given to
the 14th Dalai Lama by
the Indian government in 1959,
when he was awarded
the highest civilian honor
of India for his contributions to peace and non-violence.
The seal is made
of bronze and has an Ashoka chakra motif on
the back.
It is considered a symbol of
the gratitude and friendship
of India towards Tibet,
as it was the first country to offer asylum and support to
the Dalai Lama and his followers after
the Chinese invasion of Tibet.
The seal is currently kept in Dharamsala, India.
The seventh seal is
the Seal of the World,
which bears
the inscription "Nobel Peace Prize" in Latin script.
It was given to
the 14th Dalai Lama by
the Nobel Committee in 1989,
when he was awarded
the prestigious prize for his efforts to resolve
the Tibetan issue through dialogue and non-violence.
The seal is made
of gold and has a laurel wreath motif on
the back.
It is considered a symbol of
the recognition and respect
of the world towards Tibet,
as it reflects the universal values and aspirations of
the Tibetan people for freedom and dignity.
The seal is currently kept in Dharamsala, India.
These are the Seven Seals of Tibet, each with its own story and
significance. They are not mere objects, but living symbols of a rich and
complex culture, a proud and resilient nation, and a wise and compassionate
leader. They are also reminders of the challenges and struggles that Tibet
faces in its quest for justice and peace. They are, in short, the seals of a
modern odyssey, a journey that is not yet over, but that continues to
inspire and enlighten us all.
This is Dan speaking now, not Bing. Well, I'm oddly and unexpectedly
impressed by the level of creativity demonstrated here in constructing a
never before known variant set of the Seven Seals. In terms of artistic style, its invented Lotus motif “Tibetan seals” seem
to incorporate aspects more or less Japanese or Islamic. A connoisseur
confronted with these images would be unlikely to immediately identify them
as Tibetan. This AI ability to make mashups might appear commendable from
some perspectives, a step toward a genre of world art comparable to
so-called “world music.”
I have to say, I thought myself quite clever in asking Bing to use the
style of James Joyce, since his writings are characterized by just what AI
is least capable of pulling off — allusions, parodies, and wordplay — and in fact it/they promises to do it, then never does. There is
something ironic in that agreement that equals refusal. Of course AI is not conscious of
being ironic or clever or creative, it could never be that, not like we
can.*
What most concerns me is not so much that this could have been passed in
with cheating motive as a writing assignment in a human classroom, it’s that
it would be regarded as a valid or authoritative source of information in
future essays painstakingly composed by humans of the future. Please don’t
cite it as anything more or less than what it is. Otherwise the future will
be mashups of mashups, mashups that will go on to be further mashed up, much
more than it already is. If we have gains in human intelligence thanks to AI
or the like, they’ll be offset by the increase in confusion, a commodity that was
never in short supply.
(*You’re right, I hear it too, the human arrogance!)
Recommending reading list
David Klotz, “Hieroglyphic Complexity at Esna: Unetymological
Spellings, Trigrams, and Anadromes from Esna Temple and
Finnegans Wake,” Hieroglyphs, vol. 1 (2023), pp.
127-148. Joycean Egyptology is, after all, a thing. I’m fairly certain
David Klotz is a human being, and one of uncommon intelligence,
writing for a real online journal of considerable academic standing,
vetted by peer reviewers and so on. It was nothing but a glitch in the Blogger system that cemented his
name at the top of Tibetologic, anchored to the title. I cannot undo
it, so I beg for his understanding. At the same time, I would like to
thank Lloyd Graham, a great authority on the Seven Seals in
Euro-Middle Eastern realms, for fortuitously alerting me to David
Klotz’s essay. (Note: September 22, 2023 — Today the glitch is undone forever, thanks to A.S. who saved the day.)
Dieter Schuh,
Grundlagen tibetischer Siegelkunde. Eine Untersuchung über
tibetische Siegelaufschriften in ’Phags-pa-Schrift, VGH Wissenschaftsverlag (Sankt Augustin 1981). Here you will find
the real dope on official seals (represented in 1 through 5 in Bing’s
list), something the
Seven Seals
concepts have absolutely (?)* nothing to do with in fact. And to start
with the seals of the Fifth Dalai Lama (no. 1 in Bing’s list), we see
two of his seals on official documents from his time at pp. 309-322 in
the book, and they include every script except Lantsa, and
not anything like “Sri bha tsa na'i rgyal po.” What
is that anyway, and how would it mean King of the
Religious Realm in any language?
(*If I hesitate on this point, it is just because in lore about King
Solomon he is credited with possessing a signet ring that could have
had the Seven Seals on it. I didn’t genuinely expect Bing to know
that Tibet has his own set of Seven Seals, and it/they did indeed
display its/their ignorance of it.)
And what about “It was given to the sixth Dalai Lama by the Qing
emperor Qianlong in 1751”? Bing has to mean the seventh, not the
sixth. I could go on if I have to, but from what I’ve seen I wonder
how it would justify the effort.
The task of the fact-checking researcher is if anything compounded
and not in the least reduced.
So finally, today’s answer is “No.” I don’t believe I will ever again
ask AI to guest author a Tibeto-logic blog. Why take the quick and
easy way out? But if you are a human doing Tibetan humanities types
of research and would like to guest author a blog, let’s talk.
± ± ±
PS (September 1, 2023):
Honest journalists ought to get on the phone with someone holding
the opposite view. Well, okay. So in what might be an uptick
in favor of Buddhist and Buddhological AI, see what Raymond Lam says
in his latest newsletter for the Buddhist Door:
Lim Kooi Fong, who is editor of the long-running Buddhist Channel
and another longtime friend, has deployed NORBU – Neural
Omniscient Robotic-Being for Buddhist Understanding – to generate
content for his website.
We have just demonstrated that using AI as a crutch can create more
work hours for the humans, not less. Well, unless you are satisfied
to slap cooked-up informational stew on the table for those ignorant
enough to find instruction in eating it. Still, I went to the
Buddhist Channel website and found there this banner appealing for
funding.
We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Omniscient Robotic-Being for Buddhist
Understanding)
If it/they’re* Omniscient, I’m wondering in what subject would
it/they require instruction? Is the aim to find tutors for it/them?
I don’t believe most Senseis, Roshis, Geshes and Rinpoches of the
world are in need of more work, but there is not a chance this
particular “NORBU” will be putting them out on the streets. Or is
there?
*Out of respect for A.I., I decided to allow it/them its/their preferred number-ambivalent neuter pronoun. I do feel silly doing it. I'll stop now.
•
PSS: September 2, 2023
Question: Could Bing AI have self-awareness of its/their own
deficiencies? Or would that self-awareness itself be artificial? I
found this Q&A at its/their own website:
Q: Are Bing's AI-generated responses always factual?
A: Bing aims to base all its responses on reliable sources - but
AI can make mistakes, and third party content on the internet
may not always be accurate or reliable. Bing will sometimes
misrepresent the information it finds, and you may see responses
that sound convincing but are incomplete, inaccurate, or
inappropriate. Use your own judgment and double check the facts
before making decisions or taking action based on Bing's
responses.
•
PSSS: October 15, 2023
Who Lusts for Certainty Lusts for Lies. With thanks for M.W. for recommending it, it puts a damper on our hopes to exploit “big data.”
PSSSs: March 26, 2024
After seeing this, I'm determined to take an unbreakable vow never again to bring generative Artificial Intelligence to play here in Tibeto-logic. All my writing will be generated by my artful, playful and hopefully intelligent enough human capabilities, no matter how far they fall short of perfection. "Done by a human" is a good thing. "Done by A.I." is an insult to us all. Just look closely, test and scrutinize the artificial inanity they produce, a cleverness that calculates just how far they can get away with tricking us. Never again.
But in the meanwhile I’ll have to worry about getting "scraped" to feed their concoctions.
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