Dr. Maria Majorie Purino, a faculty member in the Department of Philosophy at the University of San Carlos, presented her paper, “Hsing Yun’s Humanistic Buddhism: Cultivating AI and Digital Humanities,” at the international conference God, Human, Machine: Images and Imaginaries of Religion in the Age of AI held from September 28 to 30, 2026 at the University of Erfurt in Germany.
Dr. Purino’s research highlighted how the Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Buddhist community, through the Institute of Humanistic Buddhism, actively connects modern technology with ancient teachings. For Dr. Purino, whose personal philosophy bridges Eastern and Western traditions, merging Buddhist wisdom with AI inquiry serves as a critical pause to evaluate not just what technology can achieve, but how far society should allow it to steer human consciousness.
By generating digital visualizations of traditional texts using the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism database alongside AI-assisted research and design tools, FGS modernizes how sacred writings are preserved.
This effort breaks down geographic, linguistic, and generational barriers, directly advancing Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s founding vision of Humanistic Buddhism: making the Dharma accessible, readable, and practical in everyday life.
The international conference gathered scholars and practitioners from Religious Studies, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Art History. Through keynote lectures, interactive discussions, and thematic panels, participants examined how AI is reshaping religious life, daily practices, and cultural imagery.
To illustrate this in practice, Dr. Purino showcased two key initiatives: Fo Guang AI and the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism English Translation Project. Both projects combine artificial intelligence with scholarly oversight through a “Human-in-the-Loop” framework.
In this framework, machine efficiency drives the first phase. Automated tools execute large-scale processing—extracting text, organizing metadata, verifying terminology, and flagging uncertainties.
On the other hand, human insight guides the final phase. Monastics and translation experts audit every output for doctrinal fidelity, historical context, and ethical standards. This reflects Master Hsing Yun’s vision of technology as a “skillful means” (upaya)—letting AI expand access without replacing human judgment.
“We must establish clear boundaries so that technology serves to enhance, rather than compromise, human agency. Here, the Buddhist concept of upaya offers a valuable framework: technology should function as an adaptive instrument that aids human flourishing rather than replacing human consciousness,” Dr. Purino elaborates.
Addressing the broader role of technology in society, Dr. Purino noted that while AI can bridge informational, structural, and cognitive gaps, an existential gap remains. While artificial intelligence can deliver quick answers, it is ultimately our earnest humanity that brings us closer to the truth.
The conference was generously funded by the German Research Foundation’s (DFG) Heisenberg Program (Grant no. 443239708).