What is the Purpose of Life? Master Thich Chan Quang Addresses and Sounds a Wake-Up Call for the AI Era

**Summary:** Master Thich Chan Quang answers the question "What is the purpose of life?" with the goal of "living a life beneficial to others," while also sounding a wake-up call about artificial intelligence and urging the study of programming to preserve human value.

Amidst the busyness of life, have you ever paused and asked yourself: "What am I living for?" Some answer it is to earn money, to build a career, to repay the kindness of parents, or to seek happiness. But is that the deepest purpose? In a heartfelt talk, Master Thich Chan Quang offered another perspective, one that is both classical and modern.

Why do we create so many needs for ourselves?

From the beginning of his discourse, Master Thich Chan Quang raised questions about human existence. He said we are not born by choice but are pushed into this life by the force of karma. If it were only about living and existing, human life would be hard enough, yet we also "weave our own dreams and set countless goals." He offered an interesting definition:

"The most intelligent species is the one that creates the most needs for itself."

Animals only need to eat, sleep, mate, and reproduce. But humans create countless "illusory" needs: new phones, branded goods, entertainment. He jokingly remarked that without a phone, some people would "hang themselves and die immediately!" These needs seem to bring joy, but they are actually burdens and constraints. But ultimately, he posed the great question: What is the purpose of life?

The Motivation for Living: Living a Life Beneficial to Others

Master Thich Chan Quang did not demand an immediate answer but instead offered his own: "How can we live as a person who is beneficial to the world?" It sounds simple, but it is the sole goal that helps us avoid two dangerous mindsets:

* Selfishness – living only for oneself, for self-created needs. * Lack of motivation for life – easily falling into despair, even suicide.

According to the Master, when we establish the goal of living beneficially, we gain motivation to strive and overcome difficulties. The inevitable result is that our lives will be filled with blessings from merit and good fortune. He also teaches that within samsara, the cycle of rebirth, those who choose to live altruistically will ascend to higher states, while those who live selfishly will descend.

We Must Have Value, Not Become Redundant

But "living beneficially" is not just a slogan. He reminded us thus: If you want to give money to others, you must have money. If you want to give joy to others, you must be filled with joy. If we are inferior to everyone, we will have nothing to offer. He said:

"If others are happier than me, they don't need me for their joy. If others are richer than me, they don't need my money. If others are more skilled than me, they don't need me to teach them. Suddenly, I become redundant."

This is a profound warning. Many young people today dream of being useful, yet they do not accumulate knowledge or skills. Yet, the era is changing dramatically.

The Age of AI: Humanity Could Be Sidelined

Master Chan Quang painted a picture of the evolution of tools: from stones, to bows, to steam engines, to computers. And now, artificial intelligence (AI) enables machines not only to calculate but also to create and set their own purposes. He warned:

"In the future, if we don't know programming—that is, if we don't know how to ask the computer to calculate for us—we will be pushed aside from humanity altogether."

When AI can do everything better than humans, humans will become redundant, unless we learn to master the technology. He shared that there are machines that create images, music, and even films. So what should we do? He gave a bold teaching: Learn to program!

Learning Programming: The Path to Preserving Human Value

The Master compared programming to the rice cake seller knowing how to calculate. The seller doesn't need to be literate, but must know addition and subtraction to give change. Similarly, in the digital age, to ask a computer to help us, we must know how to "talk to the machine"—that is, to program. Therefore, during the lecture, the Master had all disciples stand and vow: "I vow to the Buddha that I will study programming diligently to continue being a person beneficial to life, to the country, to humanity, and to the Buddha's teachings (Dharma)."

This is not just a promise, but a firm resolve. To live beneficially, to serve, we must have strength and skills. And in the AI era, programming is that strength.

Live a Beneficial Life Today

Master Thich Chan Quang's discourse ended with a warm reminder: "Because we care for each other, we often ask: 'Have you learned to program yet?'" Learning programming is not just to keep a job, but to continue on the path of living beneficially. So, if you are asking what the purpose of life is, remember: to live a life beneficial to the world. And do not forget to equip yourself with a solid foundation amidst this technological world.