[New Releases]<Conversations with the 21st Century Living Buddha> <The Secret Principles of Jesus' Miracles>

A Book Exploring What Religious Miracles Are
Analyzing the Essence of Enlightenment Through Jesus and Buddha
'Humans Are Also Programmed Beings Like AI'

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Jesus and Buddha are the founders of Christianity and Buddhism, respectively. Even from the perspective of non-religious people, they are revered as saints. Religious followers purify their minds and train their body and mind to understand even a little of Jesus' and Buddha's teachings, offering daily worship and prayers. Some say that this process itself clears the soul, and some believers have experienced a kind of miracle.

So, what exactly is a miracle? In response to this question, author Samuel So explains miracles through the example of an acquaintance. For instance, he explains why the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, which reveals Jesus' compassion and deep love for the hungry crowd, can only be considered a miracle.

Here is an interesting fact. People often think of theologians as authors of religious books. However, the author is neither a clergyman nor a theologian. He is a former journalist who has worked in various fields such as IT and finance.

[New Releases]<Conversations with the 21st Century Living Buddha> <The Secret Principles of Jesus' Miracles>

'The Principle of Jesus' Miracles'. Photo by Saemso Books

What motivated him to write such books? The author refers to his mentor, a Korean American, as a "Living Buddha." This Living Buddha is an intellectual who has worked in the media and legal fields in the United States and lives a reclusive life, hiding his identity. Through him, the author learned about the world of enlightenment and became deeply interested in religion and science, practicing meditation and lucid dreaming.

After 30 years, he read the Bible again, and miracles in the Bible, which he previously found unbelievable, became all true in his belief, leading him back to Christianity. Although he still cannot fully grasp the infinite depth of Jesus' and Buddha's teachings, he has come to understand them vaguely.

The two books published simultaneously, and (both by Samuel So, Samso Books), are organically connected and form a set. They compile the teachings on enlightenment that the author received from his mentor, the Living Buddha, who is a lay Buddhist (a Buddhist who lives in the secular world without ordination). The author says that without that time, he would still find it hard to believe many supernatural stories in the Bible as true. This is also why he published the two books together.

Conversation with the 21st Century Living Buddha. Photo by Saemso Books

The two books introduce important events that led the author to such beliefs. One interesting story is about the Living Buddha in the U.S. appearing in the dreams of two Korean friends to deliver messages. Having experienced several miracles, the author mentions how people live and die in spiritual indifference and ignorance. Regarding the religious world, which some dismiss as unscientific, the author points out that many people still remain at the level of 19th-century scientific understanding.

The recently globally discussed AI chatbot, ChatGPT, also appears. The Living Buddha teaches the core of Buddha's enlightenment, "no-self (無我)," explaining that humans are also nothing more than AI. He says that if Sakyamuni were born today, instead of using the term "no-self," he would have preached that humans are programmed beings like AI. Ultimately, humans live their entire lives deceived by the ego program, unaware that they themselves move according to algorithms designed like AI.

Author Samuel So says about his series of miracle experiences and religious enlightenment, "When you transcend boundaries, a new world opens. It is a world experienced only by those who challenge themselves. Frogs in a well can never know it; only frogs that escape the well can experience the new world."

■ About the Author

He majored in German Language and Literature at Seoul National University and graduated from its graduate school. After working as a reporter for , he served as Vice President of Meta Communications, Chief PR Officer of Solomon Financial Group, Co-CEO of Sono Pictures, and CEO of Viki Korea.