This spread of Buddhism was facilitated by the exchange of tools such as metal coins embedded with Buddhist symbols. Buddhist teachings also traveled through stone carvings and paintings. These objects served as carriers of stories and Buddha's teachings, allowing Buddhism to permeate advanced civilizations in the East, such as China and Korea.

The role of material tools and artifacts in spreading Buddhism became even more significant during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, who used Brahmi scripts carved onto pillars to express Buddhist ideas. This method of propagation continued as printing technology emerged from China, enabling monks to copy and translate Indian Buddhist scrolls in Pali and Sanskrit into Chinese, further spreading the teachings on a larger scale.

These tools played a crucial role in the spread of Buddhism far from its land of origin, serving as early instruments of "soft power." Through their use, the Buddha's Dharma evolved to become a global religion, with its teachings firmly embedded in Asia. Today, the Buddha Dharma remains timeless (akaliko), addressing the evolving human experiences of dukkha (commonly translated as suffering), impermanence, and the true nature of self, as expressed in the three characteristics of life.

However, as these characteristics of life take on new forms in different generations, there is a need to discover new tools to express the Dharma's timelessness.

The 21st century, often referred to as the Asian Pacific (APAC) Century, is characterized by social achievement, economic progress, and technological advancement. It is also where 90% of the world's Buddhists reside. Despite this, expressing Buddhist teachings across the diverse cultures and languages of the APAC region remains challenging.

Recently, efforts by countries like India and Japan to use Buddhism as a tool of "soft power" have been limited to organizing dialogues and religious tourism to encourage people-to-people exchange. While these efforts are commendable, they are held intermittently and have yet to provide sustained engagement on a daily basis.

What is really needed is a more robust application that "empowers" Buddhist soft power on a wide, cost effective scale.

A promising development toward this objective is the creation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as NORBU (https://norbu-ai.org), the "Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding." Developed in Malaysia, NORBU was built by a team of Dharma experts who ensured that the AI was trained using correct, accurate, and verified information. After a year of building trust, NORBU was upgraded to be multilingual, enabling it to translate Buddhist teachings into various languages.

This advancement has significant implications. AI like NORBU allows for accurate translation of Buddhist teachings embedded in original languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese, maintaining the nuances of meaning across various shades of scriptural interpretations. It caters to both beginning and advanced Dharma learners.

It also bridges the cultural and linguistic gaps within the diverse APAC region, allowing Buddhists to engage in Dharma discussions and sharing without leaving their linguistic comfort zones. This ability mimics the spiritual exchanges that happened during the era when the Nalanda Tradition of Magadha (modern day Bihar) took root from 427 CE until the 13th century.

NORBU not only revived the questioning and debating culture of the Nalanda Tradition but also brought it outside of India, which His Holiness the Dalai Lama has personally implored and supported. His Holiness have credited the Nalanda Tradition for the birth of Tibetan Buddhism in many of his public addresses. NORBU's ability to fulfill one of the Buddha's conditions for teaching the Dharma — by using the language of the people — demonstrates its potential as a tool to "empower" Buddhist soft power. This technology provides a sustainable and widely accessible means for Buddhists to connect and share teachings across cultures and languages.

As the birthplace of Buddhism, it would be beneficial for India to consider taking the lead in supporting AI tools like NORBU as its Buddhist soft power strategy.

In a world where technology increasingly shapes global interactions, AI-driven tools like NORBU offer a promising future for the propagation and preservation of Buddhist teachings while bridging language barriers across much of Asia.

The APAC region should not only be defined as an economic powerhouse of the 21st century. It should also bear witness to the revival of its civilizational glories of its past and be a beacon that transmits timeless wisdom and compassionate values.

In a world increasingly caught up in turmoil and social unease, leadership by an economically robust region could greatly benefit humankind by setting an example of how to live in peace and harmony despite its diverse mix of languages, cultures, and religions.

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NORBU has found a global patron in the likes of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) based in New Delhi. The IBC has called NORBU its "kalyana mitra" (spiritual friend). The collaboration was symbolically launched on the eve of Asadha Purnima (Asalha Puja) on 21 July 2024 at Sarnath, India. Sarnath is the location where the Buddha first taught the Dharma (i.e. turning the wheel of Dharma) after He attained Enlightenment.