A Journey from Nha Trang to Boston, from Varanasi to the Grand Canyon – Where Spirit, Nature, and Wisdom Converge in the Age of AI
Throughout human history, people have always sought sacred spaces—mountains, rivers, ancient cities, forests, and temples—as places that touch the deepest layers of the soul and spirit. These spaces hold collective memory, inspire transcendence, and connect humans with nature, the divine, and themselves.
In the AI era—where technology surpasses imagination—the great question is: How can artificial intelligence help preserve and elevate our human spirit, rather than disconnect us from it?
AIWS: A New Civilization Uniting Intelligence, Spirituality, and Nature
The Boston Global Forum (BGF), through its AI World Society (AIWS) vision, has created a humanistic model for society in the AI age—one in which humans are not merely technology users, but ethical guides leading AI with compassion, wisdom, and enlightenment.
A key initiative of AIWS is to connect sacred, spiritually rich landmarks—cultural and natural symbols—into a transnational, intergenerational network that forms the “spiritual backbone” of a future society.
As part of this journey, BGF honors Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the great spiritual leader of India, with the World Leader for Peace and Security Award 2025. This milestone marks the beginning of a profound cultural initiative: connecting sacred landmarks—from Varanasi, India’s spiritual capital, to Vietnam’s celebrated sites such as Ha Long Bay (with Yen Tu), Nha Trang (with Po Nagar Cham Towers), Hoi An (with My Son Sanctuary), Dalat (with Langbiang Mountain), and iconic national parks of the United States and the world such as Grand Canyon, Zion, Acadia, Yellowstone—and Boston, the global center of intellectual life.
Nha Trang and Boston: Symbols of East-West, Intelligence and Spirituality
At a special event held at Harvard University in May 2024, Governor Michael Dukakis, Co-Founder of BGF, presented a symbolic gift to Mr. Nguyen Hai Ninh, Secretary of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, and the people of Khanh Hoa: a photograph depicting the Harvard Baker Library alongside Hon Chong Rocks in Nha Trang.
This image represents the friendship and cultural connection between Nha Trang and Boston—two cities geographically distant yet spiritually aligned: lovers of nature, champions of education, and seekers of lasting peace.
More than a gift, the photograph is a symbolic key—unlocking new cultural and spiritual bonds between Vietnam and the United States in the AI era, through film, education, and shared human values. It reflects a relationship forged over time—from war and peace to a comprehensive strategic partnership—and now uplifted to a civilizational level where technology becomes a compassionate companion to humanity.
The Book “30 Years of Vietnam–U.S. Partnership” and AIWS as a “Shared Child”
At the same moment, Professor Thomas Patterson (Harvard Kennedy School) and Nguyen Anh Tuan (Director of BGF) published the commemorative book: “AI World Society: 30 Years of the U.S.–Vietnam Partnership, from Nha Trang to Boston (1995–2025)”.
The book presents AIWS as a “shared child”—born of American intellectual power and Vietnamese aspirations for peace and development. This AI society is not just a place where technology grows, but a space where human values are guided by knowledge, dialogue, and spiritual connectivity among great civilizations.
From Sacredness to Innovation: A Harmonious Development Path
Landmarks like Varanasi (India), Ha Long – Nha Trang – Dalat – Hoi An (Vietnam), and Grand Canyon – Yellowstone – Acadia – Boston (United States) will evolve beyond tourist and academic destinations—they will become spiritual nodes on the AIWS map.
These nodes will host activities like:
- AIWS Film Park
- AIWS Music for Humanity
- AIWS Digital Assets
- Educational, artistic, and spiritual dialogue programs
Notably, AI technology itself—through its ability to digitize, analyze, and deeply engage—will amplify and globalize these spiritual values, reaching younger generations and people who may never have imagined experiencing:
- a sacred ritual in Varanasi
- sunrise over the Po Nagar Towers in Nha Trang
- music echoing through Yellowstone
- a soul-stirring lecture at Harvard
Building a Humane Society in the Age of AI
From symbolic acts like the Nha Trang–Boston photo, the 30-Year Vietnam–U.S. Partnership book, to honoring Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and linking sacred global sites, BGF and AIWS are lighting a new path:
A path toward an AI World Society with soul, memory, and spiritual depth —where technology serves spiritual awakening, compassion, and lasting peace.
