Joscha Bach — the guru of the 21st century
There’s a note I found among my ‘Medium Article Ideas’ section from August 18 2020:
Joscha Bach — the guru of the 21st century
And that was it, no other related ideas, links or sources. I think it refers to one of his interviews on Youtube I watched in between the busy summer schedule of creating teaching material for the forthcoming year.
So, let me try and unpack this non-sentence and the implications behind it.
Who is Joscha Bach?
If you happen to watch any of his talks, he will say: ‘I’m Joscha’, and leave it up to you to either ask him or do the research that will quickly bring you to his website: bach.ai.
Based on what I’ve written so far, you can conclude that he’s a minimalist, and extremely humble. Joscha appears to be an Artificial Intelligence Scientist or Theorist, but he’s much more than that. His work with AI is just a superficial manifestation and practical work that gives him a platform to talk about much deeper topics.
Why is Joscha Bach interesting?
Joscha is not your next door nerd who watches Star Wars. He’s not a shy or boring computer scientist, but a super-intelligent human who makes the connection between science and spirituality meaningful. His goal is enlightenment, and his explanations are sensible, logical, and quite easy to follow. If you are not attracted by any facet of the meaning of existence or the power of mind, you will still find his sense of humor entertaining, and the atheist or sceptic in you will be satisfied.
What make Joscha Bach relevant?
He’s the Gen X genius who refers to video games and classical philosophy in one single argument. Because he was born in the Eastern Germany and is now active in the West, he represents the globalization and integration of the traditional and radical East with the trailblazing West. Joscha is very active in promoting the importance of AI, via publications, blogs, interview, and speeches.
How is Joscha going to become THE guru of the 21st century?
I have an inkling that Joscha does not really want that, but if there are enough people who ‘consume his content’, and elevate his writing and speeches to the level of worship — because he gives answers more meaningful and powerful than most religions or actual gurus — there may happen a movement which will recognize Joscha as its prophet. If that ever happens, it would more probably be in the 22nd century (judging on how the religions are founded and evolved).
Are you being serious?
Yes and No.
I was really impressed by Joscha because he bridges the canyon that separates those who search for the meaning of life through spirituality, and those who negate any philosophical or ancient way of thinking and only look at numbers and research findings. I am often torn between my atheist roots and the spiritually yearning leaves that drop each season. If anything is to re-integrate our polarized world, it is Joscha’s simplicity and pragmatism, his brilliance and approachability, but above all his interpretation of how the human mind works.
I have read a lot of works by or about gurus from India. I have also learned some modern healing modalities, either based on physical body or subtle energies. I have taught many different people and ages. I have studied some mental abilities, learning difficulties, as well as developmental psychology. Whenever I listen to Joscha, he manages to make even more sense among all of these fractions of existence gathered by my experience.
If there is ever going to be an election of the ruler of our universe, I will vote for Joscha.
