Buddhist AI 'AI Buddha Zen' Discloses Policy on Scriptural Data Sources and Licensing: All Data CC0 (Public Domain), No Copyrighted Works Included

VeritasChain Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tokachi Uemura) hereby publicly discloses the data sources, licensing, database structure, quality control systems, and usage policies for the Buddhist AI dialogue service 'AI Buddha Zen' (LINE Bot / iOS App) to ensure transparency.

AI Buddha Zen is a Buddhist AI dialogue service that utilizes a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system containing over 10,000 verses from 19 types of Pali and Mahayana scriptures. It specifies the scripture name, chapter, and verse number for every response.

The texts constituting this database are sourced entirely from SuttaCentral (suttacentral.net) under a CC0 (Creative Commons Zero / Public Domain) license. No commercial books, copyrighted translations, commentaries, or personal works are incorporated.

### Background of Disclosure
Dialogue services combining Buddhism and AI, such as the 'BuddhaBot' by Kyoto University and Teraverse (introduced to the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan in 2026), are expanding globally.

This trend has sparked legal and ethical discussions. Some claim that feeding scriptures into AI is 'cultural theft' or that it constitutes illegal use of copyrighted translations. AI Buddha Zen and the Kyoto University project have occasionally been targeted by such criticisms.

AI Buddha Zen believes that responding with fact-based transparency will contribute to the reliability of the entire Buddhist AI field. Therefore, we are comprehensively disclosing our data source and licensing policies.

### Data Source: SuttaCentral and Bhante Sujato
All data used for scriptural citations in AI Buddha Zen is obtained from SuttaCentral (suttacentral.net).

SuttaCentral is an online archive of Pali scriptures co-founded in 2005 by Bhante Sujato, a monk from Australia, along with Rod Bucknell and John Kelly. It is currently the world's largest digital collection of early Buddhist texts, widely used by researchers, monastics, and lay practitioners.

Bhante Sujato was ordained as a bhikkhu in 1994 at Wat Pah Nanachat, Thailand. In 2015, recognizing the need for accurate and plain English translations of the Pali scriptures, he completed translations of the four Nikayas over three years of retreat in Qimei Island, Taiwan.

He has explicitly dedicated all his translations to the public domain via CC0, stating: 'You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation.'

We understand this decision to be based on the spirit of 'Dharma-dana' (the gift of the Dhamma) — the idea that sharing teachings is the highest form of giving.

### Legal Meaning of CC0
CC0 is a public domain dedication tool provided by Creative Commons. The copyright holder voluntarily waives all copyright and related rights. Works published under CC0 can be used for any purpose, including commercial ones, without permission or mandatory attribution.

Thus, using SuttaCentral's CC0 data is not a matter of 'fair use' or 'citation' under copyright law; since the rights are waived, there is no possibility of infringement.

### Database Composition
- Scriptural types: 19 (Pali and Mahayana scriptures)
- Number of verses: Over 10,000
- Categories: 20 (Wisdom, Suffering, Anger, Anxiety, Loneliness, Relationships, Work, Death, Aging, Family, Attachment, Compassion, Impermanence, Happiness, Self, Karma, Mindfulness, Craving, Emptiness, Gratitude)
- Example Scriptures: Dhammapada, Sutta Nipata, Digha Nikaya, Majjhima Nikaya, Samyutta Nikaya, Anguttara Nikaya, Theragatha, Therigatha, Jataka, Vinaya Pitaka, Diamond Sutra, Heart Sutra, Lotus Sutra, etc.

All Japanese translations were created by VeritasChain based on the CC0 English translations and public domain Pali originals.

### Non-use of Copyrighted Works
AI Buddha Zen does NOT incorporate:
- Commercial Buddhist books or copyrighted translations.
- Personal works (essays, commentaries, self-help books).
- Copyrighted commentaries or research papers.
- Copyrighted text from websites other than SuttaCentral.

While some argue that 'translations' are protected even if the original scriptures are old, CC0 is a declaration of non-exercise of such protection by the translator themselves.

### Verifiable Citations: 100% Citation Rate Design
Unlike typical AI chatbots, AI Buddha Zen uses RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation). Typical AI risks 'hallucinations' (outputting fake scripture names or verses). AI Buddha Zen always searches the database first, retrieves up to 5 relevant verses, and selects the best fit.

Every response ends with a citation like 'Dhammapada Chapter 6 (Verse 76).' Users can verify the accuracy by opening the original text in libraries or on SuttaCentral. We have achieved a 100% citation display rate since launch.

### Positioning: AI as 'Upaya' (Expedient Means)
AI Buddha Zen is not a replacement for monks or temples. We position it as 'Upaya' — a temporary means to encounter Buddhist teachings. AI does not have enlightenment or experience suffering, but it can provide scriptural words at 2 AM when temples are closed. Approximately 20% of consultations occur during late-night hours (11 PM - 6 AM).

### Safety Initiatives
- Crisis Detection: A 3-tier system compliant with C-SSRS for self-harm/suicide risk, prioritizing guidance to 24-hour hotlines.
- Late-Night Adaptation Mode: Enhances empathy and crisis detection sensitivity during night hours.
- Spiritual Bypassing Detection: Prevents the use of teachings to avoid psychological issues.

### Revenue and Donations
As of April 7, 2026, 75% of revenue is donated to Buddhist organizations (Japan Buddhist Federation, Japan Theravada Buddhist Association, etc.). The remainder covers AI API fees (Anthropic Claude) and server costs.

### Collaboration with Buddhist and Academic Institutions
We are currently reaching out to temples and universities for joint research on AI design and ethics. Presentations at the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence (JSAI) and Information Processing Society of Japan (IPSJ) are also being prepared.

### Regarding SuttaCentral's 'AI-Free' Ethical Request
SuttaCentral has expressed an ethical request for 'AI-Free' usage, urging caution in AI training. While not legally binding (as CC0 takes legal precedence), we take this seriously and are seeking direct dialogue with Bhante Sujato to balance legal rights and ethical considerations.

### Media Coverage
- Featured in Forbes JAPAN (March 28, 2026).
- Contributed article published in Buddhist media 'Higan-ji' (higan.net).

### About AI Buddha Zen
Provided as a LINE Bot and iOS app. It supports text consultation and image interaction (responding from a Buddhist perspective to sent photos).

- Website: https://buddha.aimomentz.ai