We live in an age where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming everything—from how we work, to how we think, to how we build products. As a product manager fascinated by technology and equally committed to my inner growth, I’ve often reflected on a question inspired by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Can machines ever replicate the depths of human intelligence? Or is there something they can never touch?
What Is Absolute Intelligence?
Sri Sri describes Absolute Intelligence as the depth of human consciousness — the intelligence beyond mere computation.
- It’s the spark of creativity that writes poetry or composes music no algorithm can predict.
- It’s the compassion that holds space for someone’s pain without rushing to solve it.
- It’s the intuition that senses what data can’t measure.
- It’s our ability to create meaning, imagine new realities, and connect deeply with others.
Machines might analyze patterns faster than we ever could, but meaning belongs to human experience.
Meditation: De concentration, Not Concentration
One reason I’ve been able to tap into this space is my daily practice of SKY Breath Meditation. It has taught me an important lesson:
“Often people think meditation is concentration. In fact, it is deconcentration.”
It’s not about forcing the mind to focus—it’s about letting it expand, relax, and observe. In that deconcentration, creativity and intuition blossom. And that’s where Absolute Intelligence lives.
Some of my best product insights have come not in meetings or spreadsheets, but during those quiet moments after my practice.
The Limits of Artificial Intelligence
AI is extraordinary—I see its power daily in my work. It’s brilliant at:
- Processing huge datasets
- Identifying patterns
- Automating repetitive tasks
- Powering predictive insights
But AI is still bound by inputs and logic.
It doesn’t dream. It doesn’t sit in silence and feel joy for no reason. It doesn’t experience awe when looking at a sunset. It doesn’t hold empathy for another human being’s suffering.
Absolute Intelligence in Product Management: My Personal Stories
Working in product management, I see this dance between Artificial and Absolute Intelligence every day.
Here are some of my personal moments where Absolute Intelligence made the real difference.
The Unspoken “Why”
Not long ago, my team launched a new feature we thought users would love. The data came in — adoption was low. AI tools showed the metrics but not the emotions behind them.
I remember sitting quietly one evening after my SKY practice, reflecting:
Why aren’t users connecting emotionally with this feature? What story are we failing to tell?
Suddenly it struck me — we’d designed it for efficiency, but not delight. The human piece was missing.
We changed the design and messaging. Engagement tripled.
That leap—from data to human empathy—is Absolute Intelligence.
✅ Navigating Uncertainty
A few months back, I was leading a roadmap discussion where stakeholders couldn’t agree. Tension filled the room. I felt pressure from all sides.
Instead of reacting, I paused. Later that evening, during meditation, clarity came:
What’s truly essential for our users right now? What can wait?
The next day, I confidently proposed a simplified path. The team aligned instantly.
That kind of clarity doesn’t come from AI dashboards. It comes from inner stillness.
✅ Holding Space in Conflict
I remember a meeting where an engineer and a designer were practically shouting at each other. It was uncomfortable. AI could’ve analyzed their words for sentiment, but it couldn’t:
- Feel compassion for a colleague under pressure
- Notice the shaky voice and tired eyes
- Sense the frustration beyond their words
I listened deeply, acknowledged both perspectives, and found a middle path. Tension dissolved.
That’s Absolute Intelligence at work.
✅ Random Sparks of Innovation
If you look closely, many of our best ideas arrive when we’re relaxed or not actively trying too hard.
Sometimes it’s while staring out the window, taking a shower, or going for a quiet walk. In those moments of stillness, unexpected insights can suddenly appear — solutions we hadn’t even considered or creative leaps that connect dots in new ways.
No AI can generate those out-of-the-box insights born from silence and intuition.
The Future Needs Both
So while AI makes me a more efficient product manager, Absolute Intelligence makes me a better one.
- AI handles the “what.”
- Absolute Intelligence guides the “why.”
And in product management, the “why” is often the difference between a product that simply works—and one that users love.
My Reflection
As we rush into an AI-driven world, let’s pause and ask:
- What part of me cannot be programmed?
- What gifts do I bring that no machine ever will?
- How can I nurture my Absolute Intelligence each day?
Because ultimately, the best products—and the best lives—come from both the intelligence of machines and the consciousness of humans.
Let’s remember:
AI might be artificial, but our intelligence is absolute.
A Special Note on AI
While writing this blog, I also turned to AI — specifically, ChatGPT — for help in organizing my thoughts, refining my language, and exploring ways to express this topic clearly.
And that’s the perfect example: AI is a powerful tool to support our creativity and productivity. But the vision, values, and meaning behind what we create still come from us.
The future is not about AI replacing humans—it’s about how AI and Absolute Intelligence can work together.
The 'Product'ive Mind 