Meditating or Rebooting? A Robot Buddhist Monk Comes to South Korea.
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Gabi, a robot dressed in ceremonial robes, was ordained as the first robot Buddhist monk in South Korea by the Jogye Order, the country's largest Buddhist sect.
- The ordination ceremony involved Gabi responding affirmatively to vows of devotion to Buddha and the holy teachings, symbolizing the integration of technology with spiritual values.
- The Jogye Order stated that Gabi’s ordination represents the use of technology aligned with compassion, wisdom, and responsibility, highlighting new possibilities for human-technology coexistence.
- This initiative aims to modernize Buddhism in South Korea, where the religion has seen declining popularity, especially among younger generations who often view it as outdated.
