Robot Buddhist Monk
South Korea’s Buddhists Jogyesa temple in South Korea initiated Gabi, a humanoid robot into its order this week, as it combats falling participation and interest. Amid rows of colourful lanterns strung across the courtyard of Jogyesa temple in Seoul, an unusual ceremony unfolded this week: monks held a Buddhist initiation for a humanoid robot draped in saffron robe. They placed a string of 108 prayer beads around the robot’s neck and affixed a lantern festival sticker to its mechanical arm in place of the traditional yeonbi ritual, in which burning incense is lightly pressed against the skin. The robot was then presented with a formal certificate listing its manufacture date where a human initiate’s birth date would normally appear.
“At first we discussed it casually,” Venerable Sungwon, the order’s cultural affairs director, says about the robot ceremony’s origins. “It began almost as a joke. But the more we thought about it, the more serious it became. “Robots are entering our lives so quickly, and people feel familiar with them … They’re becoming part of our community.” Venerable Sungwon’s temple is the headquarters of the Jogye order, South Korea’s largest Buddhist denomination, and the initiation of its first robot monk comes at a time of uncertainty for the group. Just 16% of South Koreans now identify as Buddhist, down from about 23% in 2005. Among people in their twenties, the figure drops to 8%. Last year, the Jogye order ordained just 99 new monks, down from more than 200 a decade earlier. Yet by another measure, Buddhism has never been more popular. Under its president, Ven Jinwoo, the Jogye order has aggressively courted younger Koreans through what observers call “hip Buddhism” using merchandise, meditation apps and viral marketing. Precepts – the ethical rules governing Buddhist practice – were specially adapted for Gabi. Four prohibited harming life, damaging other robots or objects, engaging in deceptive behavior or acting disrespectfully towards people.
“Humans drink alcohol and overdo things, right? So what’s the robot equivalent?” Ven Sungwon says. “People might think the overcharging rule is just about batteries, but really it’s about excess.” Next week, Gabi will rejoin its three mechanical siblings – Seokja, Mohee and Nisa – in the annual Lotus Lantern parade, a major celebration marking Buddha’s birthday, where it is expected to walk in the streets of Seoul. For Ven Sungwon, the robot is part of a broader strategy to make Buddhism feel relevant to younger Koreans. “The important thing is that young people visit temples once,” he says. “Then when they’re older and start thinking about life, they’ll naturally return. We can’t force people to become Buddhists.”
Humor in the cycle of life
A lost hiker is on one side of a raging river when he sees a Buddhist monk on the other side. There are no bridges. He has no boat. He shouts out to the monk on the opposite bank. “How do I get to the other side?”
The Buddhist monk shouts back: “You are on the other side.”
How much do items at the Buddhist dollar store cost?
Everything is one.
Buddhist birthday wishes:
Forget the past, you cannot change it.
Forget the future, you cannot know it.
Forget the present, I didn’t bring you one.
Did you hear about the Swedish Buddhist?
Someone said he was Bjorn again…and again…and again.
Birthdays on May 12th
1997 – Odeya Rush, 1820 – Florence Nightingale, 1968 – Catherine Tate, 1980 – Emily VanCamp
1937 – George Carlin, 1968 – Tony Hawk, 1925 – Yogi Berra, 1948 – Steve Winwood