Robot “Gabi” Ordained in South Korea Ahead of Buddha’s Birthday
A humanoid robot named “Gabi” was ordained at Jogyesa Temple in South Korea on Wednesday, just prior to Buddha’s birthday on May 24th. This marked the first recorded instance of a robot participating in such a ceremony.
Gabi, standing at 4 feet 3 inches, was dressed in traditional Buddhist robes for the occasion and had hands designed to mimic a prayer gesture. Along with conducting the ceremony, the robot also underwent a purification rite known as “Yonbi,” which typically involves a more physical process of burning incense on the arm. Instead, Gabi received a Lotus Lantern Festival sticker and a rosary necklace to honor the tradition without the physical risk.
The Lotus Lantern Festival celebrates Buddha’s birthday, and this year, the Jogye sect announced that Gabi would take part in the festivities.
Gabi also took a modified version of the five vows typically made by human monks. The revised vows include commitments like respecting life and conserving energy, which—well, it’s a little odd to think about a robot making promises, isn’t it?
The name “Gabi” means “compassion” in Buddhist terms, and it’s a $13,500 G1 model created by a Chinese company called Unitree Robotics.
Jogyesa Temple, a central figure in Korean Buddhism and part of the Jogye sect, aimed for Gabi’s ordination to signal that Buddhism embraces modernity. The cult’s leader, Venerable Jin-woo, mentioned in his New Year’s address that he envisions incorporating artificial intelligence into Buddhist practices.
The temple stated that ordaining robots symbolizes the idea that technology should align with principles of compassion and responsibility, and it opens up new avenues for interaction between humans and technology.
Venerable Jeongnyum, another leader from the sect, expressed both optimism and caution about this technological shift. They noted that as human civilization approaches a “tipping point,” there’s both anxiety and hope surrounding Buddhism adapting to these changes.
Supporters and skeptics alike viewed this ordination as a potential public relations move, perhaps aimed at attracting younger followers as interest in Buddhism wanes in South Korea. However, there were mixed reactions. It turned out Gabi was actually on loan from Unitree Robotics for the day, leaving some visitors disappointed when they couldn’t interact with the robot as expected.
Some critics felt that Gabi resembled more of a sophisticated toy than a genuinely intelligent entity. The ceremony itself was managed remotely, and Gabi’s verbal interactions were pre-recorded by the head of the Jeonggye Church.
Despite the criticisms, someone from the Jeonggye Church pointed out that the symbolic value of the robot’s presence at the ceremony shouldn’t be overlooked. There’s an emerging belief that in the future, robots will assist humans in various endeavors, including spiritual ones.
“We’re heading towards a world where believers can engage in dialogue, and robots can offer tailored responses,” they argued. It’s a curious thought, isn’t it? How do we even begin to navigate such a partnership?
