Robot becomes ordained monk and promises to 'devote myself' to faith

A robot has become an ordained monk and promised to devote itself to Buddhism.

In South Korea, the newest Buddhist monk is a robot named Gabi which retails for $13,500 (£9,900).

The 130-centimetre tall robot, manufactured by Chinese company Unitree Robotics, wore a traditional Buddhist robe as it pledged itself to Buddhism.

Gabi - a Buddhist name that means mercy - wore black shoes and put its hands together to pray as it approached a panel of four Buddhist monks at Jogye Temple in Seoul and was asked to dedicate itself to the faith.

The monks told the humanoid robot: "Robot monk, please reply with palms together, 'Yes, I will devote myself.'"

In response, Gabi said: "Yes, I will devote myself."

Gabi, the robot monk, then folded its hands and bowed to the monks as a rosary was placed around its neck.

Venerable Sungwon, the order’s cultural affairs director, admitted the decision to ordain a robot started casusally.

He told The Guardian: "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."

The Seoul temple serves as the headquarters of the Jogye order, and the ceremony comes as Buddhism is falling in popularity in South Korea.

Just 16 per cent of South Koreans currently identify as Buddhist, down from 23 per cent in 2005.

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The order also only ordained 99 new monks last year, down from more than 200 a decade ago.

But robot monk Gabi serves as an opportunity to appeal to a younger generation, as only eight per cent of people under twenty identifying as Buddhist.

Ven Sungwon said Gabi received five Buddhist precepts - ethical rules which govern Buddhist practice - which were adapted specifically for the Jogye order's newest robotic member.

Gabi pledged not to harm life, damage other robot or objects, engage in deceptive behaviour, or act disrespectfully.

The robot's fifth precept - which proved the trickiest - was to avoid overcharging.

Ven Sungwon said: "Humans drink alcohol and overdo things, right? So what's the robot equivalent?

"People might think the overcharging rule is just about batteries, but really it's about excess."

Ven Sungown added the ceremony was less about proving a robot could become a monk, but rather about guiding the humans creating them

"Robot-makers must create robots that can follow them," Ven Sungwon said.

He added he hoped young people would visit a Buddhist temple at least once.

"Then when they're older and start thinking about life, they'll naturally return. We can't force people to become Buddhists," Ven Sungwon said.

The robot monk has been appointed before Buddha's birthday on May 26 and is expected to attend the Lotus Lantern Festival with fellow robots Seokja, Mohee and Nisa, to celebrate the occasion.