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Robot Participation in Rituals
Comparison of robot involvement in specific ceremonial steps
Primary Sources
South Korea debuts robot monk Gabi in first-ever Buddhist initiation
Robot monk Gabi joins Buddhist ritual in Seoul, marking first AI participation in religious initiation ceremony.Humanoid robot Gabi joins monks during a Buddhist initiation ceremony at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea..Morikoa/X A humanoid robot has made history in South Korea by taking part in a Buddhist initiation ceremony at Seoul’s Jogyesa Temple, becoming the country’s first non-human participant in such a ritual ahead of Buddha’s Birthday. The robot, named Gabi, stood 130 centimeters tall and was dressed in traditional brown Buddhist robes. Developed by China’s Unitree Robotics, it joined monks in prayer during the “sugye” ceremony, a ritual where participants formally pledge devotion to the Buddha, his teachings, and the monastic community. At the ceremony, Gabi pressed its palms together in a prayer gesture and bowed alongside monks and nuns in the temple courtyard. The Siddhartha-derived Dharma name “Gabi, which also means mercy in Korean, was given to the robot during the ritual, marking its symbolic entry into Buddhist practice. Ven. Seong Won, who oversees the cultural affairs at the Jogye Order, said the Dharma name was chosen in line with the spirit of Buddhism. “We tried to give a name that is not too hard to pronounce and old-fashioned, and a name that stands for spreading Buddha’s mercy around the world,” he told the Yonhap news agency. A monk later asked the robot if it would commit to the teachings of Buddha. Gabi responded in an audible voice: “Yes, I will devote myself,” according to the media reports. Robotic vows, ritual rules During the ceremony, Gabi also took part in purification rituals traditionally reserved for novice monks. A monk placed a 108-bead rosary around its neck and attached a sticker to its arm, replacing the traditional “yeonbi” practice in which novices receive small incense burns on their skin. Robot monkOn May 6, 2026, a historic ceremony was held where a robot received the Buddhist precepts from a monk. This ritual, known as 'Sukye-sik,' is a formal ceremony where followers vow to live according to Buddhist teachings. The robot was given the Dharma name 'Gabi.' pic.twitter.com/MX35dz4x12— 삼중/모리코아(morikoa) (@moriko38) May 6, 2026 The robot’s participation was designed as a symbolic adaptation of monastic customs for a non-human entity. In a further adaptation, the Buddhist Five Precepts were rewritten specifically for the robot, with input reportedly drawn from AI tools including Gemini and ChatGPT. ...
Robot Monk? South Korea unveils humanoid disciple at Buddhist temple ...
A humanoid robot named Gabi has become South Korea’s first robot Buddhist monk. The robot made its debut at Seoul’s Jogye Temple ahead of Buddha’s birthday celebrations. Dressed in traditional robes, Gabi bowed before monks and pledged devotion to Buddhism, reflecting the growing intersection of AI, culture and religion.What if spirituality and technology could come together? This is a reality now. South Korea’s first humanoid robot monk which officially debuted at Seoul’s Jogye Temple depicts just that.Ahead of celebrations for Buddha’s birthday, the robot monk’s introduction marks an unusual intersection of Buddhism and artificial intelligence.According to Reuters, The 130-centimetre-tall robot, named Gabi, wore traditional grey and brown Buddhist robes and stood before senior monks during a ceremonial ordination event. When asked by a monk if it would devote itself to Buddhism, the robot replied, “Yes, I will devote myself.”STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADGabi folded its hands and bowed during the ceremony as monks placed a 108-bead rosary around its neck. Instead of undergoing the traditional incense burn ritual, the robot received a symbolic sticker, report says.More from Lifestyle South Korean robot monk Gabi unveiled at Jogye TempleAccording to the Jogye Order, the name Gabi draws from Siddhartha and the Korean word associated with mercy. Ven. Seong Won, who oversees cultural affairs at the Jogye Order, told Yonhap News Agency, the name was chosen to be easy to pronounce while reflecting the idea of spreading Buddha’s compassion globally.Seong Won told the agency that the initiative is an early attempt to explore coexistence between humans and robots. While it may seem unusual for now, he said such efforts could help shape how society adapts to artificial intelligence.Gabi is expected to participate in a lantern festival later this month alongside other robots.Humanoid robots gain visibility across industriesThe debut comes as humanoid robots are increasingly being introduced for public-facing roles across industries.Japan Airlines is testing AI-powered robots for baggage and cargo handling, while technology companies continue investing in robotics and embodied AI systems.Meta recently acquired robotics startup Assured Robot Intelligence as part of its broader push into humanoid machines and AI-driven technologies.The ceremony at Jogye Temple drew attention online and in local media, highlighting South Korea’s growing interest in combining traditional...
Meditating or Rebooting? A Robot Buddhist Monk Comes to Korea.
Gabi is a robot monk and a new member of South Korea's largest Buddhist sect. During a ceremony at the Jogye Temple in Seoul on Wednesday, the robot promised to follow orders and not hurt other ...
Who Is Gabi? South Korea's robot 'monk' takes Buddhist vows at Seoul ...
A humanoid robot named Gabi joins Buddhist rituals in Seoul, marking a first in South Korea. The project explores how artificial intelligence may coexist with spiritual traditions.
