Om! Japan’s immortal Buddhist Zen master
Print Edition
A 400-year-old temple in Japan is attempting to hot-wire interest in Buddhism with a robotic priest it believes will change the face of the religion — despite critics comparing the android to “Frankenstein’s monster.”
The android Kannon, based on the Buddhist deity of mercy, preaches sermons at Kodaiji temple in Kyoto and its human colleagues predict that with artificial intelligence it could one day acquire unlimited wisdom.
“This robot will never die. It will just keep updating itself and evolving,” said priest Tensho Goto.
“That’s the beauty of a robot. It can store knowledge forever and limitlessly.
“With AI we hope it will grow in wisdom to help people overcome even the most difficult troubles. It’s changing Buddhism.”
The adult-sized robot began service earlier this year and is able to move its torso, arms and head.
But only its hands, face and shoulders are covered in silicone to replicate human skin.
Clasping its hands together in prayer and speaking in soothing tones, the rest of the droid’s mechanical parts are clearly visible.
Wiring and blinking lights fill the cranial cavity of its open-top head and snake around its gender-neutral, aluminium body.
A tiny video camera installed in the left eye completes an eerie, cyborg-like frame.
Developed at a cost of almost US$1 million in a joint project between the Zen temple and renowned robotics professor Hiroshi Ishiguro at Osaka University, the humanoid — called Mindar — teaches about compassion and of the dangers of desire, anger and ego.
“You cling to a sense of selfish ego,” it warns worshippers. “Worldly desires are nothing other than a mind lost at sea.”
With religion’s influence on daily life flat-lining in Japan, Goto hopes Kodaiji’s robot priest will be able to reach younger generations in a way traditional monks can’t.
“Young people probably think a temple is a place for funerals or weddings,” he said, trying to explain the disconnect with religion.
“It might be difficult to relate to fuddy-duddy priests like me but hopefully the robot is a fun way to bridge that gap.
“We want people to see the robot and think about the essence of Buddhism.”
Goto insisted, however, that Mindar was no gimmick to boost income from tourists.
“This robot teaches us ways to overcome pain,” he said. “It is here to save anyone who seeks help.”
The pious droid delivers sermons from the Heart Sutras in Japanese, with translations in English and Chinese projected onto a screen for foreign visitors.
“The goal of Buddhism is to ease suffering,” said Goto. “Modern society brings other kinds of stress but the goal hasn’t really changed for over 2,000 years.”
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