News Kyoto temple using android Kannon

[thomas]

If you thought chatGPT was disconcerting, here's the next AI iteration: Kōdai-ji temple (高台寺) in Kyōto 's Higashiyama Ward employs Mindar, a robotic version of the Kannon bodhisattva to deliver lectures on Buddhist concepts.

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The android edition of Kannon, also known as Kanjizai Bosatsu, talked to the audience at Kodaiji temple in Higashiyama Ward recently with the hope of sharing the teachings of Buddha. [...] "It teaches standard lessons, though the device may look strange," he said. "The idea is interesting because temples can reach out to even those who formerly were not curious about Buddhism with it." Standing 195 centimetres tall and weighing 60 kilograms, the humanoid, dubbed Mindar, has a silicone face, shoulders and hands resembling human skin. However, the material is not applied to other parts of his metallic body. The robot's face, arms and torso can move, allowing Kannon to blink. His gentle expression comes with a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. Kannon explained the Heart Sutra for 25 minutes using its speech synthesis system while speaking to virtual spectators projected on a wall.

Robot helps spread Buddhist teachings at a Kyoto temple | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Kōdaiji Temple

Kōdai-ji (高台寺, Kōdai-ji), formally identified as Jubuzan Kōdai-ji (鷲峰山高台寺, Jubuzan Kōdai-ji), is a temple of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan—the largest sub-temple of the Kennin-ji branch. It was established in 1606 by the nun Kōdai-in (often known by the title...

• JREF
• 8 Apr 2023
• Views: 2K
• Category: Buddhism

 

[Grandpa Frank]