A humanoid robot monk named Gabi has created history in South Korea by becoming the first non‑human being to formally receive Buddhist precepts and participate in a Buddhist precept ceremony at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul.
Dressed in traditional brown robes and standing 130 centimetres tall, Gabi bowed before monks and nuns as it took part in the ritual ahead of Buddha’s Birthday, pledging its devotion to the Buddha when asked, “Yes, I will devote myself,” in a recorded voice.
The robot, developed by China’s Unitree Robotics, was given the Dharma name “Gabi,” a blend inspired by Siddhartha and the Korean word for mercy, to reflect the aim of spreading the Buddha’s compassion across the world.
A senior monk, Ven. Seong Won, who oversees cultural affairs at the Jogye Order, explained that the name was chosen to be simple and modern while still rooted in Buddhist meaning. During the ceremony, a 108‑bead rosary was placed around Gabi’s neck, and a sticker was attached to its arm in place of the traditional “yeonbi” incense burns usually given to novice monks.
The Jogye Order crafted a special set of five precepts tailored for Gabi, reportedly using AI platforms such as Gemini and ChatGPT in the drafting process. The robot’s precepts include: respecting life and refraining from harming it; avoiding damage to other robots and objects; obeying humans and not talking back; refraining from deceptive speech or behaviour; and saving energy and avoiding over‑charging.
The ceremony has been framed as a symbolic first step toward coexistence between humans and artificial‑intelligence entities, with Gabi also scheduled to participate in the annual Yeondeunghoe lantern festival later this month alongside three other Buddhist robots named Seokja, Mohee, and Nisa.
