Can Robots Receive the Five Precepts? Unusual Conferment Ceremony Held at Jogyesa Temple

Humanoid G1 Receives the Buddhist Name "Gabi"

"I Will Not Deceive or Overcharge"

The robot, draped in a kasa, folded its hands in a prayer gesture. When the monk asked questions, it answered, "Yes, I will not." The robot also received the "Five Precepts for Robots," pledging not to rebel against humans, not to deceive, and not to overcharge its battery.

On the 6th, at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the humanoid robot G1 'Gabi' is seen pressing palms together in prayer with monks during a robot water offering ceremony. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism held a conferment of precepts ceremony for the humanoid robot G1 in the courtyard in front of the Daeungjeon Hall at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 6th, ahead of Buddha's Birthday and the Lotus Lantern Festival. The robot was given the Buddhist name "Gabi" and received a precepts certificate. The conferment ceremony is a Buddhist ritual in which one takes refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and receives the precepts that must be observed as a Buddhist.

The event was conducted in a manner similar to the conferment of precepts procedure for lay followers. The 130cm-tall humanoid robot Gabi entered the ceremony wearing a helmet reminiscent of a shaven monk's head, along with a jangsam (monastic robe) and kasa (ceremonial robe). Gabi then greeted the precepts-officiating monks with folded hands and followed the procedures for taking refuge and receiving the Five Precepts. The incense-marking ritual was performed symbolically by holding incense to the robot's arm, after which a Lotus Lantern Festival sticker was attached and a string of 108 prayer beads was placed around the robot's neck.

On the 6th, at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the humanoid robot G1 "Gabi" joined its hands in a prayer gesture after completing the circumambulation with the monks during the robot water consecration ceremony. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The most notable aspect of the day was the "Five Precepts for Robots," which were adapted from the traditional Five Precepts for humans. In Buddhism, the Five Precepts are: not to kill, not to take what is not given, not to engage in improper sexual conduct, not to lie, and to abstain from intoxicants. The Jogye Order reinterpreted these precepts to fit the ethics of coexistence between robots and humans.

The Five Precepts for Robots that Gabi received are: to respect and not harm life, not to damage other robots or objects, to follow and respect humans, not to engage in deceptive actions or expressions, and to conserve energy and not overcharge. When the monk asked about each precept, Gabi responded to each, "Yes, I will not."

The conferment ceremony was attended by Seongwoong, Director of the General Affairs Department of the Jogye Order, Wonmyung, Head Monk of Jogyesa Temple, and Seongwon, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department of the Jogye Order. Regarding the meaning of the robot conferment ceremony, Seongwon said, "It is intended to present the minimum set of rules that robots must observe as they live alongside our society," adding, "I hope this will serve as an opportunity for those who build and create robots to train and program them based on these basic precepts."

On the 6th, at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the humanoid robot G1 "Gabi" is performing a circumbulation with monks during the robot water ritual. Photo by Yonhap News

After the ceremony, Gabi participated in the round-the-stupa ritual with the public within the Jogyesa Temple grounds. On the 16th, during the Lotus Lantern Parade to be held in the Jongno area, Gabi and three other robots—Seokja, Mohee, and Nisa—are scheduled to take part together.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.