Side Note: make sure robot god doesn’t have WiFi capabilities.
A roboticist in Japan has collaborated with a Buddhist temple to create an android representation of Kannon, Bodhisattva of mercy.
The robotic Kannon is 77 inches tall, weighing 132 pounds. It has the ability to move its torso, arms and head. Its hands, face and shoulders are covered in a skin-like silicone coating. It also has a camera in its left eye.
The robot was built by Hiroshi Ishiguro, a professor of intelligent robotics at Osaka University, in collaboration with Kodaji temple. All told, the robotic Kannon cost ¥100 million to develop and build. The temple approached the professor to build the robot in an attempt to draw younger people to the temple’s teachings, and convey Buddha’s teachings in an easily understandable way. Said Tensho Goto, a priest at the temple:
Buddhism spread phenomenally around the world with the emergence of Buddhist images. We are hoping that the Android Kannon will help Buddhist teachings reach the hearts of people today.
We want many people to come and see the robot and to think about the essence of Buddhism.
The robot delivers sermons from the Heart Sutras in Japanese, with versions displayed in English and Chinese off to the sides on a screen. It gave it’s first sermon on Saturday, March 1st. The Robotic Kannon will start preaching to the public later in March.
Source: The Telegraph
About Author
