World News for Students of English

12-05-2026 15:00

In Seoul, South Korea, a 130cm tall humanoid robot named Gabi has officially joined the Buddhist faith. During a special ceremony at the Jogyesa Temple, Gabi was dressed in a traditional saffron robe and received 108 prayer beads.

Instead of the usual ritual with burning incense, monks placed a sticker on Gabi’s mechanical arm. The robot even received a formal certificate, which listed its manufacture date (March 3, 2026) instead of a birth date. This unusual event is part of an effort by the Jogye order to make Buddhism more popular among young people, as interest in the religion has been falling.

Gabi had to follow five special rules, called precepts, which were adapted for a robot. These rules include not harming life, not damaging other robots, and not overcharging (i.e., avoiding excess, similar to how humans should avoid alcohol). The monks hope that by using technology, they can encourage the younger generation to visit temples and think about life’s deeper meanings.

Difficult words: saffron (a bright yellow or orange color), incense (a substance that is burned to produce a sweet or pleasant smell, often used in religious ceremonies), excess (an amount of something that is more than necessary or more than what is healthy).

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