Beloved Robot Dogs Honored In Funeral Ceremony
Beloved Robot Dogs Honored In Funeral Ceremony
In a small Buddhist temple, a funeral for robot dogs is a poignant expression of the human capacity for emotional connection and compassion. Sony introduced the AIBO in 1999. The robots could move in complex ways, and had a simulated mischievous streak. Over time, they would come to “know” their human companions. Some AIBO owners became deeply attached to the robots. Sony stopped production of AIBOs in 2006, and in 2014, the company ended support service for the aging robots. That was traumatic news for some AIBO aficionados. Repair company A-Fun soon had a steady demand from AIBO owners, requiring parts from other, defunct AIBOs. Out of respect for the owners’ connection to the “deceased” devices, A-Fun decided to hold funerals for the "organ donors." According to Head Priest Bungen Oi, honoring these machines is consistent with Buddhist thought. Citing a proverb, he says, “Everything has Buddha-nature.”
NatGeo asks... Saying goodbye to a dog can be difficult, even if the pet is a robot. What are your thoughts on this unique ceremony?
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Re: Beloved Robot Dogs Honored In Funeral Ceremony
Alot of japanese buddhism is just for show
Re: Beloved Robot Dogs Honored In Funeral Ceremony
A lot of all religions is just show.
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde