The so called “rise of the machines” has started, and it looks like obtaining citizenship is the first step. A robot named “Sophia” (wisdom) has made history. It became the first ever robot to be granted full Saudi Arabian citizenship. Developed by AI specialist David Hanson of Hanson Robotics, Sophia’s appointment was made public during the Future Investment Initiative held in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. More: thejakartapost.com/life/20...
Jimmy Fallon demos amazing new robots from all over the world, including an eerily human robot named Sophia who can play Rock-Paper-Scissors. Facebook.
Thich Nhat Hanh (forefront) walks to Lumbini Park at the foot of Borobudur Temple, Java, after leading a meditation peace walk (Jakarta Post/Suherdjoko).
Using slow but deliberate movements, the monk [and Nobel Peace Prize nominee] led participants to climb from the bottom to the temple’s highest stupa.
“Through breathing we know about life. When breathing we feel life. That’s the joy of living,” the 84-year-old monk told participants during the activities at the temple’s Lumbini Park.
In a simple way, he taught people that meditation could be done when doing any daily activities — from working, sitting, walking, sleeping, and eating to drinking — by concentrating and becoming alert of their surrounding to reach peace. More>>
(Jakarta Post) Buddhist monastics living in Jakarta balance centuries-old religious rules with the realities of living in a consumer-driven, cosmopolitan society to maintain their spiritual piety.
“There’s no rule that bans technology, but it must be utilized for religious purposes,” she said. “My mobile phone, for example, is for congregation members to contact me when they need services for house blessings or funerals.”
While some aspects of Buddhism have been adapted to the realities of modern society, others traditions have been upheld because of their philosophical significance. Ven. Virya has a shaved head as Buddhist philosophy encourages cutting all ties to vanity and ego.
“I only have three sets of clothes that were given to me by congregation members,” Ven. Virya told The Jakarta Post. She wore a loose, brown, long sleeved tunic and loose, gray leggings tapered at the ankles.
The Mahayana Buddhist nun also divides donations from her congregation between the temple’s needs and the various charities the temple or vihara contributes to. Mahayana is one of the two main schools in Buddhism besides Theravada. Mahayana is popular in Northern Asia and the Far East, while the more traditional Theravada has a strong foothold in Southern Asia.... “My aim in this life is to sow good karma to reap later, with the hope of becoming a bodhisattva or small buddha, in the next life,” said Ven. Virya. More>>
No Buddha Bar: Hundreds of Buddhist Students Association members demonstrate in front of Buddha-Bar restaurant in central Jakarta, calling on its management to change the name of the bar (Jakarta Post/P.J. Leo).
