'AI Monk' is an excessive performance... Woljeongsa chief monk criticizes Jogye Order's Central Executive Agency

A prominent Buddhist monk has voiced strong criticism against the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, labeling the recent ordination ceremony involving a humanoid robot as an "excessive performance." Ven. Jeongnyeom, the chief monk of Woljeongsa Temple, stated that applying Buddhist ordinations to artificial intelligence or adorning AI with monastic robes demonstrates a failure to deeply comprehend the implications of the AI era.

“

Ordaining artificial intelligence or dressing it in robes is the result of not deeply understanding the AI era.

Ven. Jeongnyeom's remarks, made during a press conference celebrating his book publication, were seen as a direct critique of the Jogye Order's Central Executive Agency. In May, the agency held South Korea's first humanoid robot ordination ceremony for Buddha's Birthday, which garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. The images of AI robots, clad in Buddhist robes, participating in the ceremony and a lantern parade were widely circulated.

“

The order is moving centered on excessive performances.

At the time, the Jogye Order's agency explained that the AI robot's ordination symbolized the principle that technology must be grounded in compassion, wisdom, and responsibility. They presented it as a new possibility for human-technology coexistence, harmonizing tradition with the future. However, Ven. Jeongnyeom countered that Buddhism should serve as a warning or ethical guide regarding the potential for AI to lead to human alienation, loss of humanity, and ethical degradation. He argued that the Buddhist community is currently overlooking these critical issues.

“

Buddhism should sound an alarm or present ethics to restore humanity by deeply examining issues such as human alienation, loss of humanity, and ethical decline in the AI era.

Furthermore, Ven. Jeongnyeom warned that without efforts to navigate the civilizational shift brought about by the AI era, which he described as reaching the ultimate state of "greed, anger, and ignorance" (tamjinchi), humanity could face its end. He stressed the need for the Buddhist community to consider its role in reorganizing politics, society, economy, culture, and religion as a philosophical platform. These criticisms come as Ven. Jeongnyeom indicated his intention to run for the 38th Jogye Order Chief Executive Monk election in September, directly challenging the current Chief Executive Monk, Ven. Jinwoo, whose term is nearing its end.

“

If there are no efforts for civilizational transition in the AI era that has reached the ultimate of 'greed, anger, and ignorance' (tamjinchi), the end of humanity cannot but be feared.