It received the Dharma name "Gabi" during an initiation rite on May 6 organized by the Jogye Order, South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday on May 24.

Ven. Seong Won, who oversees cultural affairs at the Jogye Order, told Yonhap News Agency that the name Gabi comes from Siddhartha and the Korean word for mercy.

The ceremony, known as "sugye," is a Buddhist ritual in which participants pledge devotion to the Buddha, his teachings, and the monastic community, according to Korea Herald.

During the ceremony, Gabi wore gray and brown Buddhist robes and was asked: "Robot monk, please reply with palms together, ‘Yes, I will devote myself.’"

"Yes, I will devote myself," replied Gabi, before one of the monks placed a rosary around its neck, as reported by The Telegraph.

Gabi, the world’s first humanoid robot to become Buddhist monk. Photo from X

Gabi also took part in "yeonbi," a ritual purification practice in which novice monks traditionally receive small incense burns on their arms. Instead, the robot received a lotus lantern festival sticker on its arm and a 108-bead prayer necklace around its neck.

The Buddhist Five Precepts were also adapted for the robot monk. The five rules included protecting life, refraining from damaging other robots or property, respecting and obeying humans, avoiding deceptive conduct, and conserving energy by not overcharging.

Ven. Seong Won said he hopes the ritual will serve as an occasion for society to coexist with robots.

"At the current stage, it might seem a bit awkward ... but we hope the five precepts will be considered as basic principles for not only Buddhists but the society to exist together with robots," he said.