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Can We Ordain a Monk Robot?

By Kooi F. Lim, Op-Ed - The Buddhist Channel, 10 May 2026

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- In the ordinary Buddhist sense, no. That is the short answer. But the question - “Is it possible to ordain a ‘monk robot’ or even an 'AI'?” - deserves more than a dismissal. It is a mirror held up to our tradition, asking us to clarify what ordination actually means.

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Use NORBU AI Mindfully (“Sati”-sfied Your Usage)

Op-Ed, The Buddhist Channel, 28 Feb 2026

Dear Friends in The Dharma, In the past days, I have found myself returning to a piece of news that sits heavily in my mind, like a stone dropped into still water. It concerns a recent announcement from the United States Department of War regarding their intent to deploy artificial intelligence for mass surveillance and, most disturbingly, to create weapons of mass destruction that would operate without direct human input.

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The Silent Teaching: Lessons from a Walk Across America

by Kooi F. Lim, The Buddhist Channel, 15 Jan 2025

Preamble: The Walk for Peace is a 120-day, 3,700 km journey by Buddhist monks — with loyal dog, Aloka — walking from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world. The walk began on October 26, 2025 and is expected to end some time in February 2026.

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Call to the WFB - Embrace the Digital Dharma or Fade into Irrelevance

Op-Ed, by Kooi F. Lim, Managing Editor, The Buddhist Channel, 13 December 2025

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- In an era defined by artificial intelligence, algorithmic discourse, and a global information war for hearts and minds (read social media), the Buddhist world stands at a precipice. We are losing the narrative.

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Wither the Global Buddhist Voice?

A guest OpEd by a Concerned Member of the Global Buddhist community, The Buddhist Channel, 30 November, 2025

An urgent call to action: A path of dignity for our beloved "World Fellowship Of Buddhists" which celebrates it 75th anniversary on 6th December with a meeting in Bangkok.

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The Empty Mirror: Why McMindfulness Betrays the Heart of Buddhism
A Buddhist Reporting from Gaza
Normalizing the Mindful Communication Narrative
China's Buddhist Forum - A Facade of Religious Freedom?
AI to Empower Buddhist Soft Power
Buddhists Keen to Build Global Partnerships But Cautious to Launch Peace Movement
DJ NewJeansNim, worshiped in Korea, condemned in Malaysia
Toxic Media, Celebrity Hounding, and Lee Sun-kyun's Untimely Demise
Looking Back 2023: The Rise of NORBU
Buddhist Chatbot as a Liberating Tool of Dharma Learning
Modern Metaphors for the Buddhist Raft
Taking Poison Out of Our Minds
Seeing Through Deceit and Ignorance via Buddhist Education
How YOU Can - and WHY You Should - Train NORBU
Buddhism's Role in the National Identity of South and Southeast Asian Nations
Buddhism and the Challenge of Addressing "Real" Suffering
The Roles of Monastics and Buddhist Centers in a Post-Bot Age
Why NORBU could be a Game Changer in Buddhist Learning
Temporary Ordination: Is it a right thing to do?
Why Buddhism Disappeared from India but Not Jainism
What is the Nalanda Tradition?
Zemithang Conference is Proof that the Roots of Nalanda Buddhism are Well and Alive
Mindfulness and Compassion as Path to Environmental Harmony
‘Settle the Ukraine Crisis, Avoid a Nuclear Confrontation’
Why can't Vesak have a universal observation day like Diwali, Eid Ul Fitr or Christmas?
AI and Climate Change: The New Challenges facing Buddhists
The International Buddhist Summit and the clout of India
Shinzo Abe's "Buddhist" Legacy
Buddhists Map A New Paradigm for Development Communication
COVID-19: We Need A Vaccine for The Mind
Dzongzar Kyentse Rinpoche rips the west over hypocritical treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi
Buddhism as the Official National Religion of Thailand
Why so many Americans think Buddhism is just a philosophy
Is Violation of the First Precept with Minimal Karmic Retribution Possible?
Buddhism and Islam in Asia: A Long and Complicated History
Clear the deadwoods, blood fresh talents
As China Pushes for a ‘Buddhist’ Globalisation’ India Isn’t Making the Most of Its Legacy
Modi’s Buddhist Diplomacy Fails to Dispel Sri Lankan Suspicions
Keeping faith in Buddha-Dhamma
Nalanda Bringing Science, Ethics and Buddhism Together To Save Humanity
To Deploy the Soft Power of Buddhism, India Needs to Embrace the Sangha
Nalanda U's second chance for a "true" revival
A Trump Presidency Need Not Be the End Times
Has Aung San Suu Kyi sold out the Dalai Lama?
Buddhist-Muslim Violence in South and South-East Asia: The Local Becomes Regional, or a Clash of Civilizations?
China must lead the Buddhist World
YES! Enshrine Buddhism as Thailand State Religion
Thai politicking on the appointment of the new supreme patriarch
Bridging the Muslim-Buddhist divide in Asia
Buddhism for the betterment of Israel
Sri Lanka: US Wooing The Buddhists To Serve Their Geo-political Interests
Call to India to explore Buddhist diplomacy
Buddhism and the World Crisis
Monks and politics
How India Is Squandering Its Top Export: The Buddha
China re-discovers priceless value of Buddhism
The Buddhist route
Be Done with the Reincarnation System (But not the Belief)
West Misses Point - and Lesson - of Buddhist Anti-Muslim Sentiment
Religion not as clear as black and white
Buddhist Women As Agents of Change: Case Studies from Thailand and Indonesia
Time to Stamp out Hate-Speech
Charlie Hebdo Incident: Can Buddhist Right Speech Stop such Conflict?
Buddhism and freedom of speech
"Je suis la parole juste" (I am right speech)
Non-religious essence of Buddhism and Ethics
Ethics and the non-religious essence of Buddhism
Cananonizing a Saint May Not Be Saintly After All
Buddhism In China: Zen And Now
China re-discovers priceless value of Buddhism
How Would the Buddha Handle North Korea? Mindfulness in diplomacy
The roots of intolerance and prejudice in Buddhism
Rebirth of Indian Buddhism under Narendra Modi
Sri Lanka: Buddhist Jurisprudence Conference - A
Why I have little sympathy for the Buddha tattoo tourist
The Crisis facing the Buddhist World
Buddha’s Universe Cosmologically Accurate
Hatred and Buddhism don't mix
Dhammakaya’s Awakening
Is Buddhism compatible with Marxism?
Buddhism in the 21st Century
Why Buddhism must be at the forefront of Nalanda U
The problem with getting attached to things
Time’s cover epitomizes Buddhism’s failure
China Must Realize Tibet And Tibetans Are A Reality – Analysis
No pension for Eido Shimano
On self-immolations in Tibet
An Opportunity for Aung San Suu Kyi, President Obama…and You
Religions and Worldviews – the intimate connection
Next Economy, Buddhist Economy
Investigating the Integration of Buddhism into Western Culture
Religious sensitivities no excuse for violence in Muslim world
Self-Immolations In Tibet: Altruism, Fatalism Or Anomie? – Analysis
We backed you, and now you do this?
Japanese Buddhists’ Increasing Involvement in Anti-Nuclear Activism
Does Buddhism need the supernatural stuff?
Should we ‘celebrate’ Vesak?
2600th Anniversary of the Buddha's Enlightenment and Sri Lankan Contribution to Buddhism
It’s time Tibetans broke their silence
The Importance Of Inter-Religious Harmony
Buddhist Questions & Answers On 2012
China tries to make the Buddha smile
India owns copyright to Buddhism: Karmapa Lama
Why we shouldn’t say bad things of other Dharma centers
American Buddhism facing generational shift
Buddhism and Recovery: Anonymity as Spiritual Foundation
League of Buddhist Nations - An idea whose time has come
Vesak: The Missing Years
Mantras in the context of Tantric Buddhism
The role of females in Buddhism
Mind, Consciousness, Enlightenment, a Vijnanavadin’s perspective
Japan's code of honor
Culture, Women, Money & the Western Sangha
Who'll carry the torch?
Why monks wear robes
The Office of the Dalai Lama – An advantage to the Chinese Government
Education for Zen Students on Misconduct in Sanghas
The Karmapa Conundrum
Buddhism In The Soviet Union
Jesus the Christ and Siddhartha Gautama the Buddha
Buddhism And Science: Promise And Perils
Instantaneous Being - A Buddhist Logic
Buddhist secrets for everlasting love
Buddhist reflections on death and rebirth
No moksha* in Thai samsara of monastic scandals
Maintenance of Zoos – morally indefensible
What being Buddhist is all about
Comments on the upcoming Nalanda University
Growth in a Buddhist Economy
Dangers Of Compassion
Mind over matter
Post of UN Secretary-General: Why not a Buddhist next time?
Bringing up their Panchen Lama
Technological and Political Progressivism in Historical Buddhist Thought
An analysis of the buddhist concept of this moment - A way to the future
Skillful means: Virtuous gateway drugs, and the founding Buddhists on whether DJs are musicians
Marxism and Buddhism
Can Buddhism and western therapy save the 'Chosen One'?
What can Buddhism teach Tiger Woods?
Will Buddhism save Tiger Woods?
Chicago Area Buddhists see Tiger's return to faith as positive move
Tiger Woods, Buddhism And Redemption
Maybe Brit Hume Should Preach Buddhism . . .
Ven. Dr. Yifa’s Response to the Bhikkhuni Ordination at Perth
No Buddhists in Washington?
Amid crisis, the reincarnation of Buddhist economics
When conditions change
Monastic lineages and the Vinaya: Which is Buddhist?
Ajahn Chandako on the Bhikkhuni Ordination in Perth 2009
Ming Yi, Angulimala and the saffron robe
Happiness index
Why do good people die?
The importance of the Dalai Lama's Taiwan visit
Dharma heroes
Buddhists are far ahead of Hindu Dalits
The Collapsing Colonies Of Bees- Economics And The Buddhist Doctorine Of Ahimsa
Engaged Buddhism is not "personal practice", its the "whole practice"
Where can a Buddhist escape herself?
In Buddhism, it pays to leave assumptions at the door
Freedom of faith foremost
Saffron robes or jeans and T-shirt?
About Aung San Suu Kyi, Meditator and Teacher
Does real Buddhism exist in the West?
Dawkins strips away religion's dead wood
Contributions of the Buddha and Buddhism towards the "Indian Way" of life
Animal SOS: Return to Buddhist values
In Search of the Historical Acharya Shantideva
A Buddhist perspective on the apocalypse
Buddhists understand Globalization as ongoing change
This is Your Karma
Charles Darwin 'may have been inspired by Tibetan Buddhism'
Charles Darwin the Buddhist?
Buddhism seen through the Darwinian lens
A revisit to Buddhist economics as a way out
Life in the God Realms
The curious case of Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama's scarf
Beliefs of a Non-Believer
A Little Buddhist Mindfulness Would Be Good For The Economy
Mindfulness and Media
Role Of Sangitis In Maintaining Purity Of Buddhavacana (Buddha Teachings)
Buddhism: Beyond The Dalit Shadow
What Would the Buddha Buy?
Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: A Point of View
Prop 8: What really matters
Mothers Don’t Let your Babies Grow up to be Piano Tuners Or Self Proclaimed Buddhas
Why would anyone want to be president?
An Open Letter to the Dalai Lama
The Ripening of America: The Election of Barack Obama
The Non-Theistic Approach to Theology
Against The Stream: The Buddhist Path Of Revolution
On Making Judgments
Will the Dalai Lama return to Tibet?
The deity Dalai Lama banned
A Bold Way to Close the Olympics
The ‘bulldozer’ and the Buddha: Korea’s dangerous middle
Pluralism At It's Best: A Jew Has A Buddhist Epiphany
A Buddhist on a Christian on Buddhism
Buddhism and Evil
Dalai Lama welcome, but is his message so special?
Different Religions, Same Ethics?
Monks, generals and karma
No Thanks, I'll Stick With Buddhism
The Cross-Manifestations of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas & Gods?
Complete ruin for those who hinder others who gives
Religion cannot be separated from politics
Burmese generals are doing themselves great harm
Kamma and Natural Disasters
Dalai Lama is Quietly Changing the World
What Was Sharon Stone Thinking?
Churches must be 'entertainment' too
The Panchaseela (five precepts) and Buddhism
Tamable and Untamable
Buddhism - "So, Who is Your God?"
Buddha leads
Tibet Isn't a Buddhist Litmus Test
Fight violence with nonviolence
A thousand moons in a thousand rivers
Dharma The Cat and the roar of the lion
Thai PM ignores the other side of the coin
Non-Violence And The Self-Cherishing Mind
Nalanda University: It's time Asia paid back the 'knowledge' debt
Monks futile march against Valentine?
Dhamma Warriors: The Birth of Hope
The public face of Buddhism
How the Goldilocks Effect Affects You
Global Animal Holocaust – the Countdown has begun
A cut above
A temple must be in the heart
Burmese monks, religion and liberation
Dhamma, Doubt and Mother Teresa
The Burmese monks' spiritual strength proves religion has a role in politics
Building community across religious differences
Buddha's teachings and its economic impact
Brute force can never subdue the basic human desire for freedom
Resistance, Not Repression, is the Real Story From Burma
Burmese Days
Burma and the Press
Burma's true leaders
Current developments and media warfare in Burma
They shoot monks, don’t they?
Between purpose and reality
Buddhists don't kill
Learning from a great teacher
Spirit of tolerance, harmonisation and assimilation in Buddhism
Philosophy of Hiinayaana Buddhism In Practice Today
Buddhist Supremacy
Contradictory histories plague Vietnam
Buddhism and Quantum Physics
Venerable Walter Mitty’s New Clothes
Thailand's Capitalism in Stark Opposition to Buddhist Principles
Discovery Channel's "The Boy With Divine Powers"
Is there a gap between the Arahant and the Bodhisatta?
Poson thoughts
A letter to the future Dalai Lama
Embracing a religion to restore self-esteem
Thich Nhat Hanh rekindles Thailand's consciousness
Rationalism and Buddha
Buddha and the World
The facts behind the Jatukam Ramathep talisman nonsense
Harsha: In the footsteps of Ashoka
Sri Lanka press ignores world Buddhism
The Three Poisons Institutionalized
The Buddhist perspective of globalisation
The Dalai Lama’s Army
True diversity
Nalanda International University: A Great Initiative
A deeper sense of happiness
Thai nationalists tap a source of empty pride
Peace be upon us
'Impeachable Incompetence' Governs Iraq Escalation
Thailand: Living Will will help us die in peace
A bigger economy doesn't always buy happiness
What is happening to Buddhism in Thailand is completely political and unBuddhist
How the Buddha saved the "untouchables"
Buddha As Untouchable
Strength lies in love and peace
... and ego has the last laugh
Are We In The Dharma-Ending Age?
Conflict and Buddhism
The challenge to the Sangha in the 21st century
A Buddhist Perspective of Leadership & Management
World Cup Musings: Lessons from the last match
The true spirit of Asalaha Puja
Imprisoned by false views
Are Buddhists atheists?
Gandhi proclaimed himself a Buddhist
Protest on the conduct of the annual London Advanced Level Exams on Wesak Day
Islam in the eyes of Dalai Lama
Forward with Ambedkar the big picture
Zen and the Heart of Blasphemy
Politics and religion do mix after all
Thai Buddhist government critic brings support but can?t promise results
Acharya Nagarjuna was 2nd Buddha: Rinpoche
Land of the lotus
The Four Ignoble Truths of Tibetan Buddhism
Eluding Happiness
Exploring the Method of Socially Engaged Buddhism
Right views on human rights and values
Creation debate rather irrelevant to Buddhism
Taiwan: Let religious holidays be personal
The Buddhas the Taliban destroyed
Buddhism: From Lumbini To Russia
Vision for our future
Inside the minds of monks and moms
The Dalai Lama Traces Heschel?s Footsteps
The art of giving
A glimpse of Buddhism in ancient Bangladesh
Buddhist realism
Remembering a non-violent 9/11
Rival child lamas grow up and into political storm
Drawing Lessons from Ayodhya & Ayutthaya
Bodhisattva as Revolutionary
The folly of releasing animals as acts of compassion
Effervescent corruption in karma-cola
The Logic of Religious Images
Why I am Proud to be What I am : A Sinhala Buddhist
80/20 Rule for Effective Management
Popes? conservatism and the pendulum?s swing
Embrace plurality, evoke sanctity of humanity
Unity in Buddhism is a distant hope
How would Buddha handle your kids?
Fighting the Buddhists with `God?s Armour?
Fighting it out, just like the monks used to
Leadership and Personal Integrity
Religious tensions within home
What's wrong with your...Abstinence?
Happiness Viewpoint: A Deeper Sense of Happiness
Changing Minds, One at a Time
In an undiscovered country
How Are YOU Changing the World Now?
Embracing our pain
Visions for our future
Penalty or Punishment?
A Major Cause of the Dramatic Increase of Human Suffering
The Buddha was against animal sacrifice
Where Were the Buddhas When the Tsunamis Hit?
Dharma Crumbs
Thinking May Not Be All It's Thought to Be
One voice, one heart: How Malaysian Buddhists are coming of age
The ghosts of Phuket
When the heart wills the body on
Four blind men
Buddhism's influence on American letters
150,000
Realisation: Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop?
The dhamma of natural disasters
When nature misbehaves humans have to weep
The dhamma of natural disasters
Shoe issue which paved the way to the independence struggle in Burma
Don?t bash the Sangha
The State's role in purifying and perpetuating Buddha Sasana
Do You Want to Be Absolutely Free?
Who's Scared of the D-Word in the Himalayas?
War, politics, history? Ask this Tibetan nomad something important
What the Buddha taught about prayer and worship
De-clutter your way to spiritual growth
South Thailand: The makings of a terror sequel?
True freedom
Christianity: Is It Self-Destructing?
Averting the Erosion of Buddhist Values
National Level Buddhist Organizations must rise up to face new challenges

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