Buddhism | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/buddhism/RSS feed for BuddhismenThu, 07 May 2026 21:21:32 +0000Meet 'Gabi,' the Robot That Just Became a Monk at a Buddhist Temple in South Korea. It’s the Latest Robot to Take Up Religious Practicehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-gabi-the-new-robot-monk-at-a-buddhist-temple-in-south-korea-its-the-latest-robot-to-take-up-religious-practice-180988695/The humanoid promised to obey humans, save energy and treat other robots peacefully. South Korean Buddhist leaders have recently started to embrace artificial intelligenceThu, 07 May 2026 21:21:32 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-gabi-the-new-robot-monk-at-a-buddhist-temple-in-south-korea-its-the-latest-robot-to-take-up-religious-practice-180988695/Songkran Is Thailand’s Splashing New Year’s Festival, When Everyone Gets Out a Super Soaker and Prepares to Get Drenchedhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-how-thailand-splashes-into-spring-with-songkran-a-new-years-water-festival-starting-april-13-180988536/The memorable tradition has a deep cultural history rooted in Buddhism and increasing global notoriety for its rowdy water fightsMon, 13 Apr 2026 16:38:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-how-thailand-splashes-into-spring-with-songkran-a-new-years-water-festival-starting-april-13-180988536/Afghanistan Was a Crossroad of the Ancient World, Where Hellenistic Culture Blended With Buddhist Influenceshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/afghanistan-was-a-crossroad-of-the-ancient-world-where-hellenistic-culture-blended-with-buddhist-influences-180988065/Alexander the Great conquered the region around 329 B.C.E., leaving behind Greek and Macedonian settlers who intermarried with locals. Their descendants eventually formed new kingdoms whose legacies continue to be debated todayWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/afghanistan-was-a-crossroad-of-the-ancient-world-where-hellenistic-culture-blended-with-buddhist-influences-180988065/A Stunning Sculpture of the Buddha Modeled After a Destroyed Sixth-Century Statue Is Coming to New York City's High Linehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-stunning-sculpture-of-the-buddha-modeled-after-a-destroyed-sixth-century-statue-is-coming-to-new-york-citys-high-line-180987940/Known as "The Light That Shines Through the Universe," the 27-foot-tall artwork created by Tuan Andrew Nguyen will be installed on the Plinth this springMon, 05 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-stunning-sculpture-of-the-buddha-modeled-after-a-destroyed-sixth-century-statue-is-coming-to-new-york-citys-high-line-180987940/India Is Trying to Stop the Sale of Hundreds of Ancient Gems Associated With the Buddhahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/india-is-trying-to-stop-the-sale-of-hundreds-of-ancient-gems-associated-with-the-buddha-180986569/The 300 sacred jewels are part of a larger trove found in India in 1898. They're scheduled to be sold by Sotheby's Hong Kong, where bidding will start at roughly $1.3 millionTue, 06 May 2025 20:37:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/india-is-trying-to-stop-the-sale-of-hundreds-of-ancient-gems-associated-with-the-buddha-180986569/South Korea’s Worst Ever Wildfires Ravage Ancient Buddhist Temples and Menace Historic Villageshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/south-koreas-worst-ever-wildfires-ravage-ancient-buddhist-temples-and-menace-historic-villages-180986324/One monk said his old temple was ‘reduced to heaps of ashes,’ as the fires continue to rage across the countryThu, 27 Mar 2025 17:57:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/south-koreas-worst-ever-wildfires-ravage-ancient-buddhist-temples-and-menace-historic-villages-180986324/What Archaeologists Are Uncovering About the Buddha in His Legendary Nepali Hometownhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeologists-learning-buddha-legenday-nepali-hometown-180986227/The birthplace of the Buddha beckons worshipers from around the world, as well as researchers hoping to dig up new evidence about the revered spiritual leaderTue, 25 Mar 2025 19:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeologists-learning-buddha-legenday-nepali-hometown-180986227/Archaeologists Unearth the Torso of a Rare Buddha Statue—Nearly 100 Years After They Found Its Headhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-undearth-the-torso-of-a-rare-buddha-statue-nearly-100-years-after-they-found-its-head-180986249/The two pieces of the 800-year-old sculpture were discovered roughly 160 feet away from each other at the Ta Prohm Temple in CambodiaThu, 20 Mar 2025 18:02:06 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-undearth-the-torso-of-a-rare-buddha-statue-nearly-100-years-after-they-found-its-head-180986249/The Secret World War II History of Koh Samui, the New Setting for 'The White Lotus'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-secret-world-war-ii-history-of-koh-samui-the-new-setting-for-the-white-lotus-180986137/Behind the dreamy scenery of the HBO show’s latest location lurks an explosive story of Thailand’s involvement in the conflict and a sunken Japanese tankerThu, 27 Feb 2025 20:38:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-secret-world-war-ii-history-of-koh-samui-the-new-setting-for-the-white-lotus-180986137/Ten Isolated, Gravity-Defying Monasteries You Can Visit Around the Worldhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/ten-isolated-gravity-defying-monasteries-you-can-visit-around-the-world-180985945/Monks have been seeking spiritual enlightenment at these sites on steep cliffs, inside caves and atop an extinct volcano for centuriesFri, 31 Jan 2025 16:53:08 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/ten-isolated-gravity-defying-monasteries-you-can-visit-around-the-world-180985945/