A religion that affirms suffering (dukkha), ego, selfishness, ignorance, nirvana, enlightenment, reincarnation, salvation which are the results of our ‘karma’.—  Buddhism

The students from grades one to eight watched the biography of Siddhartha Gautam, who would later become Gautama Buddha, at Buddhagram Robotic Theatre in Lumbini on 19th Chaitra. Most biographical actions were performed by robots. Hence, we call this institution a semi-humanoid robotic theatre since all actions were not entirely performed by robots.

The play is shown in seven different rooms through semi-humanoid robots. The viewers watch the robots talk and move their limbs while making conversations. The play begins with an audio describing the universe and importance of peace in the world. The performance of robots gives the audience incredible information about Prince Siddhartha’s nativity and his surprise at seeing a man bent with old age, a person afflicted with sickness, a corpse, and a wandering sage. As he sees the fourth person, the sage, that strikes his mind with a sense of urgency to find out what lie at the root of human suffering. This is the turning point of his life as he decides to leave the luxury of the palace after realising an epiphany of human sufferings. As the play develops, the audience can see how Siddhartha goes through a severe transformation as a prince to an enlightened human after renouncing all amenities bequeathed to him by his parents.

The students gave a very good review of the play as it instilled in them a clear portrayal of Gautam Buddha’s biography. 

Regards, 

LWS