Japan Launches 'Buddha Phone' 212
CNETNate writes "The Japanese Odin 99 handset isn't a regular video-enabled phone. It's geared, perhaps somewhat ironically, towards the Buddhist geek. Aside from regular cell phone features, a dedicated button loads a private, customizable, animated altar on the phone's screen. The idea is to allow Buddhists to perform their dedications conveniently on-the-go. You can simulate incense burning, purification rites and play music to help you meditate wherever you happen to be. The question is, does such a device somewhat negate the values a Buddhist would stand for?"
Depends on your kind of Buddhism (Score:5, Interesting)
If you're talking about Tibetan Buddhism, then no, this doesn't really 'negate the values a Buddhist would stand for.' To wit [dharma-haven.org]: "His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said that having the mantra on your computer works the same as a traditional prayer wheel. Since a computer's hard disk spins hundreds of thousands of times per hour, and can contain many copies of the mantra, anyone who wants to can turn their computer into a prayer wheel."
A Zen Buddhist might look at it differently, though.
Re:Not quite (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:C&E (Score:2, Interesting)
hmmm.....funny, the Buddha Gautama was an atheist, too...................
Re:Depends on your kind of Buddhism (Score:2, Interesting)
A Jewish version (Score:5, Interesting)