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Japan Launches 'Buddha Phone'

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?"

7 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Depends on your kind of Buddhism by synthesizerpatel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Three Zen Buddhist monks standing on a hill on a breezy day observe a prayer flag flapping in the wind.

    The first monk says "Flag is moving."

    The second monk says "Wind is moving."

    The third monks cell-phone plays the crazy-frog ring-tone as he gets spam SMS'd by his provider.

    All three monks fail to achieve enlightenment.

  2. Polly McPee by dissy · · Score: 4, Funny

    You can simulate incense burning, purification rites and play music to help you meditate wherever you happen to be.

    You could, but only once, then you need to buy a new Buddha phone.

  3. Re:C&E by interkin3tic · · Score: 4, Funny

    The world is full of people who don't take their professed religions seriously.

    On behalf of agnostics worldwide, I -might- be offended by that statement.

  4. Man, Sometimes the Satire Writes Itself... by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 5, Funny

    Other Models On Deck If This One's a Success:

    1. The Muslim Phone: All Voice Mail Self Destructs in 5 Seconds

    2. The Catholic Phone: Reaches Out And Touches... small children.

    3. The Jewish Phone: Features downloadable "whine-tones"

    4. The Hindu Phone: Comes in only Bright Blue, but six different models, one for each hand.

    5. The Wiccan Phone: You can't actually answer it, it just has one big "ignore" button

    6. The Jehovah's Witness Phone: Can be programmed to also ring your doorbell.

    7. The Mormon Phone: Comes in His and Hers... and Hers... and Hers... and also Hers sets.

    OK, that's top of the head, low-hanging fruit... the rest are up to you...

  5. Re:Umm... by Starayo · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's not like once you've lit your 10,000th stick of incense, some guy named Buddha appears before you, smacks you on the forehead to open up your third eye and then you're suddenly enlightened.

    That would be pretty awesome, though. I'd convert.

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  6. You are going to hell for that! by CuteSteveJobs · · Score: 4, Funny

    You have made SEVEN gods very angry. The only thing that can save you is converting to Atheism.

  7. Re:Umm... by Joe+Snipe · · Score: 4, Funny

    not like once you've lit your 10,000th stick of incense, some guy named Buddha appears before you, smacks you on the forehead to open up your third eye and then you're suddenly enlightened.

    It usually takes several smacks.

    --
    Sometimes, life itself is sarcasm...