Name
Course
Tutor’s Name
Date
A summary and Reflection: There is no Spoon: A Buddhist Mirror
There is no Spoon: A Buddhist Mirror is a story about Buddha and his son Rahula who wanted to get solution to the question that lingered in his mind that there was a problem with existence. Buddha was more interested in the way the mirror’s reflection and this made it (mirror) a common metaphor in Taoist and Buddhist teachings (Irwin 101). Buddhists are required have a clear mind like the mirror’s and avoid negative things that interferes with their purity. There are also other uses of mirror that have been highlighted such as the reflection in the Matrix where Rhineheart argues that the window washers normally make something that resemble matrix.
According to Irwin, The Matrix turns dramatic when Morpheus offers Neo red pill and swallows it (101-104). Neo is literally thrown in to the matrix when he finds himself immersed in to illusion. There is another incident of mirror reflection taking place in the oracle’s apartment where the Buddhist monk bends spoons and Neo’s reflection appears in the spoon. Buddhists seem to believe so much in the power of the mind in such a way that even a movement caused by the wind is believed to be a movement of the mind (Wachowski and Wachowski Film). They believe that the world is an illusion and this explains the many images reflected on the mirror and in some Buddhists believe that the illusionary nature of the world is deepening into the knowledge of the world (Grau 258-260). According to the Buddhists, the most important thing is the mind because it interprets things and therefore it should be freed. What is reflected on the mirror when we look at the mirror says nothing about us because the image is not an independent entity and this concept is called anatman in Buddhism. Mirrors can only be used in reinforcing the illusion of self and in the inauthentic world; it reaffirms the illusion of self-separateness (Irwin 103-108).
Moreover, Buddha believes that mirror helps in symbolizing the mental act of reflection, examination, thinking things through by arguing that careful reflection requires an action. He cautions that any action precedes careful thought on the impact. An action should neither harm oneself nor cause any harm to others. Buddhists teachings also entails a lot of warnings including the fact that mind can be an individual’s worst enemy. Buddhists believe in freeing the mind because detaining the mind may lead to disaster (Irwin 104-109). The mind is only regarded as helping in thinking but does not know anything and therefore may make someone indulge in negative things. Freeing mind simply means controlling oneself and saying no to what the mind thinks. All reasoning and logics should be halted and reflections need to be stopped as a means of freeing the mind.
Irwin argues that there is a belief that life is filled with suffering that is triggered by the state of the mind and that the only way to come out of the challenges is through redemption of the same mind (107-110). The film entails a lot of Buddhists’ teachings and a few of things such as violence that contradict the Buddhist teachings. It appreciates several issues regarding Buddhism and treats violence as the destruction of bad things affecting the mind. The film also points out at what culture is more interested in making it a less strict Buddhist film (Wachowski and Wachowski Film).
Reflection
The allusions represented in the movie form a strong polysomic mix regarding the way in which ideas are incorporated in a movie and such kind of subtly have been reflected in the characters used. Neo has been used as a Buddhist bodhicitta and the violence that has been depicted may be deemed as antithetical to Buddhist ideals. The religious representation presented in The Matrix may be described as pluralistic and the allusion beyond religion may be regarded as mythology. Looking at Morpheous, it represents the Greek god of dreams hence representing the overall theme for the Matrix. The Matrix does not seem to support and reflect all the Buddhism (Danser Web).
It is indeed true that the Matrix draws upon visual motifs such as the several key sequences regarding mirrors that certainly evoke cool fashion and design. The intention of The Matrix may be said to be polishing the mirror of the mind as is the case with the boy in the oracle apartment (Grau 258-260). It is apparent that the main thing challenging humanity in the movie is the concept of delusion as it is evident that most people do not understand the illusory nature of the matrix. Neo is seen coming back after escaping to the real world to assist in liberating others in the manner of Bodhisattva.
Buddhist theme is predominant that posits that reality is actually a computer generated simulation and that the world as we know is maya, illusion, that cannot only be broken through achievement. There is a small clear cut between Neo’s experience and the Buddhist’s doctrine as all agree that the biggest challenge is the inability see through the illusion. Mirrors and reflection theme is shown by ubiquitous sunglasses worn by heroes. It is interesting that Buddhists believe that the reality we perceive is just an illusion and the most important thing is emptying minds first. It is really hard to absorb such kind of a concept that seems to require some spirituality to fully understand. Emptying the mind may be easily said but what it really means and how it is done is a huge puzzle (Danser Web).
Things do not seem to be as simple as it may be thought especially while trying to link the Matrix theme and Buddhism. It is also worth understanding that not all Buddhists universally believe in the notion that the world is just an illusion such as the many Mahayana Buddhists who believe that the world really exists (Danser Web). The fact that an image should not be mistaken for reality does not seem to recognize that, in the first place, there is a genuine reality. Finally, the Matrix film may not be commensurate for anyone fulfilling the role of bodhisattava because human who is not with the liberated heroes are killed regularly and there are several incidences of violence (Wachowski and Wachowski Film). It is therefore apparent that the Matrix film cannot be regarded as a Buddhist film as much as it entails extensive use of Buddhist themes and principles.
Works Cited
Danser, Simon. The Matrix as metamyth. Foamy Custard, 2004. Web. 6 Feb. 2014. <http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/foamycustard/fc045.htm>.
Grau, Christopher. Philosophers Explore the Matrix. Oxford [u.a.: Oxford Univ. Press, 2005. Print.
Irwin, William. The Matrix and Philosophy: Welcome to the Desert of the Real. Chicago, Ill. [u.a.: Open Court, 2005. Print.
Wachowski, Andy and Wachowski, Lena, dr. The Matrix. Warner Bros, 1999. Film
