RE:

POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 05:05
VIEWED: 3195
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FOLLOWMAL

Monday, January 23, 2006 9:25 PM

*bows politely*

Thank you. I am learning, I hope.

Any books or learned materials you can recommend I would be happy to know about.

" I start fighting a war, I guarantee you'll see something new. " Mal

MICO

Monday, January 23, 2006 9:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
*SPOILERS FOR THOSE UNFORTUNATE SOULS THAT HAVEN'T SEEN THE BDM YET*

There seems to me to be a strong 'karma' statement in Serenity; Mal didn't kill the Operative, and in not doing so, saved all their lives by way of the Operative's paradigm shift.

Any Buddahist-leaning Browncoats out there that can throw in your comments?

Chrisisall with his plastic rocket

I think what Mal did was worse than killing the Operative. There's an old saying: Have a care what you wish for; you just might get it. The Operative was looking for "a world without sin." When Mal refuses to kill him, Mal tells the Operative that he's going to grant the Operative's greatest wish and show him his "world without sin." That happens on two levels -- the ironic level (here's your oh-so-perfect Alliance, you idiot), and on the literal level (the people on Miranda weren't doing much sinning, and as a result they weren't doing much living, either). By giving the Operative what he was looking for (and by showing him how awful what he believed in really was), Mal took away the Operative's reason for living. ISTM that's a fate worse than death.

Mal knew what impact that would have on the Operative from his own experience. He lost his reason for living in Serenity Valley and continued as a relatively hollow shell until Book helped him to see that belief in something bigger than himself was essential to go on. You could hear that the hopelessness was wearing Mal down at the beginning of the BDM when he says to River "It's what I do, darlin'. It's what I do."

I don't know if this is particularly Buddhist, but I see Serenity as an analogy for the body, and the 7 remaining crew members are the chakras. Jane = root or 1st chakra; Kaylee = 2nd; Zoe = 3; Inara = 4; Simon = 5; River = 6; and Mal = 7. Once Mal internalized the message of his conscience (Book) he no longer needed the distraction of his immature ego (Wash). Serenity is a whole being with all of its parts working together under the direction of the captain. It's what we're all trying to do, and to me, that's why the series and the movie strike such an emotional chord with so many people. We recognize at an unconscious level the deeper, archetypal symbology there.

Sorry to ramble on so long. This has fascinated me for a while.

DIETCOKE

Monday, January 23, 2006 10:01 PM

I also think it has a bit of a Christian theme too. Show compassion. "You who has not sinned cast the first stone."

Christ had followers who were tax collectors, whores, and leppers. He didn't kill them, he showed compassion and they changed themselves.

NY/NJ/CT Browncoats: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly_nyc

CITIZEN

Monday, January 23, 2006 11:00 PM

Well Inara seems to be a Buddhist, and Mal asks Buddha for a plastic rocket and a pony I believe.

Life is suffering
Well, that seems to fit Mal and the crew.
Suffering is due to attachment
Mal's attachment to the War/Serenity Valley for instance?
Attachment can be overcome
River overcame her attachment to Miranda, "I'm all right. I'm all right."
There is a path for accomplishing this.
The truth?

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

SPINLAND

Monday, January 23, 2006 11:17 PM

Very interesting insights, mico. Bringing Chakras into it is especially thought-provoking. Good stuff!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"That's what governments are for, [to] get in a man's way." -- Malcolm Reynolds

SHINY

Monday, January 23, 2006 11:39 PM

Metaphorically karmic yes, but in the literal teachings, I believe karma has more to do with how your actions affect how you are reincarnated in your next life rather than how your actions today affect your (current) life tomorrow...

---

I don't need a gorram back-spaceship driver!!!

SPINLAND

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 1:57 AM

Granted, Shiny, but in the allegorical sense? Do you find anything in how the choices and changes that can be interpreted as an analogue to Buddhist schools of thought? Since the BDM isn't literally about the life of Buddha methinks we're clear on how it wouldn't follow literal teachings.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"That's what governments are for, [to] get in a man's way." -- Malcolm Reynolds

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 4:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by FollowMal:

Any books or learned materials you can recommend I would be happy to know about.

Mal

A Path With Heart, by Jack Kornfeild
Start Where You Are, by Pema Chodron
Those are good starters.

Chrisisall, sending a pony, also

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 4:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:

Life is suffering
Well, that seems to fit Mal and the crew.
Suffering is due to attachment
Mal's attachment to the War/Serenity Valley for instance?
Attachment can be overcome
River overcame her attachment to Miranda, "I'm all right. I'm all right."
There is a path for accomplishing this.
The truth?

Indeed you are insightful as the Buddha has forseen.

Excellent, C.

The always delighted Chrisisall

OOKAMIKAWAHARA

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 5:02 AM

In response to everyone asking about references on Buddhism. Two are: "Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn" Complied and edited by Mitchell, Stephen. Grove Press, New York. 1976.

"Buddhist Text Through the Ages" Trans and edited by Conze, Edward; Horner, I.B.; and Waley,Arthur. OneWoorld, Oxford. 1995.

Hope these help. These were texts that I used in my Buddhist philosophy class for College. I would highly recommend "Dropping Ashes on the Buddha" it talks about this particular Zen master's questions that he gives his students. I would have to reread it to see if it makes as much sense w/ out my professors explanation. But it is a very good read and the answers given are very interesting. Hope this helps everyone. I have been keeping an eye on this thread, but since I'm not Buddhist and can't remember much of my class work that would help haven't thrown anything in yet. Although I am Christian, I do believe more in the middle path persay and try to combine that in my outlook on life etc. One of the questions is used: is does a cat have Buddha-nature?
mata, Ookami yori

Does Cat have Buddha-nature?

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