Wake up! Gnosticism and Buddhism in The Matrix
Frances Flannery-Dailey & Rachel L. Wagner
Quote:The Wachowski brothers' 1999 hit release The Matrix draws on multiple religious traditions to establish its complex worldview. Two of the most prominent are Gnostic Christianity and Buddhism, which, like the film, pose humanity's fundamental problem and its solution in terms of ignorance and enlightenment. Because of ignorance, people mistake the "material" world for something real, but they may "wake up" from this dream with help from a guide who teaches them their true nature. This article explores the film's pervasive allusions to Gnosticism and Buddhism, which in turn opens up the question of the film's overarching message and ultimate view of reality
'Historically, we may regard materialism as a system of dogma set up to combat orthodox dogma...Accordingly we find that, as ancient orthodoxies disintegrate, materialism more and more gives way to scepticism.'
- Bertrand Russell
Quote:"Which is greater, the tears you have shed while transmigrating across lives & wandering this long, long time - crying & weeping from being joined with what is displeasing, being separated from what is pleasing - or the water in the four great oceans? Which is greater, the blood you have shed from having your heads cut off while transmigrating & wandering this long, long time, or the water in the four great oceans?
From an in-construable beginning comes lifetimes of transmigration. A beginning point is not evident, though beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving are transmigrating and wandering on. Just as a stick thrown up in the air lands sometimes on its base, sometimes on its side, sometimes on its tip; in the same way, beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving, transmigrating and wandering on, sometimes go from this world to another world, sometimes come from another world to this.
Long have you thus experienced suffering, experienced pain, experienced loss, swelling the cemeteries - enough to become disenchanted with all fabrications, enough to become dispassionate, enough to be Liberated."
-Siddhārtha Gautama
'Historically, we may regard materialism as a system of dogma set up to combat orthodox dogma...Accordingly we find that, as ancient orthodoxies disintegrate, materialism more and more gives way to scepticism.'
- Bertrand Russell
(This post was last modified: 2021-09-10, 10:06 PM by Sciborg_S_Patel.)
Quote:We can't see it...but we are all trapped inside these strange repeating loops...
'Historically, we may regard materialism as a system of dogma set up to combat orthodox dogma...Accordingly we find that, as ancient orthodoxies disintegrate, materialism more and more gives way to scepticism.'
- Bertrand Russell
(2021-09-10, 10:03 PM)Sciborg_S_Patel Wrote:
Gospel of Thomas rather than Gnosticism…
I love the 1st Matrix… Kinda strange that Establishment let it through easily.
Not sure I want to see the new one… the sequels - although enjoyable - had none of the GoT mystery…
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
(2021-12-19, 02:27 PM)Max_B Wrote: Gospel of Thomas rather than Gnosticism…
I love the 1st Matrix… Kinda strange that Establishment let it through easily.
Not sure I want to see the new one… the sequels - although enjoyable - had none of the GoT mystery…
Could you elaborate a bit on what you see as the distinction between GoT and Gnosticism?
Admittedly it's been awhile since I read any of the GoT or the "Gnostic Gospels" so maybe it's something obvious...
'Historically, we may regard materialism as a system of dogma set up to combat orthodox dogma...Accordingly we find that, as ancient orthodoxies disintegrate, materialism more and more gives way to scepticism.'
- Bertrand Russell
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