The Matrix and Buddhism (16)

Source

     The philosophical movie "The Matrix" was released in 1999 to critical acclaim. It revolves around the idea that the human race was enslaved by artificial intelligence in the late 21st century and the machines are using the humans for energy. The ideas of Buddhism can be seen throughout the whole movie, more so the four noble truths of suffering. The idea that everybody suffers is true, even in the matrix.
     The four noble truths are as follows, 1) Life inevitably involves suffering, is imperfect and unsatisfactory. 2)Suffering originates from our desires. 3) Suffering will cease if all desires cease, and finally 4) There is a way to realize this state: The Noble Eightfold Path. The main character Neo, a computer hacker shows the most suffering.

Source

     Buddhism says that suffering is an unavoidable part of life. The first part of suffering is physical pain,sickness, and unfulfilled desires. Neo shows this at the beginning of the movie. He has unfulfilled desires about the matrix, he is questioning is it real or is it not real. Eventually, he is taken out of the matrix by a man named Morpheus. Because Neo has never used his body before, his body has muscular dystrophy. Which means he has lost muscle mass. This is the first part of suffering.

     The second noble truth says we wan't to fulfill the desires we have, but Neo cannot fulfill his desires, because the Oracle says he is not the one. He hopes and wishes he is the one but alas he is not. So, Neo suffers in the fact that he wants to be told he is the one, but has to deal with the fact he is not the one.

     The third and fourth noble truth can be combined into one on this last case. The third truth says that suffering will cease if desire ceases. Neo's suffering eventually ceases when he dies towards the end of the movie. That is one way suffering ends is by death, but that is not the point. Some how he is brought back to life and thus the story continues. The fourth noble truth says that to extinguish desire and suffering one must be focused and devoted to pursuing morality. Neo's suffering is liberated when he dies, he understands at that point that he is the one, his desires came true and the movie ends.

     So what Buddhism and "The Matrix" tells us is that people will suffer, there will always be suffering and the only way to let go of the suffering is that the people need to understand why they are suffering.