is matrix a buddhist film?

[taylorl3]

Although the presence of Christian themes is strong in The Matrix, the influence of Buddhism is equally powerful and evident. Indeed, the basic philosophical premises that drive major plot points would be nearly incomprehensible without a little background understanding of Buddhism and Buddhist doctrines. Does this force the conclusion that The Matrix and The Matrix Reloaded are Buddhist movies? The most obvious and fundamental Buddhist theme can be found in the basic principle that, in the world of the Matrix films, what most people think of as "reality" is actually a computer-generated simulation. This appears to align closely with the Buddhist doctrine that the world was we know it is maya, illusion, which we must break out of in order to achieve enlightenment. Indeed, according to Buddhism the biggest problem that faces humanity is our inability to see through this illusion.
In The Matrix, Keanu Reeve's character Neo is aided in his education about the nature of the Matrix by a young boy dressed in the garb of a Buddhist monk. He explains to Neo that he must realize that "there is no spoon," and hence our ability to change the world around us is actually a matter of our ability to change our own minds.

Another common theme that appears in the Matrix films is that of mirrors and reflections. If you watch closely, you will see reflections constantly - often in the ubiquitous sunglasses that the heroes wear. Mirrors are also an important metaphor in Buddhist teachings, illustrating the idea that the world we see around us is actually a reflection of what is in us. Thus, in order to understand that the reality we perceive is but an illusion it is necessary for us to empty our own minds first.
Such observations would seem to make it relatively easy to characterize The Matrix as a Buddhist film; however, things aren't nearly so simple as they appear. For one thing, it isn't a universal belief among Buddhists that our world is only an illusion. Many Mahayana Buddhists argue that the world really exists, but our understanding of the world is illusory - in other words, our perceptions of reality do not entirely match what reality actually is. We are urged not to mistake an image for reality, but that presumes that there is a genuine reality around us in the first place.
Perhaps more significant is the fact that so much that occurs in the Matrix films directly contradicts basic Buddhist principles. Buddhist ethics certainly do not allow for the language and extreme violence which occur in these movies. We may not see a lot of blood, but the plots make it clear that any humans not "with" the liberated heroes are to be counted as enemies.
A consequence of this is that people are killed regularly. The violence directed against people is even raised up as something laudable. It certainly isn't commensurate for someone fulfilling the role of bodhisattava, one who has achieved enlightenment and chooses to return to aid others in their quest, to go around killing people.
In addition, the simple identification of the Matrix as the "enemy," along with the Agents and other programs who work on behalf of the Matrix, is a bit contrary to Buddhism. Christianity may allow for a dualism that separates good and evil, but that doesn't really play so much of a role in Buddhism because the real "enemy" is our own ignorance. Indeed, Buddhism would probably require that sentient programs like the Agents be treated with the same compassion and consideration as sentient humans because they, too, need to be liberated from illusion.
Finally, another significant conflict between Buddhism and the Matrix is much the same as one which exists between Gnosticism and the Matrix. According to Buddhism, the goal for those who wish to escape from this world of illusion is to achieve a disembodied, immaterial existence - perhaps one where even our perception of the individual self has been overcome. In the Matrix films, however, the goal is supposed to be to flee a disembodied existence in a computer simulation and return to a very material, very physical existence in the "real" world. It seems clear, then, that the Martrix movies cannot be described as Buddhist films - but the fact remains that they make extensive use of Buddhist themes and principles. While the Matrix may not be an exact equivalent of maya and Keanu Reeve's character Neo may not be a bodhisattava, the Wachowski brothers did deliberately incorporate aspects of Buddhism into their story because they believe that Buddhism has something to say to us about our world and how we conduct our lives.

[steve12553]

I really suspect that asuming that the makers of the Matrix have a Buddhist agenda is an extreme stretch. It is possible that one or more of the writers "borrowed" the aforementioned concepts from Buddhism but it is even more likely that they were inspired by some other work that had purloined the concepts because they seem "cool." Westerners particularly us Americans are frequently intrigued by what we feel is "Eastern Mysticism." We don't understand it. We don't practice it but we are intrigued by it. It's possible that the movies are using all the religious allegories that you mention but I suspect that they just make a good story if you blend the "coolest " parts of Buddhism and Christianity and whatever else is stuck in there.

[SpaceShip]

Would more correctly come under the heading of New Age then eh?

[steve12553]

Originally Posted by SpaceShip

Would more correctly come under the heading of New Age then eh?

Yep. Somewhere between the Age of Aquarius and the Age of Hollywood.

[Joel007]

They tried to fit as many different religious symbols in as possible, to give it that "more than just an action film" feeling. The apparent dominance of any single religion in it is purely coincidental, and probably in the imagination of the viewer.

[Curt Chiarelli]

Funny, I always thought of The Matrix as a Pierre Teilhard de Chardin-by-way-of-Phillip K. Dick kinda film.

[taylorl3]

From a more educated point of view .. I'd like to think my point is completely valid I dont consider the buddhist agenda a complete strech
but in this case steve12553 has a point as well. Americans do tend to go with "what's cool" a lot .

In any case, buddhist or not , the use of the buddhist concepts and the way they are applied in the movie are a good indication that hollywood films have started to divert from the "explosions,boobs and butts" films targetting young adults and rather including some intelligent ideas

[Joel007]

or at least they tried at the time. obviously you haven't seen the second one if you think they were making an intellectual trilogy.

[taylorl3]

Originally Posted by Joel007

or at least they tried at the time. obviously you haven't seen the second one if you think they were making an intellectual trilogy.

the second one stinks In my opinion. I slept through most of it and everytime I woke up they were either Fighting or Having sex ... if u could call that Sex.

The over all idea of the matrix is a great attempt in ym opinion , but yes they did screw up on the second one ... BIG TIME

[conradbrean]

Hi,

I first thought the second and third sequels were garbage until I ran into a series of essays by a guy named Brian Takle, entitled The Matrix: Reloaded Explained and The Matrix: Revolutions Explained. Look him up on Google. He holds that both films are filled with hidden philosophical connotations. Certainly grants another look at the films.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by conradbrean

He holds that both films are filled with hidden philosophical connotations.

Yes they are, but the Wachowski brothers themselves have said on record that it was not a Buddhist film per se. They make references to many different myths and philosophy including Messianism, Buddhism, Vedanta, Advaita Hinduism, Yoga Vashishta [Hinduism] and Gnosticism. It is also influenced by Cyberpunk, Lewis Carrol and various recent films and literature. It is heavily indebted to Japanese Animated movies. Joel Silver said that the Wachowski brothers asked him to do Anime "for real".

Originally Posted by Joel007

They tried to fit as many different religious symbols in as possible, to give it that "more than just an action film" feeling. The apparent dominance of any single religion in it is purely coincidental, and probably in the imagination of the viewer.

Yes, that's what I just said without the all waffle!

[idrawgirls]

It's ZEN. or is it? What is Buddhist what is ZEN. They both nothing but a whisper in the wind, they don't exist.

[dustinzgirl]

I always thought it was a movie about the fallacy of our technology driven lives....but then I guess with movies that intense (at least the first one, LOL) everyone takes away what they do.

I didn't really find any religious theme at all. Then again, I didn't find one in Chronicles of Narnia either.

[kythe]

Considering that the basic vows of the Buddhist include not harming other sentient beings, stealing, lying, or engaging in sexual misconduct, I really don't see much similarity between your average Buddhist and the values portrayed in the Matrix.

I think the similarities between Buddhism and the Matrix really end with the concept of the world as illusion. Even the form of illusion is different. Consider that the "real world" the Matrix escapees enter isn't exactly better than the world they came from. I understand why Cypher would want to go back to ignorant bliss. An Enlightened Being would never have reason to prefer an earthly life over its current presence.

I think the Matrix tried to be spiritual in the sense of incorporating aspects of various religions. It is very hodge-podge though, and pretty much boils down to what seems really cool on screen.

[Dave]

In my daughter's AS Philosophy and Ethics course, they are comparing The Matrix to Plato's Allegory of the Cave:
Allegory of the Cave
Allegory of the cave - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plato's Cave

I'm fairly sure Plato would not have been influenced by Buddism, so I think you can take whatever you like from the film.