#message INTENDING to be about the characters reaching enlightenment and not clinging on to their past so they can let go and move on

[cliveguy]

the good place dissertation please please please. just kidding i just wanted to rejoice in another person hating that show

it's so crazy to me because aside from a few aspects of the first season it's overwhelmingly bad, and everyone talks about it as if it was this amazing life changing piece of art. did we watch different shows or did saying the names of philosophers confuse people.

[letusmeetagain]

Hi, I hope you're having a good day ^^. I would like to know your opinion about cap 137, because I saw that many hated it, although for me it is one of my favorites even though at first I was afraid of the idea of the dead helping the alliance. I suspect that ymir noticed armin and for that reason, she allowed him and zeke to have that help.

Hi anon!!

I’m doing well! I hope you too! <3

Sorry for the delay! As I said in the previous ask, I took a day to digest the new information we got last chapter.

Well... I loved the chapter... I cried and this doesn’t happen since long ago. It felt again like the old SnK I used to read. I was somehow a little salty about Zeke’s death but I came to understand why it happened like that. I even appreciate that Zeke didn’t really change his mind about the euthanasia as a strategy because it makes it both realistic (because there’s no time) and a highlight on his true nature and will so it reaffirms his character.

Levi had a not so big role but I WANT to know about his thoughts after finally killing Zeke. I guess everything gained another meaning for him now since Zeke accepted his crimes and the disregard for people fighting to survive.

That was a wink to the chapter where he killed the SC at Shiganshina while arrogantly mocked their intents to survive. It was the moment where all the unsolved traumas he had started to let him alone facing the fact that he wasted his life ignoring the beauty he lived despite the pain he endured.

What I feel salty about this too: on a personal level... I wanted Levi to give up on the bow because revenge as driving force isn’t right for him (I know his face mean something else than that but well... it was rushed). I wanted Zeke to have time to redeem himself while working with the alliance actively. I wanted Zeke to talk to Mikasa about Eren’s lies. I wanted him to do more for Eren as his big bro. I wanted that his death wasn’t instrumentalized for the plot like it was. This is exactly what Eren’s stans criticize about “Eren’s death as the way to stop the rumbling”. It happened to Zeke... probably to Eren too, I fear.

Hopefully, if paths aren’t yet destroyed... I hope he is there doing something more for the story.

Armin’s talk no jutsu couldn’t be deeper. It reminded me of those two stories I mentioned in one of my metas, The poisonwood Bible and The story of your life. It reached the core of human pain. The fear of death, the regrets, the importance of trivial moments, the meaning of existence. I’m a person that enjoys to read about death and the meaning of life. My approach of death is very different from the common feelings everyone has so reading thoughts like Armin’s that aim to dignify life and relieve existential pain are special to me.

It was precious and one of my favourite moments of the whole manga by KO.

I expected this.

That much have I expected it that before the release I wrote about this topic in that meta about the existential pain. I’m proud of Isayama going this path. I’m glad he had such beautiful inspirations like The arrival (Story of your life) and Soul and that he decided to discuss the idea of loving our story and every decision we took despite of the pain that might come with it. It’s a very dignifying idea to look back to your life and finding something that’s even capable to make you say “even if it’s to meet you, I’ll accept all the pain and mistakes I have lived”. It encourages and spreads the will to live. It also relieves you from the illusion that a life means something only because of a great deed (like Carla’s words).

Now I expect this topic to be displayed with Eren too. How he deals with his actions, what kind of concerns he has when he looks back to his life... Such questions that involve Eren as individual regarding his own life and the rumbling.

About the deads helping. Well... It’s complicated. A friend of mine didn’t like the idea because of personal taste but admitted that it wasn’t an asspull. Isayama left enough hints of someone helping the alliance and actually... it wasn’t some ramdom deads... It was very intended if you look back the stories of those shifters... everyone reached a sort of enlightenment. Marcel saved his brother and Reiner because of love and compassion. Porco understood his brother’s decision and sacrificed for Reiner. Ymir taught Historia to live with pride and helped Bert and Reiner because she couldn’t ignore Bert’s pleading for someone to help them. Xaver understood the true meaning of love towards a son and wanted to end the cycle of suffering. Krüger had a deep understanding about the truth of the world and the importance of the mission to stop this all. Grisha finally got the importance of love and forgiveness... that he didn’t want to kill. Pick all those messages and you have the big truth of this story:

                                        Dignity, love and respect.

Those who are complaining... about what are they exactly complaining? That they didn’t get and edgy ending or that the rumbling was stopped too easily?

We knew violence is not the answer. SnK is just exposing our sick culture in which we expect friends to kill each other while clinging to hatred.

I agree with those who said it was too rushed. That’s the feeling I have... but the direction Isayama is heading to is the right one to me.

Now about Ymir’s role... I think she could be trying to help Eren to be stopped. The whole situation is a test for humanity. But I think it could be possible that, as well as Eren helped her to wake up, she recognized Eren’s suffering and that he would be trapped by his own wish in paths, so she is doing something for him too. Maybe. I’m not sure.

Thanks for the question!

[obfuscobble]

Monsoon as Arhat: a Reconciliation of Metal Gear Rising with Theravada Buddhism

[The following essay is in no way a replacement for proper study of Buddhist teachings.  I do not intend to offend any Buddhist practicioners and experts.  All discussions are within the fictional context of Metal Gear Rising.]

Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion in Cambodia, accounting for 95% of the population's stated religious affiliation.  It is the oldest form of Buddhism, based around study of the Buddha's teachings as collected in the Tipitaka canon, with no influence from esotericism or ritual-focused Mahayana flavours.  Although commentators often analyse Monsoon as emblematic of Atheistic Nihilism, I contend that his world-view as espoused in his speech is a legitimate expression of many Buddhist teachings.  I further posit that in light of the Theravada focus on personal enlightenment combining with Monsoon's actions in Revengeance and the Jetstream Sam DLC, Monsoon has in fact achieved nirvana.  In each following paragraph, I will compare an extremely simplified Buddhist teaching with its expression in Monsoon's character to illuminate my theses.

Central to all Buddhist belief is that humans, in fact all life, is caught in a cycle of suffering.  That which perpetuates suffering is desire.  Humans desire things and relationships in this world, and long for their goodness and permanence, whereas the reality of the universe is that all things are impermanent, amoral, and without deeper meaning.  Humans are bound to continue our suffering through repeating fetters of defilements that are passed down through human culture.  Throughout his speech, Monsoon highlights both his experience of suffering, the essential human defilement, and knowledge of its transmission.  He frames the defilement as "this world, and all of its people, are diseased."  The repetition of suffering is explained through "memes," which he accurately describes as pieces of cultural information which are passed on through words and experience.  He also translates the effects of karma on others using memes.  "Expose someone to anger long enough, they will learn to hate.  They become a carrier."  One's bad karma does not just affect their own life, but adds suffering to the lives of others.  This is one way to look at the difference in cause and effect between the hetu and pacca causalities.

"Envy, greed, despair: all memes, all passed on."  I find this to be a good summary of the fetters of suffering.  Through envy, we suffer by desiring what we do not have.  Through greed, we suffer by desiring more of what we value.  Through despair, we suffer by recognising that we do not have what we desire.  Yet the cycle of samsara ensures that all living beings will be trapped by their memes, infecting each other through culture and unrighteous action.  "Sure as the sun will rise, the slaughter will continue."  It is only by noticing, categorising, and then denying our own memes that we may move beyond the desires they teach us.  

Life and the world as we experience it are "distorted" in Theravada terminology, as opposed to the more familiar Mahayana term of "illusion," yet the underlying truth remains the same: we must see through the distortions that our experience feeds to us.  We only cling to the defilements that fetter us to suffering out of ignorance, called avidya, since that ignorance shields us from noticing our own defilement and gives us an excuse to perpetuate suffering.  Theravada thought begins by discarding avidya ignorance.  By breaking its illusion, we are better able to see our place in the perpetuation of suffering and rebirth, and to realise that we ourselves have no self.  Monsoon speaks to Raiden about the man's own small journey in realisation: "How easily you ignore the loss of life when it suits your convenience. ... Sam tells me you see your weapon as a tool: something that saves lives, a means of justice. Now, there's a pretty meme! Exquisite! It spared you the burden of all the lives you've taken, absolved you of guilt when you enjoyed it.  That is, until the illusion was broken."  Here we see a classic illustration of clinging to a state of ignorance as a defence, craving the transient pleasures that come with an ignorant life, and then the most important rending of the veil of illusion.  Monsoon further states multiple times that the sad state of the world and people's actions within it are nothing to agonise over, since they are only "nature running its course."  Rather, his emphasis on nature leads one to think of surpassing nature's cruelty while living in it.

Change and impermanence is an essential aspect of nature.  In Theravada teaching, one cannot seek to change the entire world, but must instead change one's "self" or way of thinking so that one can change along with nature.  Nature itself is neither good nor evil, and assigning the moral concepts of "good" and "evil" to natural occurrences is the result of desire.  We crave that which is good or pleasing, and in desire and in liking we only create suffering through our yearning for that which is preferred.  Monsoon famously reiterates that "Wind blows, rain falls, and the strong prey upon the weak."  Yet he does so without regret or anger at nature itself.  Earlier in the game's storyline, within the Jetstream Sam DLC, Monsoon laughs at Armstrong's distaste for supposedly effeminate cherry blossoms then asks, "Is it really so horrible?  They're only trees. ... Nature is just nature.  Not beautiful, not ugly.  The wind blows.  The flowers float away.  It's simply how things are."  Here we have a good encapsulation of both Buddhist teachings about nature's impermanence and amorality, as framed through the traditional Japanese motif of the cherry blossom.  This would even be a cliché pointer to those teachings for the Japanese audience.

There is no self or soul within Theravada and Buddhism in general, which is the basis of the teaching of anatta or non-self.  Five aspects comprise each living being: the physical form, its feelings and sensations, perception of senses, ideas, and consciousness.  Each of these will change, and none has an underlying meaning, cause, or will.  To advance past our suffering, we must conceive of ourselves not actually being a singular self, but rather this conglomerate of polymorphous factors.  If we lack a soul, and all that comprises our selves lacks will and meaning, then naturally "Free will is a myth."  However, to be fair to Buddhist teachings, Buddha also rejected the thought that all action is pre-determined as well as the theory of free will being non-extant; he taught that it is human choice to follow the Eight-Fold Path which frees one.  In context with the time, he was teaching in opposition to the Divine Determinism of his contemporary Makkhaligosala, and also the contemporary cults that viewed a lack of free will as an excuse for freely immoral behaviour.  If we view Monsoon's discourse within the context of inter-faith dialogue, he may be explicitly opposing the Christian dogma of free will.  Additionally, Monsoon may be using the concept of free will as a myth, but not a lack of human choice, as a metaphor for the lack of a self.

On a basic level, Buddhism does not require belief in a concept of God as found in the Abrahamic religions.  Mahayana Buddhism often features gods as influenced by local pre-Buddhist polytheism in the countries which adopted it, but pure Theravada lacks even the conception of a tripartite Buddha.  In further contrast to Mahayana, Theravada lacks many rituals and does not place focus on completing arbitrary rituals for attaining enlightenment.  It instead focuses on learning, logical meditation on what one has learned, then meditation in attainment of freedom from attachment.  Thus, "Religion is a joke."

There is no god.  There is no soul.  There is no self.  Life is a cycle of suffering caused by desire.  There is no true cause for morality.  Nature is ephemeral and to seek stability in it or judge it is to invite suffering.  Monsoon realises and teaches these basic precepts.  He seems keenly aware of basic Buddhist teachings, probably due to his Cambodian cultural background.  He has rephrased these ideas through the framing device and transmission method of "memes."  None of these concepts disturb him, rather he seems freed by his knowledge.  He passes on the teachings to Raiden, passing on the only memes that will potentially free Raiden from his own cycle of destruction.  The only moment of displeasure that Monsoon expresses is after Raiden fully embraces Jack the Ripper: Monsoon turns his head away, frowns, and says in a tone of disappointment or mourning "You've lost your mind."  Obviously, Raiden has failed to fully understand Monsoon's message despite coming so close that Monsoon tried the whole we're not so different you and I tactic.  But what does it mean that Monsoon, a man ripped from his former life and reformatted as something human in aggregate shape only, maintains an aura of peace and contentment while speaking of an amoral universe?

I posit that Monsoon has actually already reached enlightenment.

He doesn't give a shit any more about worldly attachments.  He's still alive because Desperado's body is keeping his brain alive, so he's trolling.  Monsoon avoids death by perfect dodging, but shows no attachment to his own mortal life once it's ending.  Upon defeat he says "Now, I return to the earth," a reflection of his battle dialogue which exhorts Raiden to do the same.  Monsoon finds joy in just existing.  He notices the click of his body after he lands in the most extra way possible, he points out the changing world and wills around him, he performs the duties Desperado requires of him without judgement, and he fights with neither fear nor blood-lust.  He doesn't desire his faraway homeland or lost criminal empire.  He doesn't mourn his meat body.  He abstains from swearing (rare in MGR) while speaking meaningfully and politely.  He does not engage with any luxuries, and doesn't even wear clothes.  He acts without lust, hatred, or delusion.

In fact, the only traditional hindrance to the Buddhist conception of right thought and right action that he displays is killing and ordering others to kill.  Which is a biggie, to be sure.  What causes this discrepancy?  Well, MGR is a fighting game for one.  Perhaps Monsoon views killing as an unavoidable part of the job he and everyone around him share, where death is constant and impartial.

As an aside, in Theravada thought, each person reaches enlightenment on their own, with no inherent duty to bring others with them.  So Monsoon really doesn't have to try to teach Raiden about any of the memes which point to enlightenment, but he does anyway.  And he also doesn't have to avoid being a sassy shit while doing so.

Thus, I conclude that Monsoon's speech is a courier and translation for Buddhist thought, and that Monsoon may well be an atman, an enlightened person.  Whether Monsoon is cognisant or appreciative of Buddhist influence on his statements is immaterial to the application of comparative analysis between them.  In the case that Monsoon is indeed a true blue non-religious atheist, it seems in keeping with his character that recognising Buddhist influences in is thought wouldn't disturb him, as those are the memes that shaped his culture's existential discourse.  It may even be possible that he has entered a state of non-attachment removed from traditional Theravada thought form and practice, as a result of living a hard-knock life, then losing it all, then experiencing in a very corporeal manner a teaching that the self is multiplicity and non-extant.  Thank you for reading and I hope to have prompted polite discourse on the theory of Monsoon as atman.

"Wind blows, rain falls, and the strong prey upon the weak.  All is as it should be."