Was Keanu ever the Buddha? 'Colorism'

The Hollywood sign, Los Angeles

There is a Hollywood legend that actor Keanu Reeves, that guy from The Matrix, Neo the Neophyte, starred in an earlier life in the role of the Buddha Shakyamuni. What was Hollywood thinking? Reeves can hardly speak his lines, which he must have gotten in writing and been given lots of time to memorize. Anyone who saw him in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure will have to wonder how such a skilled thespian would be chosen for the role of a lifetime.

A search of the archives reveals a film from 1993, Little Buddha, about an American tulku (important reincarnation of a rinpoche in Tibetan Hinduism/Mahayana Buddhism). Would Tibetan Vajrayana elites really choose to be reborn in the West (perhaps an interpretation of Amitabha's "Western Paradise") among whites?

They might. There is a long and harsh history (thanks, England) of colorism in and around India (Bharat), which was violently occupied, exploited, and colonized, forced to be a part of Rome II (the United Kingdom of the British colonial power) that set up a Raj (King) System and left behind a lot of DNA.

Suck it, boy, suck my tongue good. I'm Pope.

And the current Dalai Lama (#14), who is thought to be a or the reincarnation of Kwan Yin/Kwannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion (Avalokiteshvara), has said that next time he may choose to be reborn as a woman outside of Tibet, in which case he says he wants to be "hot," presumably so more little boys will be willing to suck his tongue in a totally consensual and not at all creepy or perverted act of child grooming. The pontiff in the Vatican probably does the same thing must be the rationalization, and everyone knows the history of the imperial Holy Roman Catholic Church with little boys and erotic priests in sheep's clothing, so there's nothing weird going on.

The History of Colorism in India

(The Emissary) Oct. 1, 2024: Explore the fascinating journey of skin color (shade-ism) perception in India from ancient times to the modern day. This video delves into the genetic migrations that shaped Proto-India's diverse skin tones, ancient Indian (Maha Bharat) scriptures, and their positive views on dark skin, depictions of dark-skinned gods and heroes in Indian mythology, the impact of Islamic imperialism on beauty standards, European (mainly but not exclusively British) colonialism and its role in shaping colorism, the modern Indian perspective on skin color, and the push for change. Let's uncover how a culture that once worshipped dark-skinned (blue black) gods came to idolize fair skin and the ongoing journey toward embracing all shades of beauty in India.

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:24 Genetic migrations
• 06:16 Skin color in scriptures and ancient India
• 13:40 Islamic India's new beauty standards
• 21:02 The impact of European colonization
• 27:08 Modern India's struggle with skin color

📝 The Emissary articles referenced:

• The Bhāratāyan: How the idea of “India” came to be: theemissary.co/the-bharatayan...
• Critical Caste Theory: A Dubious Discourse: theemissary.co/critical-caste...
• The Dravidaryan Invasion Theory: https://theemissary.co/the-dravidarya...
• The Confluence of Two Seas: India and Arabia: https://theemissary.co/the-confluence...
• The India They Saw: When Socrates Met the Sindhu: https://theemissary.co/the-india-they...

🔬 Book References

• Black Avatar: amazon.com/Black-Avatar-E...
• The India They Saw Part 1: x.com/TheEmissaryCo/status/14...
• The India They Saw Part 2: x.com/TheEmissaryCo/status/14...
• The India They Saw Part 3: https://x.com/TheEmissaryCo/status/15...
• The India They Saw Part 4: https://x.com/TheEmissaryCo/status/16...
•  #ColorismInIndia #IndianHistory #BeautyStandards #CulturalEvolution ⏳
• Follow on X (Twitter) for commentary: x.com/TheEmissaryCo
• WhatsApp for updates: whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaeS..
• HINDI SUBTITLES AVAILABLE 😊 🇮🇳
• 🗣️ Socials: 🕸️ Website: theemissary.co

Giant: The Dwarf Monk (sutra)

K. Nizamis and Ven. Thanissaro (trans.) via accesstoinsight.org, Apara Lakuntaka Bhaddiya Sutra: "Another Discourse About Bhaddiya the Dwarf" (Ud 7.5 PTS: Ud 76) edited by Wisdom Quarterly

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One [the Buddha] was dwelling in Sāvatthi, in Jeta Forest, in Anāthapiṇḍika's park.

At that time Venerable Bhaddiya the Dwarf approached walking close behind a large number of monks. The Blessed One saw him from afar, walking close behind many other monks -- of bad complexion, bad appearance, dwarfish, of a form that would be despised by most monks [1].

Seeing Ven. Bhaddiya the Dwarf, the Blessed One addressed the monks: "Meditators, do you see that monk from afar, walking close behind those many other monks, the one with the bad complexion, bad appearance, dwarfish, of a form that would be despised by most monks?"

"Yes, it is just so, venerable sir."

"Meditators, that monk is of great power, great eminence. There is no well-gained meditative attainment that has not already been attained by that monk. For the benefit for which persons of good lineage rightly go forth from home into the left-home life, the ultimate culmination of the supreme life [of a wandering ascetic], in this very life, he himself, having seen with his own eyes and realized the higher knowledge, having personally attained it, he abides."

Then, having understood the significance of this moment, the Blessed One breathed an inspired utterance:

Faultless, adorned in white,

the one-way chariot rolls on:

See it coming, undisturbed,

with oozing flow cut off, nirvanered [2].

NOTES

1. The Commentary (of Dhammapāla, post 5th Century CE) says yebhuyyena bhikkhūnaṃ paribhūtarūpan'ti puthujjanabhikkhūhi ohīḷitarūpaṃ (PTS Ud-A 369). "'For most of the monks, having a despised kind of form': having a kind of form scorned or viewed with disgust [ohīliṭa] by the monks who are just ordinary people [puthujjanas]." See also SN 21.6.

2. See also SN 41.5, in which Ven. Kāmabhū recites this stanza to a lay devotee named Citta, and asks him how its meaning should be understood. Citta then proceeds to offer his interpretation of its meaning.

The Dwarf
Ven. Thanissaro (trans.), Lakuṇṭha Sutra: "The Dwarf" (Ud 7.5, PTS: Ud 76) edited by W.Q.

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. On that occasion Ven. Bhaddiya the Dwarf, following behind a large number of monks, was coming to see the Blessed One.

From afar the Blessed One saw Ven. Bhaddiya the Dwarf coming, following behind a large number of monks -- ugly, unsightly, stunted, treated with condescension [1] by many of the monks. Seeing him, the Blessed One addressed the monks:

"Meditators, do you see that monk coming from afar, following behind that large number of monks, the ugly, unsightly, stunted one treated with condescension by many of the monks?"

"Yes, venerable sir."

"That, meditators, is a monk of great power and great might. The attainment already attained by that monk is not of the sort easily attained by anyone. And by means of it he has reached and abides in the supreme goal of the supreme life for which persons of good lineage rightly go forth from home into the left-home life, directly knowing and seeing it for himself right in here  and now."

Then, realizing the significance of this, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:

Faultless,

canopied in white,

the single-spoked chariot rolls along.

See him coming, untroubled:

one whose stream is cut,

free from all bonds [2].

NOTES
1. The Commentary notes that misbehaving monks liked to stroke his hands and catch hold of his ears.
2. In SN 41.5, Citta the householder explains this verse as follows:

Faultless stands for virtues.
Canopied in white stands for release.
Single-spoked stands for mindfulness.
Rolls along stands for coming and going.
Chariot stands for this body composed of the four elements...

Passion [greed] is a trouble; aversion [hatred] is a trouble; delusion [ignorance, confusion, wrong view] is a trouble. These have been abandoned by a meditator whose defilements (asavas, kilesas, samyojanas) have been cut off — their roots destroyed, made [barren] like a palmyra stump, deprived of the conditions of development, not destined for any future rebirth. That's why the meditator whose defilements have ended is said to be untroubled.

Him coming stands for the arahant.

Stream stands for craving. That has been abandoned by a meditator whose defilements have been cut off — its roots destroyed, made [barren] like a palmyra stump, deprived of the conditions of development, not destined for any future rebirth. That's why a meditator whose defilements have been cut off is said to be one whose stream is cut.

Passion is a bond; aversion is a bond; delusion is a bond. These have been abandoned by a meditator whose defilements have been cut off — their roots destroyed, made like a palmyra stump, deprived of the conditions of development, not destined for any future rebirth. That is why a meditator whose defilements have been cut off is said to be free of bonds.

What if kids became monks? (video)

True Little Monk, 1/3/19; Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven, Pat Macpherson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

English begins at 0:42:44. The initial chanting is in the exclusively-Buddhist language of ancient Pali (Magadhi), a kind of simplified Sanskrit widely spoken in the Buddha's day. It is now only used by Theravada Buddhists, monastics, and scholars.

Learning the Basics of Sane Asceticism

It takes merit to feel called to ordain as a monk.

"Color the Clay Sculptures," Episode 21, is the 21st day of True Little Monk, a wisdom training program for novices or monks-in-training.

It is the last day of the third week to learn about the concept of “love.” At dawn the novices and their monastic mentors gathered for morning chanting, part of the daily routine of monastic life.

After chanting they go for alms in the nearby community and the tree tunnels as usual. Although it rains, there are lots of people waiting to offer food, which for them is a way of making merit.

The first novice was the Buddha's son, age 7.

Before their alms meal the novices learn breathing meditation by placing bamboo sticks on their heads for posture and stillness.

Mentors teach them the basics of Buddhism's 13 "sane ascetic practices" (dhutanga) although, due to their age and maturity-level, they are still not allowed to make pilgrimages to the forest.

In the afternoon the first activity the novices undertake is to create their own Buddhas from clay with Mr. D. (Mr. Dusadee Rukmanee), a skilled sculptor whose works are inspired by his interest in Buddhism.

They then learn to color the clay sculptures with Ms. Phatcharamon Sawana, a teacher and motivational mentor, who also shares her inspiring experience on getting through difficult times in life.

After that they enjoy refreshments and practice their evening chants. ©TruePlookPanya

John Wick stars in "Little Buddha" (film)

Keanu Reeves as the Buddha in Little Buddha; Jen, Crystal Q., Wisdom Quarterly
Little Buddha is a classic of North American Buddhism, as Bhutanese lamas find a American kid who is a tulku, a reborn lama. Based on true events.

 

"John Wick" (Keanu Reeves) is a psycho killer glorified in American cinema. Poor Keanu, what a dummy, he used to make thought-provoking films (Little Buddha, The Matrix). 

John Wick is an American neo-noir action thriller film series directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Derek Kolstad. It stars Keanu Reeves and others. It is an installment in the John Wick film series.

This revenge story focuses on Wick searching for the men who broke into his home, stole his vintage car, and killed his puppy [all to co-opt audiences into rooting for killing], which serves as a memento of his recently deceased wife. It is a kill fest, an orgy of violence, which parents feed their kids with a low enough rating so they never hear or -- gawd forbid -- see sex on screen.

• https://www.scpr.org/programs/filmweek/2018/07/20/63380/mpaa-says-eighth-grade-is-too-much-for-eighth-grad/

Remembering "Buddha Boy" (video)

Best Documentary, April 4, 2018; Dhr. Seven, Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Nepal: little buddha (full documentary)

In Nepal, five hours from Kathmandu, thousands of people regardless of caste go each day on a pilgrimage, on foot or by cart. For there in the middle of the forest is a teenage boy they come to see, meditate, and pray in front of, Ram Bahadur Bomjon. Twenty-four hours a day this young man sits at the roots of a large tree in deep meditation. He does not move, does not eat, does not drink, does not go to the bathroom. He remains seated quietly, breathing very lightly, very gently, and does not need anything. For believers he is the Future Buddha Maitreya now born on the planet. Miracle or not? We follow the traces of this boy that all Nepal is already calling "Little Buddha."

Reincarnation? Buddhist rebirth (video)

Bill Kurtis (Wait, Wait), DocSpot; Ananda M., Crystal Quintero, Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

A tulku (Tibetan སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་, sprulsku, Zhügu, tülku, trulku) is a reborn ("reincarnated") custodian of a specific lineage of teachings in Tibetan Buddhism who is given empowerments and trained from a young age by students of his or her predecessor.

High-profile examples of tulkus include the Dalai Lamas, the Panchen Lamas, the Samding Dorje Phagmos, the Karmapas, Khyentses, and the Kongtruls. There is also the special case of a "Little Buddha" from the West.

Little Buddha (film poster)

Any Vajrayana practitioner can be reborn as a tülku, if one fails to reach Buddhahood or a Pure Land in the bardo (intermediate plane) of dying, bardo of dharmata or bardo of becoming.

Valentine summarizes the shift in meaning of the word tülku:

"This term, [which] was originally used to describe the Buddha as a "magical emanation" of enlightenment, is best translated as "incarnation" or "steadfast incarnation" when used in the context of the tulku system to describe patriarchs that reliably return to human form." More

How did the Buddha reach enlightenment?

Editors, Wisdom Quarterly; Keanu Reeves (excerpt from Little Buddha)

The Buddha's life is told as an allegory, the heroic journey we can all travel.

In this fantasy sequence, how Siddhartha did it is completely not mentioned -- how he utilized the meditative absorptions or jhanas to temporarily purify consciousness then practicing for insight by mindfulness of dependent origination (vipassana-paticca samuppada), which would be kind of hard to make a Hollywood movie about. Instead, Keanu Reeves does what he can to paint the wrong picture in our minds.

Born in Kapilavastu, Shakya Land (modern Kabul, Bamiyan, Mes Aynak, Afghanistan), Prince Siddhartha was destined to a luxurious life as a royal (kshatriya). He had three palaces -- one in each seasonal capital (due to the weather) -- specially built for him. The whole family, led by King Suddhodana, enjoyed the capitals.

Prince Siddhartha at age 29 left and escaped his palaces, accompanied by Channa his driver, on his grand white pony, Kanthaka, leaving behind the luxurious life of a royal to become a wandering ascetic on a quest for enlightenment (bodhi), awakening from the illusion of samsara, renouncing the lower for the superior, slavery for liberation (moksha).

Sitting under a pipal tree, now known as the Bodhi Tree ("Enlightenment Tree") in Bodh Gaya ("Enlightenment Grove" in the modern state of Bihar, India), he felt it was time to vow never to give up until he had discovered the ultimate Truth.

After 49 days of meditating, at the age of 35, he attained enlightenment (bodhi) and realized nirvana ("the end of all suffering"). Prince Siddhartha Gautama from then on came to be known as the Buddha or "Awakened One," but he had many other epithets and referred to himself as the Tathagata ("Wayfarer," lit. the "Thus Come One, Well Come One, Well Gone One").

The Buddha is also sometimes translated as "The Enlightened One." Often, he is referred to in Buddhism as Shakyamuni or "The Sage (Muni) of the Shakyas (Scythians)."

The Buddha Gautama (to distinguish him from 28 previous buddhas he mentions of the long ago past) is thought of by the Brahmins of his day and the Hindus of today as an avatar (divine incarnation) of Lord Vishnu in the Puranic texts of the Vedas.

• (But one should realize that Hindus are also taught that Lord Krishna and Jesus Christ are also avatars of Vishnu because of their peaceful teachings and sustaining ways, Vishnu being the Sustainer in the trinity conception of "GOD" in Brahmanism/Hinduism, with Brahma as the Creator and Shiva as the Destroyer).

In the Bhagavata Purana he is 24th of 25 avatars, prefiguring a forthcoming final incarnation (Maitreya). A number of Hindu traditions portray the Buddha as the most recent of ten principal avatars, known as the dasavatara ("Ten Incarnations of God"). But the Buddha clearly and repeatedly stated that he was not a God (brahma), not a god (deva), not a messenger-god (gandharva), not any of those things. When forced to say what he was then, he simply answered, "awake."

The Buddhist  Rebirth Tale Dasharatha Jataka (Jataka Atthakatha) represents Rama as a previous incarnation of the Buddha as the Bodhisattva ("Buddha-to-be") and supreme Dharma King of great wisdom. A great deal of Indian mythology attached to him although he tried to teach people to understand better than adhering to archaic myths.

"The Oldest Son" Tibetan lama incarnation

Wisdom Quarterly; BroadwayWorld.com (4-10-14) via Buddhist Art News, April 22, 2014

High lama of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism teaches (dalailama.com)

 .

The Lincoln Center Theater will premiere Sarah Ruhl's new play "The Oldest Boy" this fall. The production, directed by Rebecca Taichman, will begin previews on Oct. 16, 2014 and open on Nov. 10 in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street). In it, Tenzin, the toddler son of an American woman and a Tibetan man, is recognized as the incarnation (tulku) of a high Buddhist teacher. Differing cultures contend with competing ideas of faith and love [as they did in Hollywood's "Little Buddha"] when two Buddhist monks seek permission to take Tenzin to a monastery in India to begin his training as a spiritual master. His parents must decide whether to send their young son away or keep at him home. More

 

Day 8 teaching the Dharma in Mundgod, India (dalailama.com)

• 2014 Mt. Everest avalanche kills 16
• Former Dictator George W. Bush is no "artist," he "copied off Google images"
• Autobiography of Thai Buddhist elder Ajahn Lee (PDF) 
• Katy Perry gatecrashes a children’s birthday party and makes everyone cry
• What a surprise, Israel abruptly pulls out of Peace Talks [so it can continue its militant ways]
  
  

  The right wing Israeli government is "furious" that after all its divide and conquer efforts, Hamas and Fatah have decided to unite for one Palestine with an invader and occupier in the self-styled God-told-us-we-could country of new "Israel." It will continue to build and expand illegal settlements as it usurps more precious land. The current government of Israel wants endless war.

Attaining Enlightenment (with Keanu)

Born in Lumbini, Nepal [disputed by Ranajit Pal], Siddhartha was destined to a luxurious life as a prince. He had three palaces specially built for him by his father. But at 29 he escaped these royal trappings on his horse Kanthaka, accompanied by his servant Channa, leaving behind his luxurious life to become a wandering mendicant in search of Truth.

• The Historical Buddha

Coming to the edge of his father's kingdom, he continued on foot alone. He went to eminent yoga masters in adjoining lands. First he studied under Alara Kalama and thereafter with Uddaka Ramaputra. With them he reached the heights of the meditations they taught (jhanas). Dissatisfied at not becoming enlightened nor released from rebirth, even though he successfully attained samadhi, he undertook the old path of severe penances and austerities.

That got him nowhere, he was later to say. Buddhism or the Middle Way thus avoids the extremes of princely sensual indulgence and ascetic self-mortification. Eventually, sitting under a banyan tree, now known as the Bodhi tree in Buddha Gaya (Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India), he vowed never to rise until he realized the Truth. He entered the jhanas, emerged, analyzed the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, reflecting on the Three Marks of Existence, and attained liberating-insight. He recalled his former lives, the working out of karma, and other supernormal things.

That night, now 35, he attained enlightenment (bodhi) and glimpsed/touched nirvana. From then on, he came to be known as the "Buddha" or the "Awakened One." Buddha is also sometimes translated as the "Enlightened One." He is referred to by many epithets, such as Shakyamuni ("Sage [muni] of the Shakya Clan"), Tathagata ("Thus Gone One"), Bhante ("Venerable Sir"), Bhagwan, and even Mahavira ("Great Hero," an epithet now exclusively applied to one of his contemporaries, Vardhamana, the founder of Jainism). His name, of course, was originally Prince Siddhartha Gautama of the Shakya Clan.

Hindus are fond of saying that he is a Hindu avatar, namely, a reincarnation of the God Vishnu (according to the Puranas). This effectively keeps Hindus from studying Buddhism since they regard it as simply a part of Hinduism. In the Bhagavata Purana, the Buddha is said to be 24th of 25 avatars, prefiguring a forthcoming final incarnation. A number of Hindu traditions portray Buddha as the most recent of ten principal avatars, known as the dasavatara ("ten incarnations of God").

One of the Buddhist morality tales -- tales and parables similar to Aesop's Fables, which are meant to be more instructional than literal -- depicts Rama as a previous incarnation of the Buddha, who was not yet the Buddha but rather the Bodhisattva, a "being intent on enlightenment." This suggests that "Rama" is the name of a celestial station or post (like Sakka, Mara, Brahma, Surya, and Chandra are), not a singular entity. (See Jataka Atthakatha 461).

• Jataka Tales