The claim that "the universe is an infinite sphere whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere" (Bernard, I Heart Huckabees) is a clear reference to Buddhism, with the religion's followers believing that nothing is as society sees it, and, that everything has shape and color because people want it to. Also, they believe that everything in the universe is connected, even with the fact that people are accustomed to differentiating.
Bernard continues to promote Buddhist theories by describing how every person is the same and differences in language, skin color, and backgrounds are not to be considered actual dissimilarities, as they are just the outer shell of the spirit. People are generally limited by themselves, with them being unable to attain a higher state of mind because of their restraints. According to Bernard, if people were to continue to live as they had been accustomed to, they would never reach enlightenment. Thus, individuals miss out on the most important matters in life because they are busy performing superficial tasks.
While the director of Rashomon did not initially want his movie to incorporate Buddhist concepts, the storyline gradually became full of matters relating to the religion. Perhaps it had been because of the fact that Buddhism is one of the main religions in Japan that the movie has Buddhist influences. Clinging themselves to their material world, the people in Rashomon fail from observing that it is more important for them to accept truth as it is. Thus, they resort to various schemes in order to protect their image in society. Kindness is vital in Buddhism, and, little of the characters playing in Rashomon understand this theory.
Similar to how Bernard struggles to have Albert and Tommy understand that the whole world is connected, and, that...
Ultimately, enlightenment virtually means for one to realize that love is the only thing which can bring happiness, and, that he or she needs to feel affection for every person on earth. Once learning that they are at one with nature and that they love other persons just as they love themselves, people will achieve enlightenment. Whether the woodcutter decides to step in by telling the truth because he hates lies, or, whether he does this out of respect for humankind, it is not certain. What is certain is that he performs an act that directly incriminates him as the one that had stolen the dagger. He does not appear to care that his confession would hurt him.
The priest in Rashomon is an example of how people come across a great deal of trouble in their search for truth. He listens to four different accounts of the event and does not know who to believe, since his Buddhist beliefs instruct him in respecting everybody's side of the story. Even if the search for truth seems like a very consuming matter, he does not let go until he finds reality.
In order for the characters in Rashomon and in I Heart Huckabees to become at peace with themselves, they first have to go over preconceived ideas which concern life in the modern society. Also, they have to accept new concepts, even if they appear to be gibberish at the beginning. Life and the material world are more beautiful when they are seen through the eyes of persons that have been enlightened.
Works cited:
1. I Heart Huckabees. Dir. David O. Russell. Fox Searchlight, 2004.
2. Rashomon. Dir. Akira Kurosawa. Daiei/Rko Radio Pictures, 1950/1951.
