Aang, from the Nickelodeon animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender is a monk of the Air Nomad people. For those who know nothing of the show Aang is the protagonist, the Avatar (hence the series title) who can bend all four elements: Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. His purpose is to keep peace between the Four Nations by using the elements. The creators of the show based many of Aang’s character traits on Buddhism. Aang is a positive stereotype for Buddhism, displaying many Buddhist principles, such as vegetarianism, a reluctance to fight, meditation, forgiveness. His appearance, orange robes and shaved head also account for his Buddhistic upbringing.
I’m focusing on how meditation is practiced on The Last Airbender since Brad Warner covers this area extensively throughout his book. A common stereotype about meditation throughout society is that meditators do not care about things or are thinking about absolutely nothing. We all know those statements are false, Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate reenforces that. Now, in The Last Airbender, Aang meditates a lot. Typically to clear his head of conflicting paths, trying to find the correct way of action. In Chapter Twenty Brad writes “Buddhists believe that the solution to any problem we face is always here [your mind]. We just cover it over with though.” (pg. 126) This statement supports Aang’s actions, he takes time to sort through his thoughts to get down to the main issue troubling him.
The show has good intentions of portraying Buddhism and meditation in specific, they just get the logistics wrong. Zazen practice, according to Brad, “bridges the gap between these two forever mutually opposing ways of understanding reality [spiritually and materialism],” (pg. 5) it helps you deal with life in a practical and realistic manner. When practicing zazen one is trying to gain balance and understanding. Another aspect to zazen is the concept of having no goal in Zen. Though, Nishijima points out that it is necessary to have goals sometimes, the example he uses is business. When practicing Zen you are in the now, but when carrying out daily tasks you are “in a different realm,” (pg. 70) as Brad likes to say. Here you have to think ahead. Many times throughout the show Aang takes the problems he is facing in the Four Nations and meditates for a solution. He basically preforms a reversal of Zen practice, going to an alternate plane to reach the “eternal now” (pg. 70). When meditating he goes to the “Spirit World” and talks philosophy with his past self, goal in mind. Brad has a moment, while attending a sesshin, where he sets a goal for his zazen practice because of the problems going on in his life:
“Now, I know that Zen practice is supposed to be goalless. And I know that having a goal for a sesshin is pretty ridiculous. But we humans often do ridiculous things. I didn’t know or even care very much whether I achieved the goal I set for myself. But I knew from past experiences that long zazen sittings could help things like these become clearer.” (pg. 126)
He, much like Aang does use his religion and Zen practice to attempt to sort through what was going on around him. Nickelodeon’s portrayal of mediation sheds no negativity on Buddhist practices, the creators of the show just left out important customs and philosophies.
Citations
"Aang1." Wikipedia. Nickelodeon Studios. 6 March 2011. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aang1.png >
Warner, Brad. Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate. Novato, California: New World Library, 2009. Print.
Warner, Brad. Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate. Novato, California: New World Library, 2009. Print.
I have never seen the show, but based on what you've described and the image you have provided, I can see the definite influence of Buddhism in his character. I think it is interesting that the majority of the stereotypes surrounding Buddhists are positive. They are depicted as noble, wise, compassionate, just to name a few adjectives. This is wildly different from most stereotypes given to other groups. I am curious though to see how you interpreted Brad Warner's reflections on real Buddhists.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of Aang and he is being portrayed as a loyal follower of Buddhism but isn't it fighting not a teaching of Buddhism? The anime series talks about anger and war which i think is very far from the real Buddhism although Aang is the hero in the series.how to draw aang
ReplyDeleteSeveral of his characteristics are based off of traits of Buddhism. The creators have said this in interviews. I was not trying to label Aang as a Buddhist practitioner, rather point out some of the similarities between himself and what values Buddhists follow. I agree, that yes, fighting is not a teaching of Buddhism, and therefore this is a huge characteristics of Aang's life that cannot fall into Buddhist life. Though, Aang shows a dislike towards violence as a whole, he does not want to hurt or kill people, he tries to find ways around this, but he has to stand up against the fire nation to protect the other three nations.
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