About this video
A speaker describes a sculpture of Fudō Myōō, 'the immovable one', a fierce guardian who protects Buddhist law. They point out his sinewy body, child-like round belly, squinting eye and fangs, and explain his sword (to cut through impurities) and lasso (to catch those who threaten Buddhism). They also reflect on meditating with such images and on the lost temple, Kuhon-ji, he came from.
You'll be able to
- explain Fudō Myōō's role as a guardian of Buddhist law.
- interpret the symbolism of Fudō's sword and lasso.
- describe how viewers might use an image like this for meditation.
Key words
- Fudō Myōō
- A fierce Buddhist guardian figure whose name means 'the immovable one'.
- guardian
- A protector; Fudō protects Buddhist law.
- impurities
- Things that spoil or cloud the mind; Fudō's halls are places to burn them away.
- meditation
- Focused, quiet attention; here, identifying with the image using your whole body.
Transcript
I’m quite stubborn, and this figure appeals to me because he is Fudō, the immovable one. Think of him as a guardian, he’s like the bouncer of Buddhism. He’s there to protect Buddhist law. Someone of my height would find him quite intimidating, but it still draws you in.
He’s very sinewy, but he’s got this round belly like a child’s. If you think of the sort of stubborn five-year-old who is not going to leave the house until he gets what he wants. He’s got one squinty eye, his fangs coming out, you’re gonna stop and be quiet. Halls dedicated to him in Japan are places where you can go and have things burned, to burn all your impurities.
The sword is there really just to cut right through the crap and then the lasso is basically there to grab anybody who might be trying to mess with Buddhism. A lot of it is fighting your own psychological battles. Meditating with images like this is about identifying with your whole body.
You can feel where he’s got tension. You can feel where he is stable. I like to think that I can get into his particles, be where he’s been. Kuhon-ji, the temple he’s originally from, didn’t survive. I like to think that the materiality of that memory is encased in him.
Knowing that these things were taking place in front of him, that in between where I stand and where he stands and it’s not there now, but in my mind it can be when I’m looking at him.
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