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AFTERW{O}RD

 

There was just something about this story. As soon as I wrote it (and when I write a comic book, I'm drawing it too) I knew I had to complete it immediately.

 

It was that last page. It came from that scribble trance, that writer's groove. This story was supposed to explain how a Buddhist monk, a person who is nearly free of sin, would be reincarnated within the Christian system... while comedy ensued.

 

But it was that last page. There was something not only archetypal, but it simply explained the difference between Buddhism and Christianity (or at least the popular kind of Christianity). There was something satisfying about drawing the lowest of the low attempting to rise above the shit they're trapped in.

 

Actually, there are plenty of tales where a Buddha encounters a demon and converts them to Buddhism. These demons, at least in Buddhist art, end up to be guardians for temples: carved on doors and painted on walls. There doesn't seem to be much redemption for evil; for the Devil in Christianity. There's something peculiar about that since one of the greatest concepts of Christianity is forgiveness. This beautiful idea only seems to go as far as the Earthly world.

 

That's the thing about orthodoxy and monotheism: whatever created you must be absolutely good, therefore absolute evil must exist somewhere-- most likely underground. There's no room for shades of grey. In Hinduism and other similar traditions, evil is more of a role than an absolute. Some people, or demons just can't be forgiven, I guess.

I am not a Buddhist. I realize that my explaination of Buddhism might be flawed and if you're a Buddhist-- and I'm not saying someone who's read Alan Watts and buys a lot of stuff in Chinatown cuz it looks cool in your house and Buddhism just happens to be the in thing right now-- I'm saying someone who has been raised with Buddhist ideas since their childhood and has been practicing Buddhism all their lives. Or I'd even settle for someone who started out with an interest in Buddhism and has now found it to be a major part of their everyday life. Shinzen Young, where are you? (That sounds like a title to a fun comic.) So, if you've always been a Buddhist (especially Pema Jones), or had a crazy asian fetish that went so out of hand that you became a Buddhist Monk (Shinzen Young), I would love to hear your interpritation of this comic book.

 

--the establishment
elanrodgertrinidad@gmail.com
February, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFTER-AFTERW{O}RD

 

Rantings aside, even though Shinzen Young nor Pema Jones have ever contacted me, I was contacted by a handful of people who studied Buddhism in various degrees. This response was the best:

 

"This comic is truly profound. One of the main points the Lotus Sutra teaches is that anyone regardless of past deeds can attain enlightenment in this life time. You are also correct about demons being converted and serving as guardians, but not just for temples. Some demons take on protective duties for all Buddha's after spending time trying to make the Buddhist's life as painful as possible. So in a way that demon reincarnating the monk in the story would have served his purpose of acting as a protector, and the fact that afterwards (he) begins to meditate"... "falls right in line with everything I've ever heard about demons in Buddhist practice."

 

--Hiro Shimada
(a Buddhist)

 

This is what I wanted to hear. That is, a Catholic-born, Gnostic-convert, of Filipino heritage, living in America gave a pretty good interpretation of Buddhist ideas, both philosophical and mythic/cultural.

 

For random musings on "The Devil and The Monk" check out my blog. Also, check out God™ © 2XX8 *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. All rights reserved. God and all related characters, titles, names and documents are trademarks of *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions in this deity with those of any living or dead person or institutions is intended and any such similarity which may exist is purely coincidental.

 

...or simply "God™" for short, for the larger part of the story. Eventually, we'll see the Devil again.

 

 

 

--the establishment
elanrodgertrinidad@gmail.com
April, 2009