Buddhist Themes in The White Lotus, Explained | Josh Bearman
Dan Harris and Joshuah Bearman, co-host of The White Lotus Official Season 3 companion podcast, deconstruct the rich Buddhist themes in the HBO series. They discuss identity as a prison, the perils of pleasure seeking, the craving for certainty, and the importance of relationships and simple Buddhist ideas.
Deep Dive Analysis
13 Topic Outline
Introduction to The White Lotus and Buddhist Themes
Josh Behrman's Personal Journey with Buddhism
Mike White's Connection to Buddhist Teachings
Identity as a Prison: A Core Theme of The White Lotus
The Deeper Concept of the Self as an Illusion
The Problem of Desire and Pleasure-Seeking
Practical Buddhist Approaches to Desire and Impermanence
Craving Certainty and the Illusion of Resolution
The Role of Repetition and Non-Attachment to Results
Saxon's Character Arc: An Example of Disenchantment
The Importance of Relationships and Community (Sangha)
Lori's Emotional Revelation on Friendship and Meaning
Briefly Mentioned Themes: Violence, Karma, Right Speech
7 Key Concepts
Identity as a Prison
This concept, explicitly stated in The White Lotus, posits that individuals construct and cling to rigid ideas of who they are, leading to suffering. Characters in the show often find their identities challenged or undone by circumstances, revealing the pain caused by these self-imposed limitations.
Self as an Illusion
A deeper Buddhist assertion suggesting that there is no fixed, independent 'self' or essence behind our experiences. While we interact with the world as individuals, a fundamental investigation reveals no permanent, unchanging entity, and accepting this can paradoxically be a form of self-care by reducing the demands of ego.
Problem of Desire
Buddhism teaches that chasing pleasure and trying to outrun pain is a losing strategy, as it only leads to more suffering. The show illustrates this through characters who constantly seek external gratification (money, sex, status) but find themselves in a cycle of temporary fixes and increased anxiety.
Disillusionment/Disenchantment
This refers to the positive process of waking up from the illusions and false promises that we tell ourselves about where true fulfillment lies. It's the realization that external achievements, acquisitions, or experiences will not bring lasting happiness, leading to a shift in perspective.
Paradox in Buddhism
The idea that two seemingly contradictory things can be true at the same time. For example, a person exists and has agency, yet fundamentally, there is no inherent, unchanging self. This understanding can be used as a 'medicine' to navigate life, preventing nihilism while also detaching from ego-driven suffering.
Non-attachment to Results
This concept encourages individuals to pursue their ambitions and engage with the world, but without clinging to specific outcomes. It acknowledges that while one can act with intent, the universe is an 'entropic fluxing' system, and many results are ultimately beyond personal control, reducing anxiety and suffering.
Sangha (Community)
One of the 'three jewels' of Buddhism, emphasizing the critical importance of relationships and community for spiritual growth and well-being. The show highlights this through characters who find genuine connection and support, demonstrating its essential role in human health and longevity, often overlooked in individualistic cultures.
7 Questions Answered
The central theme is 'identity as a prison,' with the season serving as a dramatic exploration of how clinging to one's identity becomes a source of pain and suffering for the characters.
Identity is a prison because it limits one's potential, cuts one off from the fluid nature of reality, and prevents genuine connection with others. Characters in the show suffer when they are trapped by self-limiting stories or societal expectations of who they should be.
Buddhism asserts that the 'self' is an illusion; while we function as individuals, there is no permanent, unchanging essence of a self. Accepting this can be a form of self-care, as the demands and expectations of the self are often sources of suffering.
Buddhism teaches that while enjoying pleasure is not inherently wrong, mistaking pleasure as a strategy for true fulfillment is a mistake. Chasing desire is likened to 'licking honey off the edge of a razor' – it offers temporary pleasure but carries the danger of leading to more pain due to impermanence.
Life inherently lacks clear closure and resolution, and the desire for solid answers or happy endings puts one at war with the universe. This craving creates more anxiety and suffering, whereas accepting life's lack of resolution can lead to greater patience and peace.
Community, or Sangha, is considered one of the 'three jewels' of Buddhism, highlighting the essential role of relationships with other people. Data suggests that the quality of one's relationships is the most important factor for health and longevity, making community vital for human well-being.
A mindfulness technique involves observing desire without immediately reacting: notice the desire, sit with it, and watch it come and go. By patiently witnessing its impermanence, one can realize freedom from being controlled by ego and desire.
19 Actionable Insights
1. Accept No Life Resolution
Accept that life lacks clear closure and resolution, and resist the urge for quick fixes or forcing certainty, as this only creates more anxiety and suffering; instead, cultivate patience by accepting life’s inherent lack of resolution.
2. Release Identity as Prison
Recognize that identity can be a prison, as clinging to a self-limiting story about who you are puts a ceiling on your capabilities and cuts you off from reality. To escape, let go of your story and recognize that ’every day is a new day’ and ‘it doesn’t have to be like the day before.’
3. Act with Non-Attachment
Pursue ambitions and take action in the world, but practice non-attachment to the results. Understand that while you can act from your limited position, ultimate outcomes are interconnected with a fluxing universe and largely beyond your control.
4. Mindfully Sit with Pain
Address pain by ‘sitting with your feelings’ in an ‘open, accepting, warm, curious, interested way’ rather than reacting blindly. This mindful approach is the ‘radical move of Buddhism’ to prevent violence or harmful impulses.
5. See No Fixed Self
Practice seeing that there is no inherent, fixed self as a profound form of self-love and self-compassion. This can alleviate suffering caused by the self’s demands and expectations.
6. Embrace Life’s Paradoxes
Embrace paradox, understanding that seemingly contradictory truths (e.g., self exists and doesn’t exist; things matter and don’t matter) can be simultaneously true. Use this understanding as ‘medicine’ to navigate life’s challenges and avoid extremes like nihilism.
7. Prioritize Quality Relationships
Prioritize and invest in the quality of your relationships with other people. This is the most important factor for optimizing health and longevity.
8. Reduce Suffering for All
Focus on benefiting all beings and reducing suffering (yours and others’) as a core duty of life. This inherently reduces reliance on the self.
9. Enjoy Pleasure, Not Pursuit
Enjoy pleasure, but avoid the mistake of believing it’s a strategy for true fulfillment, as chasing pleasure to outrun pain is a losing game that only leads to more suffering.
10. Mindfully Observe Desire
When experiencing strong desire, remember the phrase ’lust cracks the brain’ to prevent disastrous decisions. Practice mindfulness by observing desire as it arises and passes, understanding its impermanence to find freedom from its grip.
11. Understand Karma’s Effects
Understand karma as the simple ’law of cause and effect,’ recognizing that all actions have consequences, which can be unpredictable. Consider this when making choices.
12. Practice Right Speech
Practice ‘right speech’ by ensuring your words are true, useful, spoken at the right time, and with the right intention. Avoid harmful gossip and backbiting, which lead to unpleasant consequences and unhappiness.
13. Engage with Buddhist Ideas
Engage with ‘crib notes versions of Buddhism’ or Buddhist self-help books, allowing these ideas to embed themselves in your thinking about the world, art, craft, and storytelling, even if you don’t become a ‘serious practitioner.’
14. View Emotions as Nature
View emotions and desires as transient, natural forces, like ‘wind in the trees’ or ‘meteorological phenomena,’ and cultivate faith in your underlying values to weather these temporary states without being swept away, making them more workable.
15. Value Community (Sangha)
Recognize the equal importance of community (Sangha) alongside personal awakening (Buddha) and teachings (Dharma) in spiritual or personal growth. Actively engage with a supportive community for shared progress.
16. Overcome Resentment in Friendship
Overcome resentment and shed self-centeredness to genuinely appreciate others and find happiness in shared connection. Value the meaning derived from shared time and long-standing friendships.
17. Repeat Fundamental Truths
Engage in regular repetition and reminders of fundamental truths, as humans are ‘programmed for denial’ and need to be ‘woken up over and over again’ to basic facts about life and suffering.
18. Buddhism as Practice
Approach Buddhism (or similar wisdom traditions) as a set of practices and actions (‘something to do’) rather than merely a belief system. Focus on its utility for reducing suffering.
19. Broaden Spirituality’s Definition
Define spirituality broadly as anything that extends beyond your ’limited small self.’ This allows for a secular understanding and practice of spiritual principles.
5 Key Quotes
identity is a prison. No one is spared this prison, rich man, poor man, success or failure. We build the prison, lock ourselves inside, then throw away the key.
Buddhist monk (quoted by Dan Harris)
Everyone runs from pain toward the pleasure. But when they get there, only to find more pain, you cannot outrun pain.
Buddhist monk (quoted by Dan Harris)
Sometimes we wake with anxiety and edgy energy... There's no resolution to life's questions. It's easier to be patient once we finally accept there's no resolution.
Buddhist monk (quoted by Dan Harris)
I'm glad you Jacqueline have a beautiful face and I'm glad you Kate have a beautiful life. And I'm just happy to be at the table.
Lori (Carrie Coons)
It's not something to believe in. It's something to do.
Dan Harris (quoting a mutual friend/Buddhist description)
1 Protocols
Mindfulness Technique for Desire
Dan Harris (attributing to Joseph Goldstein)- Notice when you want something, whether the desire is large or small.
- Sit with the desire for a second and watch it come and go.
- Patiently observe as the desire crests and eventually goes away.
- Recognize that you are not a marionette controlled by ego and desire, leading to freedom.