The spirituality of Mushishi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGGmkw82Ye4&t=21s - 7:57
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zHT9So02Vs - 10:00
There are many things that interest me about the anime Mushishi, starting with how I found out
about it. I found out about the anime Mushishi from a conversation with one of the other monks in my
community. This monk I talked to about it has a younger brother in the school on our property that is
one of the many students here interested in anime, so after his younger brother talked to this monk
about it, this monk then asked me about it. I didn't know about it and I didn't get the exact name of the
anime either (this anime is most likely it).
However, after watching videos about it on youtube, including the two in this reflection (the other
one was more of a review - I'll leave it here if you want to see it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=QJXAmDThLoI&t=518s), I was mostly interested in why an adolescent would even know about
this anime due to its rather calm nature (its definitely not for everyone - depends if you're looking for a
unique experience). Since we are currently on break from school as I write this reflection, I didn't get a
chance yet to ask this adolescent directly about it and his brother didn't really know after we talked
about it again after I saw the youtube videos about it, but I then proceeded to watch all of the episodes
of this anime when I had the time to do that. Since this is an episodic series, that is a better way to
watch it (I also don't really have time to watch anime all of the time now: I don't know if this will
influence the anime I reflect on, but it will most likely influence how I do it, meaning reflecting on
anime solely based on youtube videos).
Anyway, the main thing I get out of Mushishi is spirituality, specifically spirituality defined as a
broad concept with room for many perspectives that includes a sense of connection to
something bigger than ourselves, typically involves a search for meaning in life, and as such, it is a
universal human experience—something that touches us all. I think the fact that each episode is
different despite following a usual formula, as well as what the two videos in this reflection say about
more about the series as a whole, are good examples of this.
However, I think the best example of this spirituality is seen in the last part of the second video that
starts with what Ginko, the main character, hears from someone helping him as a child (this part starts
at the 8:15 mark). Everyone and everything in this world has a purpose and belongs wherever they
go. This includes Ginko, despite the fact that he isn't sure about this after a crazy experience, which is
something we can all relate to (another reason he is such character that we can identify with, which the
two videos in this reflection also talk about). Like Ginko, we need to use our gifts to help others.
How we do this is different for everyone, but everyone does this.
The same thing can also be said for what everyone gets out of this anime, and any other anime for
that matter, which is what both videos in this reflection end with. As for me, perhaps talking to one of
the other monks in the community about this anime is why the main thing I get out of it is spirituality in
the sense of the definition I use in this reflection. I can also relate a lot to spirituality now due to my
current lifestyle and what I am currently studying (Transpersonal, or Spiritual, Psychology). I can also
relate to the example of harmony given in the second video of singing together (singing together is
something my community does every day).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zHT9So02Vs - 10:00
There are many things that interest me about the anime Mushishi, starting with how I found out
about it. I found out about the anime Mushishi from a conversation with one of the other monks in my
community. This monk I talked to about it has a younger brother in the school on our property that is
one of the many students here interested in anime, so after his younger brother talked to this monk
about it, this monk then asked me about it. I didn't know about it and I didn't get the exact name of the
anime either (this anime is most likely it).
However, after watching videos about it on youtube, including the two in this reflection (the other
one was more of a review - I'll leave it here if you want to see it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=QJXAmDThLoI&t=518s), I was mostly interested in why an adolescent would even know about
this anime due to its rather calm nature (its definitely not for everyone - depends if you're looking for a
unique experience). Since we are currently on break from school as I write this reflection, I didn't get a
chance yet to ask this adolescent directly about it and his brother didn't really know after we talked
about it again after I saw the youtube videos about it, but I then proceeded to watch all of the episodes
of this anime when I had the time to do that. Since this is an episodic series, that is a better way to
watch it (I also don't really have time to watch anime all of the time now: I don't know if this will
influence the anime I reflect on, but it will most likely influence how I do it, meaning reflecting on
anime solely based on youtube videos).
Anyway, the main thing I get out of Mushishi is spirituality, specifically spirituality defined as a
broad concept with room for many perspectives that includes a sense of connection to
something bigger than ourselves, typically involves a search for meaning in life, and as such, it is a
universal human experience—something that touches us all. I think the fact that each episode is
different despite following a usual formula, as well as what the two videos in this reflection say about
more about the series as a whole, are good examples of this.
However, I think the best example of this spirituality is seen in the last part of the second video that
starts with what Ginko, the main character, hears from someone helping him as a child (this part starts
at the 8:15 mark). Everyone and everything in this world has a purpose and belongs wherever they
go. This includes Ginko, despite the fact that he isn't sure about this after a crazy experience, which is
something we can all relate to (another reason he is such character that we can identify with, which the
two videos in this reflection also talk about). Like Ginko, we need to use our gifts to help others.
How we do this is different for everyone, but everyone does this.
The same thing can also be said for what everyone gets out of this anime, and any other anime for
that matter, which is what both videos in this reflection end with. As for me, perhaps talking to one of
the other monks in the community about this anime is why the main thing I get out of it is spirituality in
the sense of the definition I use in this reflection. I can also relate a lot to spirituality now due to my
current lifestyle and what I am currently studying (Transpersonal, or Spiritual, Psychology). I can also
relate to the example of harmony given in the second video of singing together (singing together is
something my community does every day).
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