Stories from a Chela – Daimajin and Wrathful Deities
Daimajin, a mountain deity who saved the lives of innocents in the Daimajin series of Japanese movies.
A ‘chela’ is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘student’. In particular this word refers to the student of a spiritual teacher. Within this series of short posts, I will be sharing stories about His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche. Hopefully through these stories, you will get a glimpse of how Tsem Rinpoche and the Dharma that Rinpoche shares has not only benefited me but countless others.
Daimajin and Wrathful Deities
Daimajin in his warrior’s armour, ready to defend those who need his help
His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche was a fan of some of the classical movies. From the West these included the likes of The Ten Commandments and Cleopatra, and from the East, Rinpoche was a fan of the Japanese Kaiju movie genre, which feature giant monsters, such as Godzilla or Mothra. Engrossed in conversation with Pastor David and myself one day, Rinpoche asked us if we had seen any of the Daimajin movies before. While I vaguely remembered the name, I couldn’t recall actually watching the movies. So, Rinpoche proceeded to watch the movies with us.
As we sat there, we were transported back in time to rural Japan, where, in one movie, a samurai lord wreaked havoc on the simple community. The only recourse these people had to defend themselves was to rely on the mercy of Daimajin, a local mountain deity. The locals worshiped this deity, a giant statue, half-buried inside a mountain, who came to life and protected the locals when absolutely necessary.
Daimajin, in his peaceful aspect, as a statue half buried in a mountain
Daimajin usually had a peaceful face, but when angered, lifted his arm over his face. And when he did so, his face transformed to become green and wrathful. Rinpoche found this to be appealing, showing that a peaceful deity could turn wrathful when it meant saving people. I remember Rinpoche talking about the Buddha Amitabha manifesting as Setrap, his wrathful Dharma Protector form. Rinpoche even remarked that the way Daimajin looked, with his fierce face and dressed in a warrior’s armour, is what Setrap must look like. Grand, powerful and compassionate.
But Rinpoche explained that how Daimajin helped others and how the enlightened beings help others is different. While Daimajin was indeed compassionate in his actions to protect the local villagers, Setrap was even more kind. Daimajin’s wrath was directed at the samurai lord and his warband; he ended up slaying them before returning to his peaceful aspect. However, the Buddhas love, cherish and have compassion for all sentient beings, including those who do evil.
Setrap, a wrathful manifestation of the Buddha Amitabha
The wrath of the enlightened beings is not directed at a person, but the causes of why that person commits evil. In fact, the cause of a person’s pain and suffering (in this case the villagers), and the cause of a person acting in a wholly un-compassionate way (the samurai lord) is exactly the same, karma.
The villagers had the negative karma to suffer at the hands of the samurai lord. And the samurai lord had the negative karmic imprints to act in a selfish, evil, un-compassionate manner. Both of these situations were due to negative karma and its effects. The enlightened beings are compassionate, the reason why they take on wrathful forms is because of this negative karma and its effects. Whether it is the reason for our suffering or in fact our behaviour due to imprints, their form and practices help to overcome this negative karma. Their wrath therefore is not directed to the person or being that causes our suffering, but the negative karma, and our imprints from the past that make us do things that are not wholesome.
The Dharma Protector Setrap and his divine entourage. Click to enlarge.
Simply by Rinpoche’s comments about a movie, I was able to understand wrathful deities in even greater depth. Their wrath is directed at our negative karma, but more than that their practices are reminders for us not to engage in actions that will cause suffering in future, for ourselves and others. Instead we should focus on developing positive qualities and inner transformation. How compassionate deities like Setrap are, not only do they help us to remove obstacles in our lives, but remind us to do good ourselves so that we don’t suffer again in the future.
The Daimajin movies will always remain with me, as a story of compassion and how divinities help those in need, but more so because through Rinpoche, I gained a greater appreciation into the compassionate activities of the enlightened beings.
For more interesting information:
- Stories from a Chela – Real Worship
- Stories from a Chela – The Roadside Seller
- Stories from a Chela – Blessing the Animal Realm
- Stories from a Chela – Real Transformation
- Stories from a Chela – Za Rahula and Strange Habits
- Stories from a Chela – Spiritual Nourishment for All
- Stories from a Chela – The Lama that Builds
- Stories from a Chela – The Teaching in the Tea
- Stories from a Chela – Incense Offering That Saves Lives
- Stories from a Chela – Supernatural Protection
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I not a fan of the Japanese Kaiju movie at all, first time coming across of this name…..Daimajin. Anyway glad to have knowledge of this Giant Demon God a stone warrior who protects the people against any harm. Interesting the local villagers, worshiped this mountain deity which was half-buried inside a mountain.
The story of Daimajin movies reminds us not to engage in actions that will cause suffering in future, for ourselves and others.
Thank you Pastor Niral for this wonderful sharing.