Buddhism and Enlightenment in Why Did Bodhidharma Leave?

Introduction

The film Why Did Bodhidharma Leave for the East? is a profoundly artistic depiction of both inner spiritual belief and individual approaches toward enlightenment, as well as the external relationships that form between people. From this perspective, the film sustains an internal vs. external framework throughout, emphasizing different perspectives to underscore essential characteristics of its three main characters.

The narrative is relatively straightforward: in a Buddhist monastery, three characters of different ages study Buddhist teachings in order to reach enlightenment. Master Hyegok, the old teacher; Ki Bong, his disciple; and the orphan Hae Jin come together in this remote, isolated place to learn about achieving enlightenment. The relationships that form among these characters, as well as the inner struggles each faces in trying to reconcile their past and move beyond ordinary perception toward a deeper, enlightened life, are the film's central concern.

The Monastery and the Inner-Outer Framework

The film revolves around the figure of Master Hyegok, the Zen Buddhist master and teacher, who has come to believe that enlightenment can only be achieved through a total abandonment of the outside world and a complete focus on one's inner life. While the monastery exists within the real world, it is no longer an ordinary worldly space. As a place where enlightenment is the sole purpose of its inhabitants, a deliberate withdrawal from the surrounding world is visible in the actions and approaches of all three characters.

However, the clash between the monastic world — and, simultaneously, the inner world developing within each character — and the outside world is evident not only in the necessity of withdrawal, but also in the conflicts each inner world experiences with elements of the external world. It is precisely these conflicts that prevent the two younger disciples from being able to leave the outside world completely behind.

Characters and Their Earthly Attachments

Each character remains attached to elements of the outside world, and this is strongly connected to the central idea of the film: that enlightenment cannot come easily, but requires genuine sacrifice from those who seek it. Ki Bong has abandoned his family and his blind mother in order to pursue enlightenment. While this might appear to be a selfish act — and it can, in many respects, be interpreted that way — Ki Bong suffers deeply for having left his loved ones and remains reluctant to fully commit to this path.

Hae Jin, on the other hand, has accidentally killed a bird. Though this may seem like a minor incident, within Buddhist cosmology, the constant process of reincarnation means that killing a bird may be tantamount to killing a human soul reborn in that form. It is small, concrete events like this that keep the characters' human consciousness alert and prevent them from taking the final step toward enlightenment — a complete departure from the ordinary world.

Conclusion

The film ultimately presents enlightenment as an aspiration that none of the three characters fully achieves, though each progresses meaningfully along the path. Master Hyegok leaves behind teachings that may guide his pupils forward. Ki Bong and Hae Jin, still tethered by earthly attachments, nevertheless continue to grow through the stages outlined by the Ten Bulls tradition. Their persistent connections to the real world are not simply obstacles — they are also evidence of their humanity, and perhaps the very thing that will make their eventual return to society, as fully enlightened beings, meaningful.

References

Reps, Paul, and Nyogen Senzaki. Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings. 1957.