Journal 5 --The Matrix = Daoism???

Once Mr. B told us we were allowed to blog about The Matrix I made the decision that I would take advantage of writing on something I really like and had prior knowledge on. After watching the first portion of the movie I realized I didn’t have too much prior knowledge of the real plot of the movie because I didn’t remember much of it. Before today what I knew about The Matrix was it’s a movie about fighting some agents and Neo, friends, along with the agents, could virtually do anything, but Neo was better at anything than anyone else because he was the one. That sounds like a very kid-like summary and I realized why…. It’s because the movie was made either in or before 1999, I was only 8 years old then. I don’t think I have seen this movie in the last 7 or 8 years but I did remember that I liked the movie so I was excited to watch it. Mr. B told us to watch the movie as we do when we read our text and I’m thinking like this isn’t going to be anything like what we read because it is about guns and fighting and superficial things. Watching the movie I listened to his instructions and now understand why; Daoism is very similar to the Matrix. There is a margin of belief versus disbelief in the movie especially when it comes down to the part of living in the world of computer programs, but who’s to say that none of it is real? It could very well be unreal and impossible to all of us and the way of life to those who believe in it. This movie illustrates Daoism very plainly to me although it isn’t the exact same idea it is very similar and I believe that’s why we are watching it. I like how Morpheus tells Neo he can’t tell him what the matrix is but would have to show him and then the movie is set in a white room where the setting becomes whatever Morpheus makes it. That is a Daoism way of thinking, minus the fact that Morpheus and his whole team are explaining and showing Neo their definition of the matrix to the best of their knowledge. In the real Daoism I think it says if you know what Daoism is then you don’t know what Daoism is. Which kind of bugs me because I’m learning about it and I feel like I’m in a lose – lose situation. If I don’t know what it is I’m probably not gonna make a good grade and if I do know what it is then I’m just misinformed and just simply think I know what it is, but I’m completely wrong. I can truthfully say I don’t like Daoism at all, but the irony in it is I really like The Matrix and even more after today. I like the way it challenges the mind to believe things that aren’t reality and if I saw this in my life, I wouldn’t even be totally against believing it for truth. Although the theme or message behind the two are closely related, I have opposite reactions toward them.