If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage…If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts, happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow.
– The Dhammapada
“Master, there is a stone on my back.”
In the film Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring director Kim Ki Duk creates a story set around a floating monastery that serves as a backdrop for the cycles of life. We, the audience, see these cycles both through the changing of the seasons as well as through the different stages of life the characters experience. The film meditates on the essence of life, how nature changes through different seasons, and how this mirrors our own journey of desires and attachments leading towards freedom. It offers an impactful portrayal of beliefs inspired by ancient texts such as The Dhammapada and The Heart Sutra. As we experience the changes of the seasons depicted in the film’s narrative journey, one may better sense a kind of intertwined connectedness within life’s timeless patterns. The connection of cause and effect within nature is seen through our own mental and physical processes as well. This is what many eastern philosophers knew of as Karma.
“You will carry the stone in your heart for the rest of your life.”
In Buddhism teachings it is said that life is like a wheel that keeps on turning from birth to suffering to death and rebirth unless we figure out how to break the cycle. This idea of rotation is prominently featured in the movie Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring. The monk interprets the seasons not as shifts in weather but as symbols, for development decline and rejuvenation. From the time of their youth when they’re innocent and full of hope in the spring season, to the moments of reflection and understanding that come with age during winter, their experiences reflect the profound lessons found in The Dhammapada. It is in this text where the Buddha discusses karma as a seed that germinates and yields outcomes, over multiple lifetimes.
The journey of the apprentice unfolds through a series of events where his decisions have lasting impacts as time progresses. The lessons of kindness to animals in Spring. And the repercussions of desires in Fall culminate in a potential for renewal during winter. The film encourages reflection upon our deeds. What choices are we making now that may influence our paths later in our lives?
“Lust awakens the desire to possess. And that awakens the intent to murder.”
Spring Summer Fall Winter… and Spring also meditates upon the theme of longing, at its heart. The apprentice’s temptation by love, during the summer disrupts his tranquil existence. His pursuit of desire leads him astray and plunges him into a cycle of anguish that takes him many years to untangle. This mirrors the idea of The Heart Sutra; the notion of emptiness or Śūnyatā. In Buddhism, attachment arises when we mistakenly cannot separate the impermanent from permanent and there for stays fixated on some physical impermanence or impermanent viewpoint. Attachment is sometimes described as a ladder in which it is necessary to grab hold of each rung so that you do not fall. However, in order to move up the ladder it is important to let go of lower attachments.
“Prajnaparamita Sutra, It helps restore inner peace.”
The Heart Sutra teaches us that “Form is emptiness and emptiness is form.” Kim Ki duk beautifully portrays this concept in the films tranquil and reflective environment. The floating monastery enveloped by water and embraced by mountains appears timeless. We see it undergo transformation with every passing season. The apprentices voyage highlights this contrast as his emotions seem intense at first but, through patience and awareness he comes to recognize their nature. The movie doesn’t completely denounce desire; instead, it portrays how fleeting it can be, and the freedom found in releasing it. This too is perhaps just another rung in the ladder, or in the language of the film, another season, necessary, impermanent, and yet perennial all at the same time.
“Sometimes we have to let go of the things we like. What you like others will also like.”
As the film comes to an end and the story cycles around with an apprentice appearing just like in the beginning a twist emerges this time around. We see that the older monk now carries the weight of his past errors and imparts more profound insights through his teachings. This touching scene serves as a nudge that although life’s repetitive patterns exist and continue to unfold, they also undergo transformations over time. It underscores the significance of our decisions, within these recurring cycles as they hold importance and impact on our lives.
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Conclusion
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring is more than just a film it’s like a moment of profound stillness in our fast-paced lives that encourages us to pause and ponder on the beauty of transitions and change that are inherent in life’s journey.
Kim Ki Duk’s exceptional work encourages us not to only to observe but to contemplate deeply. Life moves forward continuously like a wheel, like the seasons; however, if we stay present and mindful we might be able to pause, be still…and know.
Reading List
The Dhammapada
The Heart Sutra
