Method actors and awakening

[Cred]

I found a very interesting video:

It’s about method actors. A method actor is someone who goes to extreme lengths in order to fully immerse themselves into a role (it is explained more thoroughly at the beginning of the video). Interestingly, one of the most mentally intense forms of method acting involves not breaking character even off-set during the entire duration of a film’s production. The actors discussed in this video experience a kind of identity loss, where they struggle to reconnect with their former selves. Aside from being a unique and immersive artistic practice, it’s also fascinating from a spiritual standpoint.

One actor featured in the video is Jim Carrey. Many people on this forum will know that he has a prominent association with nihilistic thought.

In Patrick Cc:'s video, he presents the narrative that Carrey experienced an identity crisis as a result of method acting, which led him to develop a nihilistic worldview. From our perspective on this forum, we understand that similar realizations can arise through spiritual education and practice. This would make sense in Carrey’s case, as it’s known that he read Eckhart Tolle. I also remember him mentioning Hindu deities like Krishna, which further suggests that he explored a significant amount of spiritual literature. As far as I know, he speaks about his experiences openly. To me, it seems most plausible that his method acting experience triggered what is known as the "dark night of the soul”, leading him to seek spiritual guidance.

What’s really significant is that this form of dissociation—through embodying another person—appears to be a fairly consistent method for inducing an experience of the non-self. So consistent, in fact, that Patrick references a study on the phenomenon:

Becoming a Character: Dissociation in Conservatory Acting Students (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31592713/)

The kinds of psychological struggles these actors face remind me of the traumatic experiences some people encounter during intense meditation retreats, or through the misuse of psychedelics and other powerful substances. It seems that many actors do not affirm or understand the concept of non-self and are caught off guard—mildly put.

I find the parallels between this and serious meditation practice fascinating. To me, it seems that monks don’t do anything wildly different in monasteries. The main difference is that it’s more controlled, and instead of embodying a character, they embody the no-self over long periods.

Thoughts?

 

 

 

[Jannes]

I also find it extremely fascinating. 

I did some ammteure acting myself so this acting arose naturally but its not like I found some final answers.

I dont think actors really deconstruct their old identity because they immediately take on a new one, so they are just shape shifters which makes their identity itself more fluid but maybe as an adaptation they more easily grasp onto things.