/mugen – limitless or endless in space, extent, or size; impossible to measure or calculate./
The human mind seems to thrive on boundaries. It craves categorization, organization, and the comfort of the finite. Yet, the universe tends to confront humanity with Mugen (無限), the boundless, the infinite – a concept that inspires awe and unease in equal measure.
Jean-Paul Sartre argued that human existence is inherently “condemned to be free” [1]. This freedom, however, exists within a vast and seemingly meaningless universe. Confronting Mugen can be paralyzing to those who inspect. The sheer endlessness of possibilities can render a person frozen, overwhelmed by the absence of predetermined paths and the burden of creating their own meaning. The mass of time, and the uncountable number of universes theorized by modern physics, can all trigger a sense of insignificance and existential dread.
However, Mugen may not merely be a void. Japanese aesthetics, particularly the concept of Wabi-sabi (侘寂), suggests the embrace of imperfection and impermanence. The beauty of a single, perfectly imperfect flower draws meaning from its inevitable end, its existence a fleeting glimpse within the endless flow of time. Similarly, endlessness can be a wellspring of creation.
This dance with infinity may be a defining characteristic of the human spirit. Humans are creatures who yearn for both finitude and infinitude.
They crave stability and comfort yet are forever drawn to the unknown, the boundless potential that lies beyond the horizon.
Japanese philosophy offers unique perspectives on this tension. Dogen Zenji, a 13th-century Zen Buddhist master, saw Muga (無我), or “no-self,” as a path to liberation from ego and attachment [2]. By acknowledging the limits of all things and the interconnectedness of existence, one can find peace within the infinite flow of the universe. Similarly, Nishida Kitaro, a 20th-century philosopher, explored the concept of “basho” (場処), the place where finitude and infinitude meet [3]. For Nishida, it’s in these moments of experiencing the vastness beyond one’s usual limitations that true meaning is encountered.
The Land of the Rising Sun’s literature reflects this continuous dance with Mugen. Haiku poems, with their concise form, attempt to capture the essence of a fleeting moment within the vastness of time. Manga and anime narratives often grapple with themes of reincarnation and the cyclical nature of existence, highlighting the human desire for connection and meaning in the face of infinity.
To all appearances, the struggle with Mugen may not be just a one-time event; it seems to be a continuous dance. With moments of paralysis, of feeling overwhelmed by the sheer endlessness of it all. Yet, within that very vastness may lie the potential for boundless creation and the freedom to forge one’s meaning in the endless.
But of course, some yearn for another option, a choice to ignore the force of the boundlessness of existence. To be in the comfort of flowing along with how the waves of experience shape everything. Not having to have the pressure of constructing one’s own fate.
A common proverb, “Curiosity kills the cat”, suggests the dread that comes with discovery and the unknown.
Maybe ignorance is truly bliss.
Citations:
[1] Sartre, Jean-Paul. Being and Nothingness. Translated by Hazel E. Barnes. Washington Square Press, 1956.
[2] Dogen Zenji. Shobogenzo. Translated by Thomas Cleary. Shambhala Publications, 1990.
[3] Nishida Kitaro. Fundamental Problems of Philosophy. Translated by David A. Dilworth. Columbia University Press, 1993.