Jurassic World actor James DuMont talks Nichiren Buddhism and "a deeper shade of blue."
Jun 12
davidhare3000Buddhahood, Determination, Gratitude, Happiness, motivation, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, SGI Daisaku Ikeda, handling rejection, indigo dye, Jurassic World, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, SGI, SGI actors, SGI Buddhist James DuMont 1 Comment
Actor and SGI Buddhist James DuMont now has over 100 film & TV credits to his name. They include Ugly Betty, Dallas Buyers Club, House, The West Wing, Oceans 13, War of the Worlds, Seabiscuit and Catch Me If You Can. He has played opposite the likes of Colin Farrell, Al Pacino, Jared Leto, Tom Hanks, Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates. His next movie – Jurassic World – opens today, Friday 12 June.
James DuMont – on a screen near you in Jurassic World!
What I love about James's résumé is that he has slowly, surely and steadily built a successful Hollywood career through his repeated efforts. In fact to land those 100 parts, he has had to do more than 3,000 auditions! And this reminds him of a famous Buddhist quote: "From the indigo, an even deeper blue." This means that, if one dyes something repeatedly in indigo, it becomes even bluer than the indigo leaf itself. In this interview, James shared with me how his strong Buddhist practice sustains him through the ups and downs of life.
What's the biggest obstacle you've overcome through the practice?
My father and his father made huge, detrimental mistakes that destroyed their families and the damage took years and generations to heal and in some cases those issues have been the greatest obstacles I have faced as father and husband. Issues of infidelity, financial mistakes and more importantly issues of being present and available to set an example. This has also been my biggest benefit. I am present for my son and daughter, as best I can. I am working to be a better man, father, husband and son than the men in my family before me. In essence I am redefining the truest meaning of fatherhood in my family and all the responsibility that comes with that. This is not an easy task or mission, but it is mine.
A deeper shade of blue…
What's your favourite Buddhist quote and why?
SGI President Daisaku Ikeda says: "A great human revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation, and, further, will enable a change in the destiny of all humankind." And another favourite quote (author unknown): "Two things define you, your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything". I have never forgotten where I have come from and this practice allows me to have gratitude and to treat others as I would want to be treated.
Your new movie is Jurassic World, are there any Nichiren Buddhist themes in it?
The most obvious one is "the person & the environment are one!" If our hearts and minds are pure, then so is the environment. There is also the theme of 'those who do not stop evil are supporting and encouraging it.' Also part of the inherent nature of dinosaurs was to kill, but unlike the dinosaurs, we have the Gohonzon, which gives us a tool to access our Buddhahood and transform ourselves and our inherent nature.
Jurassic World
Why do you think Nichiren Buddhism attracts so many actors and artists?
This practice gives you the strength, power and hope to fundamentally transform your own human journey while on this earth. As an actor/artist I can have a deep and profound effect on the planet, if I just dig deep into my own humanity and then bring that to light by unearthing human behaviour in all its beauty, pain, joy and sorrow. That is my mission while I am here. I audition more than 300 times a year, and in a good year I will only succeed with ten of those 300 attempts to share myself and skills. I can't imagine having to deal with that without this practice. It gives me a sword to wield through all these setbacks and come away from them feeling happiness, joy and hope. I hope my life and human revolution will encourage people to stand up and fight even harder!
Tell us more about how you handle rejection as an actor?
I cannot stress enough the resilience this practice gives you and how necessary this is for my life and career. Also sometimes you may 'step in some dog shit' in life and it takes a while to get rid of the smell from your shoes or even from your mind. You smell it, others do or even if they don't, you think they do. You have to shed that mindset and make greater causes in order to counter the temporary nature of 'having shit on your shoes'. I share that analogy a great deal to encourage actors going through serious dry spells of work.
What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
Trust yourself more, be better to yourself and do this chanting thing that's been put right in front of you!
You can view James' showreel here:
Sent from my iPhone
