Dragon Ball fans both love and hate a good mystery. Over the years, the franchise has posed dozens of questions to fans, and the fandom has always done its best to respond. Speculation has become a daily thing with Dragon Ball fans, and one new theory may have pegged down the real reasoning behind Jiren's insane power.
As fans know, Jiren is the latest fighter to give Goku a headache in the franchise. Dragon Ball Super introduced the fighter at the start of its 'Universal Survival' arc. Goku was immediately drawn to the Pride Trooper because of his powerful aura, but Jiren showed little interested in the Saiyan until he wiped the floor with Goku. Dragon Ball Super showed Jiren taking down Goku even when the hero went all-out with his power, and fans have been eager to find out why.
If one fan-theory is correct, then the answer lies with Jiren and his meditation. You can check out the theory's breakdown in the slides below:
Dragon Ball Super's "Universal Survival" saga is part of the recent simulcast agreement that sites like Crunchyroll and Funimation have scored. Dragon Ball Super airs on Crunchyroll Saturdays at 7:15 p.m. CST. Toonami airs the English dub on Adult Swim Saturdays at 11:30 p.m.
Meditation = Focus
Dragon Ball Super hasn't shied away from Jiren and his interest in meditation. The fighter has been seen sitting in traditional meditating poses, and the show's most recent outing even saw Jiren meditating in the middle of the Tournament of Power. The focus put upon the fighter's use of meditating is too deliberate to be ignored, and fans think they know how the act helps bolster Jiren's power.
Fans know Goku unlocked the ability to go Ultra Instinct during his battle with Jiren, The power allowed Goku to fight without thinking as his body simply reacted on its own. Jiren has hinted he can do this as well, but many have hesitated to say the power comes from him going Ultra Instinct. However, it could come from him being in tune with meditation.
After all, the purpose of meditating is to help a person clear their mind. Whether it is used for religious or personal reasons, meditation is meant to bolster one's self-awareness and pull them away from external distractions. In Buddhism, it is said that meditation can help users eventually reach an awakened state which makes them fully aware of everything going on in the present.
If Jiren has disciplined his mind with meditation, the Pride Trooper may be able to tap into this awakened state at will. The connection would give the fighter powers very similar to what Goku can do in Ultra Instinct because his awareness is notched up to the maximum and then some.
Goku Hasn't Dealt With This Before
Jiren may not be able to use Ultra Instinct through traditional means, but it seems the fighter's use of meditation gives him a loophole to its powers. The key to the Universe 11 warrior's powers is his ability to remain calm. That in and of itself is very different from any other Dragon Ball villain.
When it comes to guys like Cell and Freeza, the word level-headed does not come to mind. Majin Buu powered up out of his sheer desire to cause mayhem and Freeza did the same because he had a vendetta against the Saiyan race. As for the Cell, the fighter grew more powerful because he was designed by Dr. Gero to become the universe's most powerful warrior. Each of the franchise's most popular baddies have used less-than-savory methods to get power.
As for Jiren, the fighter does not use his emotions or aspirations to drive him forward. Instead, it is the fighter's absence of emotions to power up, and that method is not something Goku knows how to combat just yet.
So, what do you think? Does Jiren's power all come down to his meditation? Hit us up on Twitter @ComicBook or @MeganPetersCB to let us know!