Born in Nepal as Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha is known to be the founder of Buddhism. The term ‘Buddha’ implies ‘one who is awake’, having gained a complete comprehension of reality through Enlightenment. Growing up in a royal family with wealth and luxury, Siddhartha was shocked to learn that life also brought unpleasant realities like sickness, old age and death. This prompted him on a journey for truth – travelling around India under several gurus and becoming an expert in meditation techniques while practicing extreme ascetic activities. Despite almost starving himself to death, he eventually achieved his goal of understanding the purpose of life.
1. Seven Wonders Of The Buddhist World
Join Bettany Hughes on her journey to explore the world’s most famous Buddhist sites! From India’s Bodh Gaya, Nepal’s Bodanath Stupa, and Sri Lanka’s Temple of the Tooth to Thailand’s Wat Pho Temple, Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, Hong Kong’s Giant Buddha, and Los Angeles’ Hsi Lai Temple – this program takes you on a tour of some of Buddhism’s oldest and most remarkable religious systems. Along the way, Bettany meets with Buddhists who share their knowledge about various concepts that form the core of Buddhist belief. Learn more about Buddhism’s long history in this insightful video!
2. The Buddha
Discover the fascinating story of the Buddha, a man who achieved enlightenment while sitting under a fig tree two and a half millennia ago in northern India. Richard Gere narrates this award-winning documentary from director David Grubin, which explores how his life has been particularly relevant to our current times of spiritual disorientation and upheaval. Learn more about this mysterious sage’s beliefs and find out why his teachings are still applicable today!
3. Samsara
Samsara is a nonverbal guided meditation that looks into the unfathomable ranges of humanity’s spirituality and the human experience. From every day to magnificent miracles, this cinematic adaptation takes us on a journey through birth, death, reincarnation and beyond. Follow along as we explore how energy is ever-changing in an attempt to reach nirvana – the state of being free of suffering and the cycle of reincarnation. This 2001 release offers insight into our lives and reminds us that pain and discontent are only temporary states in Samsara’s never-ending cycle.
https://youtu.be/tLNEULhH9qk
4. Tulku
Are you curious about the concept of Tulku, or reincarnated Tibetan Buddhist teachers? In this documentary, explore the narrative of five born in the west following Tibet’s Buddhist population exodus. Gesar Mukpo, director and son of a monk and his wife was identified by another monk as one of his father’s prior instructors at three years old and crowned as a Tulku. Uncover how sprul notion is employed to denote btsanpo adopting human form on earth while delving into religious images integrated throughout time with ‘sprul.sku’ (‘incarnation body’) and ‘btsan,’ becoming a type mountain deity. Discover any possible flaws in the system that could cause psychological battle for foreigners crowned as Tulkus.
5. Unmistaken Child
Unmistaken Child is an inspiring 2008 indie film that follows Tenzin Zopa, a Tibetan Buddhist monk on his journey to find Geshe Lama Konchog, a famous Lama from his past. This documentary looks at the concept of reincarnation and how it plays a part in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other eastern cultures. It has earned several awards for its unique approach to this fascinating topic. The movie questions whether or not individuals outside of the Tibetan Buddhists’ worldview can determine if they have found the reincarnated being they are searching for. Join us as we explore Unmistaken Child and its implications about reincarnation!
