Tibet: A Buddhist Trilogy

[The One]

Part I: The Dalai Lama, The Monasteries and the People. Filmed in the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala, North India, and in the re-built Sera Monastery, the second largest monastery of the old Tibet, this opening part of the Trilogy observes the Dalai Lama in his dual role as Head of State and spiritual teacher. In an elegant cinematic style, at one with its subject, the film interweaves this personal portrait with an intimately observed exploration of the ways in which the inner knowledge of Tibetan Buddhist culture is developed in the monasteries, through vigorous debate and solitary meditation, and communicated in to the lay community.

Part II: Radiating the Fruit of Truth. With extraordinary authenticity Part II of the Trilogy journeys deep into the mystical inner world of monastic life. Set in the ancient village of Boudha, Nepal and the isolated mountain caves of the yogis, the film follows the lamas of the Phulwary Sakya Monastery through their contemplative retreats, the building of an intricate cosmogram, and the performance of an ancient protective ritual known as ‘A Beautiful Ornament’. Through the ritual invocation of the female deity Tara, the malevolent forces that might bring harm to the society are invited and magically transformed. With a subtitled commentary based on the teachings of the great 20th century master Dudjom Rinpoche, the essence of tantric Buddhism is powerfully revealed.

Part III: The Fields of the Senses. Set in the majestic mountain landscape of Ladakh, Part III is a meditation on impermanence and the relationship between the mind, body and environment. It follows the monks and farmers through a day, ending with an unflinching depiction of the monastery’s moving ritual response to a death in the community. As in the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the departed is guided through the dream-like intermediate state between death and birth

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[Tarka the Duck]

Thanks for posting this, The One - good to have a counterbalance to some of the CCP propaganda out there...
Kathie

[TATODAY]

Love all the films on Buddhist practices. Thanks for posting. I feel the Lamas have OBE's for breakfast and probably spend their time wandering the cosmos during their long bouts of solo retreat.

[Terra]

Thanks mate, looking forward to watching this once I've downloaded it.
Always wanted to go to see the Potala Palace after reading the book The Third Eye by Lobsang Rampa. ...one day.

[onawah]

For those who contest the spirituality of the Dalai Lama and the wisdom of his friends and followers, it might be instructive to consider what certain recent scientific experiments have proven; that when even relatively small groups of people have meditated at certain times with the intent to foster world peace, there has been a remarkable decline in terrorism, crime and other forms of violence.
Imagine what effect on the world that nuns and monks might have who devote their entire lives to meditating and praying for the welfare and enlightenment of all sentient beings...
I agree that the glorification of the office of the Dalia Lama by his people has been somewhat misplaced.
The wealth of their country might have been more equitably distributed, but the love and devotion the people have and still have for their spiritual leader was and continues to be strong, despite what the Chinese propaganda machine would have us believe.
The Chinese invasion was incredibly brutal and is destroying the fragile ecology of Tibet, though they have not yet destroyed the spirit of the people.
IMHO