Customer Reviews

Dalai Lama Renaissance (narrated by Harrison Ford)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I saw "Dalai Lama Renaissance" in a theater when it had its theatrical release in the U.S., and I was very moved by this film, and can understand why it won 12 awards: It was both unexpectedly funny and profoundly moving, and presents an intimate experience with the Dalai Lama.

I have watched a few other films about and featuring the Dalai Lama, and I have seen him speak in person in an auditorium, but "Dalai Lama Renaissance" surprised me in that, like no other documentary film about the Dalai Lama that I had seen before, it really captures the intimate presence of the Dalai Lama. You feel that you are in the room with him as you watch this film. Perhaps it is the fact that the film is shot with 4 or 5 cameras (with many different angles), and perhaps it is also because the film so skillfully shows how the Dalai Lama, through his wisdom, humor and compassion, transforms the people who encounter him in this film. The characters in the film who meet the Dalai Lama are a vehicle for the audience to also experience their own personal journey.

When I began watching the film, because of the beautiful images and music, as well as the masterful storytelling and colorful characters, I soon began to feel that I was one of the participants in the film, and that I had stepped into the film and was a part of the journey to meet the Dalai Lama.

In "Dalai Lama Renaissance," you really see some of the characters go through a profound personal transformation (in the presence of the wise, personable and funny Dalai Lama), and (this has very rarely happened to me while watching a film) I myself felt myself going through an inner transformational journey of my own.

As the main characters in the film travel through India, I felt as if I were traveling through India. As the Westerners where discussing how to solve the world's problems and then their egos began to surface, I also felt something stir inside of me. And most importantly, when these Westerners began to experience an inner transformation in the powerful and inspiring presence of the Dalai Lama, I also felt something deep and powerful occur inside of me.

My dad was in the theater with me watching the film (he doesn't normally like any films other than Westerns and classic comedies), and I was struck by what he told me after "Dalai Lama Renaissance" was finished. He is as far away from Buddhism and spirituality as you can get, but he really liked the Dalai Lama, and was struck by how funny and common sense he was. I even think that the Dalai Lama got a little bit into my dad's skeptical heart :) But there was something that was even more striking: After watching the film, he at first was somewhat quiet. I looked over at him, and I saw emotion in his eyes. I asked him how he liked the film, and after a few moments, he told me that he saw himself in one of the cantankerous characters of the film. He said "I am him." At that moment, he told me that he realized that he had been living his life with a closed heart, and that he knew that he had to open his heart and love the people in his life.

I was almost speechless, but also grateful that one film could make such a powerful and positive impact on someone as skeptical as my father.

Needless to say, I am going to share the film with others in my life.

Here are some other quick thoughts about the film:

-I think that this film acts like a mirror, and will give every person the experience that they need to experience.

-It was both very funny and profoundly moving at the same time

-There were some remarkable quotes sprinkled throughout the film (at important "chapter" points) that really anchored the ideas of the film into your mind and heart.

-Aside from containing the documentary on the DVD, the filmmakers somehow were able to squeeze in 105 minutes of Special Features, including some very interesting behind-the-scenes interviews with the Dalai Lama, as well as the people who traveled to India to see and meet the Dalai Lama.

As a "Tibetan Buddhist", I always enjoy hearing His Holiness the Dalai Lama's laugh. The suffering of aging is very real, but no matter how low I may be feeling, he makes me happy. He laughs and smiles often in this film. He also offers much wisdom.

As a retired Public Health Educator, Community Organizer and Administrator, I found the group dynamics to be of great interest. A group of very intelligent people from different disciplines came together to synthesize diverse approaches to world problems with the results to be offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his consideration and possible use. Well, many successful, bright people also have big egos. Watch this film to see what happens.

The Dalai Lama Renaissance is far more than just another factual documentary of the Dalai Lama, and has a special message not found in other movies on His Holiness (at least to my knowledge).

Basically a group of leading edge thinkers, heavy weights of science, philanthropy, politics, philosophy, economics and spirituality travel to the Himalayas for an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in an attempt to fuse their separate disciplines into a unified approach in solving the world's problems. Such leaders include Dr. Michael Beckwith (The Secret), Fred Allan Wold and Amit Goswami (What the Bleep...?).


Before addressing His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the group, they have to reach a consensus of just what exactly they will be saying to Him. In their attempt to tackle the problems of the world, they inadvertently stumble upon the fundamental problem of human nature, the ego. Each participant has big ideas on how the world works according to their particular expertise. When an attempt is made to unite all these various perspectives into a coherent "Synthesis," it becomes apparent that the task isn't as easy as everyone had hoped. Even when everyone is separated into small groups in order to define the word "Synthesis" itself, the first exercise of the symposium, the sparks begin to fly. Egos are bruised, views are dismissed and frustrations are vented. As a viewer, you can't help but get caught up in the drama, which is both highly entertaining and highly thought provoking.

What makes this film unique among so many other great documentaries on the Dalai Lama is that it reveals not just the brilliance of these heavy weights but the flaws and insecurities. It shows these people in all their humanity and complexity. Movies like "What the Bleep do We Know?" and "The Secret," while excellent movies in their own right, tend (I feel) to portray the speakers as unassailable founts of wisdom, learning and insight. In the Dalai Lama Renaissance, some of the same people are shown getting frustrated with each, even to the point of hollering and bickering like children. The value of the whole event for many participants was not (as it turned out) in the opportunity it presented in revealing their brilliance to His Holiness, as some of them had hoped, but in their own emergence out of the darkness of their own ego. By the end of the event/film, each participant is renewed and transformed. To witness this is a remarkable experience, not often caught on camera.

Consequently it leaves the viewer more than simply informed about The Dalai Lama's life and message, His exile, China's occupation of Tibet etc. It forces the viewer to really ask some serious questions, which, as the life story of the Lord Gautama Buddha showed, is the first step to enlightenment.

There is also a lot of screen time devoted to the Dalai Lama Himself. Though not present during the heated discussions themselves, He is clearly aware of what the participants have been through and deals with it with His usual compassion, grace and understanding.

This film documents events at a weeklong meeting held in Dharamsala, where the residence of the Dalai Lama in India is located. Some 40 intellectuals (from scientists over journalists to theologians) were invited to have a cross-disciplinary exchange of ideas and through synthesis of expertise make some suggestions for solving current world problems. For this reason they are called "the Synthesis group".

Coming with some experience in science and research myself, it was not hard to relate to people in the Synthesis group. For the most part of the movie, I was nodding in recognition of the individual personalities portrayed. Whether practical or romantic, eager or cautious, egotistic or altruistic, enthusiastic or sleepy... I have come across most of them many times in a similar setting of scientific meetings. Also, having been involved in many undertakings "from the ground up" in my life, I was also familiar with the practical difficulties that can arise when many people have a complete freedom to develop ideas in real time as a group.

So what unfolded during the actual Synthesis meeting was more sobering than surprising... to witness a group of very educated and smart people, that are obviously motivated, stumble so much in even talking to each other during just a few days!

What I haven't expected at all, but this movie uncovered, was a deeply hidden sadness within myself... Sadness from the realization that it is our "raw" behavior and lack of understanding that is preventing us from even getting started on solving problems of the world which could be tackled now with with means at hand, by application of compassion and cooperation that stems from it... Sadness that it is ourselves, "we the people", that can be a much bigger obstacle to our own and everyone's happiness than any external condition such as limited knowledge in scientific disciplines.

In the movie, we could witness the moments of similar realization by these eminent experts. They could see the true extent to which their personal embodiment of core human qualities influences the kind of projects for global humanity they are able to engage in practice. To most of them it seems to comes as a shocking and unexpected result - perhaps a further testimony of just how far the modern culture may lead us astray from the true path to ending suffering.

Yet, this did not seem to be a surprise at all for the Dalai Lama. Nor is he saddened by the way things are right now with the world. Upon learning of the failure of the attendees to reach the ambitious goals they set for themselves, he subtly reveals the actual lesson.

I was stunned at how far greater his wisdom and compassion for all people must be, greater than I ever imagined. To be able to understand limitations of many, be they simple villagers or prominent experts, children or elderly professors... to know the direction of the path of the heart but observe the multitude stumbling around because they believe for themselves they know better.... and still act only with kindness and deliver instruction without any condemnation. I have taken instruction from many learned people, but I have never experienced anything nearly so selfless.

I recently purchased the Dalai Lama Renaissance DVD as a gift for my close friend and I was amazed how powerful the movie was (not to mention the reaction of my friend who has seen and read many of the Dalai Lama films). I am not a big fan of Buddhism, spirituality and documentaries about this subject, but that film was just something unbelievably incredible and unforgettable. The story is so brilliant, unique, touching and inspiring that right after we watched it, I decided to write this review to let others know about my impression.

The movie is not what you expect; it's not another boring documentary. It is on a completely different level which makes us start thinking and analyzing our actions and decisions. It gives us a flow of energy and we start appreciating things that we didn't value before. While watching it we get the feeling that we are also traveling with the main characters in the film through India, and eventually to the Dalai Lama's home high in the Himalayas. We get a chance to experience the transformation, together with `the world's most innovative thinkers,' who teach us how to find the inner peace that we want, and consequently make our world a better and more pleasant place to be for all of us.

It's a great, colorful and one-of-a-kind movie. I only wish we had more films like this that bring happiness, joy and self-discovery. I definitely recommend it as an absolutely `must have' DVD in your collection.

I agree with "A Reviewer" below ("Western Spiritual Dark Ages?") in his/her opinion of the "great thinkers" featured in this film, but disagree in the rating. This is well worth watching, as a cautionary tale of pettiness and narcissism in the face of the very real challenges of our age -- and in the face of very real wisdom and compassion.

I actually saw this at a small cinema soon after it was released, and found it rather difficult to watch due to embarrassment for the participants. The setup is that these supposed foremost thinkers from many disciplines in the arts & sciences are brought together to develop solutions to the world's BIG problems -- world hunger, environmental degradation, violence, etc. -- in the Dalai Lama's residence. Discussions almost immediately descend into: first, narcissistic contests of ego; and second, sycophantic attempts to curry favor with His Holiness. I believe I literally squirmed in my seat as one of the participants proposed his Grand Plan (which came to him during meditation, no less. Maybe he should have released this thought and gone back to following his breath?) to the Dalai Lama: a worldwide boycott of China in order to free Tibet. How this very unique and original idea (not!) would decrease greenhouse gas, reverse deforestation, or sustain the world's poor is only suggested by a vague reference to Tibet as some sort of starting place. The Dalai Lama himself, as is typical, rebukes this individual, gently, compassionately, and wisely: Tibet is a temporary political problem; a boycott would hurt many Chinese workers who depend on trade with the rest of the world; You are gathered here to solve the really big, long-term issues that few are really considering effectively. I sincerely hope these people learned something from this exercise: I know I did.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is, as ever, a lamp of simple wisdom in the midst of this display of dukkha and samsara. Having heard him say often that he is only a "simple monk," I am inclined to believe that becoming a simple monk is one of the most difficult and worthwhile endeavors a sentient being can undertake.

I have to commend the makers of this film for having the courage to release it. I'm sure -- I hope! -- that many of them are embarrassed at seeing themselves acting so, so... silly! I know that I, myself, am probably too much like these intellectual peacocks and not enough like "the simple monk." (This review may be the evidence!) Watching this again may help me to do better. I will buy it, and I will share it with any committee I'm ever involved with.

Namaste.

This was an excellent doc on a "glimpse" into the world of the Dalai Lama, but more importantly, a glimpse into us all. With philosophers and scientists, and others exchanging viewpoints, the end result is much more simple, and much more impactful.
I have to admit, 20 minutes or so into the film, I wasn't quite sure what the point was (was it just a bunch of intellectual-types arguing whose smarter, and who has the "right" view or solution?).
But later in the film, and especially the conclusion, really made the point, and was well worth the journey. Through it all the "middle way" is the answer, with compassion, and with opening our hearts and minds. Thank you for this beautiful glimpse. I encourage all to view or buy this film!

His Holiness called together some of the greatest minds on the planet to formulate a way to communicate and I could not believe the ego mania, deluded thinking which was obvious in many of these "great" minds. We have a very long way to go in the west where equanimity is concerned. We have a lot of work to do to kill our ego and water our true nature. I also love the way it was put in the film to please not make illegal copies because they won't be able to fund more films like it if we pirate them. It wasn't that threatening FBI thing, but a true plea and it was my pleasure to buy this film.

I just came home from seeing in the theater "Unmistakable Child." It is about a very revered Tibetan Master of Buddhism, meditation and practice. I will buy that DVD when it is available as well.

Do not miss either of these films. They could be the key to world peace.

I did not know what to expect before seeing this film. But, from the beginning, it took me on a journey. I saw India, its people. And the cinematography is wonderful! Breathtaking! Bits of humor, bits of sadness... all wonderfully interlace this gem of a film. You journey on this film with the participants, experiencing both their outer journey of turmoils, and most importantly their inner journey of transformation. A trip to take them not only to meet the Dalai Lama, but to meet themselves again in a different way. Enjoy this intimate journey... this delicate flower of a film. This film makes the Dalai Lama's message even more poignant. And Harrison Ford's voice pierces at you with wisdom. Enjoy!

I have watched many films and DVDs on the Dalai Lama, and this is simply the BEST, most transformational film with the Dalai Lama that I have ever seen, for these reasons:

1) You receive an intimate personal experience with the Dalai Lama, his words, his spirit and his wisdom. You experience the Dalai Lama up-close and personal, and his lessons and words of wisdom in this film are profound and uplift your mind and heart.

2) Not only does this film present inspiring moments with the Dalai Lama, but it also has a powerful cinematic documentary film with story and developing characters: It is a cinematic film that also presents a story of the transformation of Western revolutionary thinkers in the presence of the Dalai Lama. The cinematography is stunning and beautiful. While you watch the film, you feel as if you are going on this same journey of personal discovery with the characters.

3) You not only get to see the Dalai Lama in person, and hear his profound words of wisdom, you get to witness the IMPACT that he has on others. I read one reviewer write that this film presents "His Holiness in action." To best know a person, you need to not only hear his or her words, but you need to observe their actions as they interact with others. This film is so much more dynamic than a recorded speech of the Dalai Lama. You get to experience many facets of this incredible human being.

4) This is a film of many levels, and like any great film, you can experience it on many different levels: A) You can watch it, follow the story through many twists and unexpected turns, and laugh at the many funny moments in the film, especially at the humanness of the Westerners. B) You can listen and take in the profound wisdom of the Dalai Lama. C) You can witness the inner journey and transformation of the Westerners in the film, who go through their own transformation from ego-centereness to open-heartedness. D) Or more powerfully, you can open your mind and heart while you are watching the film, and let the film wash over you and go on a personal inner journey yourself. I have heard many times from a variety of people that this film acts like a mirror or reflection for those who watch it, and if you have the wisdom, openness and self-awareness to go on the journey in this film with these Western renaissance thinkers, then this film will impact you and reveal how your heart can be opened more, and you will be transformed and positively impacted, as I was.

5) This is not just a film, but it is an experience and adventure. Not only is the film funny, profound and beautiful, but it is a personal experience whereby the light of awareness is shined inside of you. This is not a film to watch while you are washing the dishes and speaking on the phone. This film will engage you, and will shine a light on the areas within yourself that you need to transform.

By the way, after I watched this film, I saw the second volume of this series, 'Dalai Lama Renaissance Vol. 2: A Revolution of Ideas,' which equally powerful.