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About the Director
Recalling a Buddha: Memories of HH Karmapa XVI is Gregg Eller's first film. He is the producer of Pema Chodron's teaching website and received an undergraduate degree in rhetoric from the University of California at Berkeley.
Product Description
The life story of the Sixteenth Karmapa is told by those close to him in Tibet, the generation of teachers that he trained and many others that he touched. This feature-length film looks closely at enlightened qualities and examines them in the context of historical events such as the fall of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism's migration to the West.
How Karmapa lived and how he died gives us the example of an awakened being: a person with a noble heart.
The DVD includes two hours of Extras material:
1. Interview with a Buddha: Karmapa XVI, Jamgon Kongtrul and Karmapa's retunie appeared on a half hour talk show. The entire program is the extra.
2. The Ceremony of the Vajra Crown: In 1980, a director who would later be nominated for an Oscar filmed the Black Crown ceremony in beautiful 16mm color.
3. The Line of Karmapas: Thrangu Rinpoche, senior teacher of the Karma Kagyu lineage, eminent scholar Gene Smith, and Beru Khyentse Rinpoche share thoughts on the previous 15 incarnations of Karmapas.
4. Preserving the Dharma Texts: H.E. Shamar Rinpoche and Gene Smith recount the partnership between the Sixteenth Karmapa and the U.S. Library of Congress to reprint sacred texts brought out of Tibet and made available to the newly forming monasteries in Asia.
5. Rumtek: various "alumni" of Rumtek monastery, seat of the Karmapas share memories of living in a high concentration of realized masters.
6. Connecting to Karmapa: Westerners who entered the mandala of the Karmapa share how they came to relate to the Sixteenth Karmapa.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
For Anyone Interested in Tibetan Buddhism (Especially Kagyu) or the History of Buddhism in America
January 14, 2010
Since most of the prior reviews assume some knowledge of this film's topic, I thought I'd provide some background in my own review, for those that need it (if you don't, skip to the end for my bottom line assessment.)
This is a documentary film about the Sixteenth Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpei Dorje, within the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. 'Karmapa' is the title for the head of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, one of four main schools. The sixteenth Karmapa lived from 1924 to 1981, and is universally recognized amongst Tibetan Buddhists, and particularly practitioners within the Kagyu school, as one of the most important and influential teachers of the modern age. He played an extraordinary role in the development of Tibetan Buddhism within the West, by traveling to the U.S. at the request of his student, Chogyam Trungpa, and conducting the sacred 'Black Crown' or 'Vajra Crown' ceremony for thousands of people.
In Recalling a Buddha, interviews with those who studied with or knew the Karmapa are entwined with historical commentary, photography, and documentary footage of him to create a complete history of his life and influence on the West. Many of those interviewed are now well-known within Tibetan Buddhism, such as Tenzin Palmo, one of the first western women to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun, and subject of the popular book by Vickie Mackenzie, Cave in the Snow: Tenzin Palmo's Quest for Enlightenment. The interviews cover both individuals' personal reactions to the Karmapa upon interacting with him, and events from his life history, including his exodus from Tibet in 1959.
The most fascinating part of the documentary for me was the footage of the Black Crown ceremony, performed by the sixteenth Karmapa. The Black Crown is a sacred hat and symbol of the Kagyu lineage. According to legend, in a prior lifetime the Karmapa attained one of the highest levels of bodhisattva-hood, and 100,000 dakinis created a crown from the hair on their heads and gave it to him as a gift. On the historical level, the crown is said to be a gift from a Chinese Emporer, who was able to see the field of enlightenment and power residing above the Karmapa's head, and had a physical replica of what he saw created.
The Black Crown ceremony is an empowerment and blessing ceremony consisting of prayer and chanting. The Karmapa places the hat on his head while reciting a mantra and meditating on the Buddha of Compassion, Chenrezig. It is said that anyone witnessing the ceremony has the opportunity to attain the first level of bodhisattvahood within three lifetimes. The sixteenth Karmapa performed this ceremony several times in the United States during his visits for thousands of people, and it is considered to have been a powerful transmission of the dharma in the West. Invaluable footage of one of these occasions is included.
Overall, this film will probably be of most interest to those already somewhat familiar with Tibetan Buddhism, and particularly those interested in the Kagyu lineage. Although anyone interested in the history of Buddhism in America might also want to check it out, because the sixteenth Karmapa (and many of his students) were and are a major influence in the U.S. For those populations, this is a five-star film. But it is not an introduction to Buddhism or anything of that nature, so as long as you know what you're getting, you will appreciate this very much (and may watch that Black Crown ceremony over and over!)
This is a documentary film about the Sixteenth Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpei Dorje, within the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. 'Karmapa' is the title for the head of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, one of four main schools. The sixteenth Karmapa lived from 1924 to 1981, and is universally recognized amongst Tibetan Buddhists, and particularly practitioners within the Kagyu school, as one of the most important and influential teachers of the modern age. He played an extraordinary role in the development of Tibetan Buddhism within the West, by traveling to the U.S. at the request of his student, Chogyam Trungpa, and conducting the sacred 'Black Crown' or 'Vajra Crown' ceremony for thousands of people.
In Recalling a Buddha, interviews with those who studied with or knew the Karmapa are entwined with historical commentary, photography, and documentary footage of him to create a complete history of his life and influence on the West. Many of those interviewed are now well-known within Tibetan Buddhism, such as Tenzin Palmo, one of the first western women to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun, and subject of the popular book by Vickie Mackenzie, Cave in the Snow: Tenzin Palmo's Quest for Enlightenment. The interviews cover both individuals' personal reactions to the Karmapa upon interacting with him, and events from his life history, including his exodus from Tibet in 1959.
The most fascinating part of the documentary for me was the footage of the Black Crown ceremony, performed by the sixteenth Karmapa. The Black Crown is a sacred hat and symbol of the Kagyu lineage. According to legend, in a prior lifetime the Karmapa attained one of the highest levels of bodhisattva-hood, and 100,000 dakinis created a crown from the hair on their heads and gave it to him as a gift. On the historical level, the crown is said to be a gift from a Chinese Emporer, who was able to see the field of enlightenment and power residing above the Karmapa's head, and had a physical replica of what he saw created.
The Black Crown ceremony is an empowerment and blessing ceremony consisting of prayer and chanting. The Karmapa places the hat on his head while reciting a mantra and meditating on the Buddha of Compassion, Chenrezig. It is said that anyone witnessing the ceremony has the opportunity to attain the first level of bodhisattvahood within three lifetimes. The sixteenth Karmapa performed this ceremony several times in the United States during his visits for thousands of people, and it is considered to have been a powerful transmission of the dharma in the West. Invaluable footage of one of these occasions is included.
Overall, this film will probably be of most interest to those already somewhat familiar with Tibetan Buddhism, and particularly those interested in the Kagyu lineage. Although anyone interested in the history of Buddhism in America might also want to check it out, because the sixteenth Karmapa (and many of his students) were and are a major influence in the U.S. For those populations, this is a five-star film. But it is not an introduction to Buddhism or anything of that nature, so as long as you know what you're getting, you will appreciate this very much (and may watch that Black Crown ceremony over and over!)
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
I had some similar thoughts (as some of the older commentators here) after watching the original version that came out a few years ago. This new release however is like day and night from the original one. Not only it has some incredible and never seen footage, the story flows very well. I truly enjoyed watching this movie and will watch it again many times in the future for inspiration and to feel just a bit closer to this magnificent being that he was.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
This is a wonderful documentary that gives us the rare opportunity to see and hear not only the XVI Karmapa but also many great Tibetan masters. Thank you.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A film I watch over and over
"Recalling A Buddha" is a film that does a marvelous job of helping the viewer to both feel and understand how the Sixteenth Karmapa was regarded in his own cultural context - by... Read more
Published 3 months ago by M. Mills
Incredible Original Content - Very Candid and Moving Interviews.
When I came across this film, I had little to no understand of the practice of Buddhism in the Americas, let alone any knowledge of Karmapa XVI. Read more
Published 5 months ago by steven a woodruff
this is beyond words
some of the footage on this video is priceless. my only Quibble is that it includes no footage of Lama Ole Nydahl. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Theo Buck
Unique document
Wonderful documents on one of the greatest budhist master of the last century.
I met him in France in 1977 and it's still one of the greatest spiritual experience of my... Read more
I met him in France in 1977 and it's still one of the greatest spiritual experience of my... Read more
Published on May 21, 2010 by Denis Cheret
Something important is missing
While I enjoyed many segments in this rare treat something important was missing. I can't understand that the director didn't include interviews with important students of the... Read more
Published on April 4, 2010 by G. Jaitt
very moving
This is a very moving and beautifully researched film about His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, especially for all those, who did not have the good fortune to meet Him. Read more
Published on March 15, 2010 by Hanna
Bliss
An amazing and thorough biography of a contemporary buddhist saint. To watch this movie is to experience a bit of the special presence of this special being.
Published on February 1, 2010 by Ed!
accutely inspirational
The provocative, insightful interviews from numerous Rinpoches and live footage of the 16th Karmapa are perfectly blended in this DVD to awaken a real experience of devotion and... Read more
Published on January 26, 2010 by Heather
Personal, practical, funny, and touching
I tend to shy away from "spiritual" movies, fearful that they will be syrupy. I was delighted to find that this documentary was not. Read more
Published on December 1, 2009 by K. Colwell
Extraordinary
Gregg Eller has hit a home run with this film! Extensive archival footage combined with interviews with several high lamas help to make this a must-see DVD for all Tibetan... Read more
Published on November 24, 2009 by Dirk K. Hoekstra
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