the INNER PATH

Hi folks!

How are you doing?!

I am going to share some nice things today.

I attended  ' the INNER PATH - A Festival of Buddhist Films ', from the 1st to 3rd of June.

There were some wonderful films from Bhutan, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Korea, there was a China - Canada collaboration and a Japan - Canada one.

Please see ' Travellers and Magicians ' from Bhutan. It is a delightful story with technical finesse as the Director Khyentse Norbu learnt the ropes in Hollywood .
His other film is  ' The Cup ' which is well known and liked.

Just watching the misty hills of divine Bhutan in the background of this magical film is so, so calming!
The story connects today's aspirations and dreams with ancient wisdom and warmth.

I knew there would be some gems in the dialogues, so I had taken my notebook, and with the help of my cell (on silent mode ), I took down some .

Here's a great truth in 3 words -

Hope brings pain.


Wise words!
Because Hope carries expectations and attachments with it.
And attachment always brings pain.

There is another -

Revenge does not solve any problem. It only creates more.


We may not go with swords and arrows now, but many times, we give in to the temptation of barbed words and ill - will.
All our thoughts first create a deep impression on our own selves, then move on to harm / bless another, as the case be, leaving deep marks on our own spirit.
The choice is ours.

Now take this encouraging, simple truth -

You can't change your Karma but you can change your horse!


Your Karma is what you have yourself chosen to resolve, so it won't go away, but you do have complete freedom in choosing the mode of resolution.

Do watch this film.

The other Bhutanese film was on Milarepa, the 12 th Century Tibetan mystic whose life - story of revenge and change of heart to compassion are widely known.
He was a poet and many of his songs are still sung.
English translations are easily available and I have a book called ' The Song of Milarepa '.

Milarepa's Master under whom he is learning  magic to avenge the wrongs of his uncle and aunt,  gently advices him -

Enemies rise within your mind. Learn to control your mind.


So true!

' Amongst White Clouds ' was a wonderful documentary on the Zen Hermit Traditions deep in the isolated mountain ranges of China. These places and practices are said to be over 5000 years old .
They follow their traditions with complete, quiet conviction and are immensely wise.

Here is a gem -

Once delusion is extinguished, wisdom naturally arises.


No one would disagree with this, and not many would find it easy to acknowledge one's own delusions as such, leave alone extinguish them!

Here are more wise words from those beautiful mountains and calm souls -

When you leave the breath, you let go of the Universe.Why not from the start?! 


Enter the Jewel Mountain. Come out empty - handed.
This is truly priceless!

To digress a bit, this is what happens when you practice Vipassana and give away all the good vibrations at the end of it in Metta Bhavana or Loving Compassion, to get up both full and empty!


When ignorance is exhausted, we see our true nature.


Well!

Then there was the Argentine film called ' Un Buda ', ( 'A Buddha '), which was very, very engrossing.

It is a tale of two brothers and a Zen Master set in Argentina of 70s, but it resonates completely with today's times of dilemmas, confusion and insecurities.
It is brilliant and universal.
One can identify with both the brothers and the Zen Master's wisdom.

Do watch this film too, you will enjoy it.

Let me share some more insights -

Everyone is led by Control. Shed it.


Nature is a delusion.


Push hard, you get hardship! ( My favourite)!


See like a Buddha sees. Witness like a Buddha does.


Negative awareness is Hell. Kind awareness is Heaven.


There was a Sri Lankan film called ' Sankhara ' ( which means habit - patterns ) which used very few dialogues but powerfully showed how deep - rooted they can be.


There was an Indian - German film called ' Light of Asia ' on the life of Buddha with a few cinematic licences taken regarding his story but it was made in 1925 so they were excusable!

' Trishagni ' was the other Indian film about a monk and his dilemmas.

A great experience!

I hope you are lucky enough to catch these films. Many would be available on the net.

I am off for about a month now, so the next post will be after I return.

Be happy.

Meditate.

Smile.