***MAY contain spoilers (in the broader sense)***
For those of you who are Buddhists, are interested in Buddhism from a layperson's viewpoint, or enjoy documentaries that showcase non-American culture(s), I would highly recommend "The Tibetan Book of the Dead". The crux of this film reflects the crux of Buddhism (Tibetan or not): Live knowing that you will die, and die a good death.
A "good death" in the context of this film is to recognize the various stages (bardos) at the moment of death, and for 49 days following--through the practice of phowa. This ritual is performed by a guru, monk or lama (or a practicing Buddhist with expertise and/or experience in performing phowa), using the script originally written by Guru Padmasambhava (who first brought Buddhism to Tibet), to help the dead achieve enlightenment, or if not, a precious human rebirth.
Leonard Cohen--singer/songwriter extraordinaire--narrates this film, and rightly so: In 1996 he was ordained as a Zen monk after practicing Buddhism for 20+ years, so he understands the significance of this topic. Additionally, his voice is beautiful and uniquely calm--respectful of the sacred nature of this topic.
Though parts of this documentary look as though they may have been "staged", my opinion is that this small Tibetan community allowed the cameras to capture a profoundly revered Buddhist ceremony for the benefit of all sentient beings everywhere.
For those of you who are Buddhists, are interested in Buddhism from a layperson's viewpoint, or enjoy documentaries that showcase non-American culture(s), I would highly recommend "The Tibetan Book of the Dead". The crux of this film reflects the crux of Buddhism (Tibetan or not): Live knowing that you will die, and die a good death.
A "good death" in the context of this film is to recognize the various stages (bardos) at the moment of death, and for 49 days following--through the practice of phowa. This ritual is performed by a guru, monk or lama (or a practicing Buddhist with expertise and/or experience in performing phowa), using the script originally written by Guru Padmasambhava (who first brought Buddhism to Tibet), to help the dead achieve enlightenment, or if not, a precious human rebirth.
Leonard Cohen--singer/songwriter extraordinaire--narrates this film, and rightly so: In 1996 he was ordained as a Zen monk after practicing Buddhism for 20+ years, so he understands the significance of this topic. Additionally, his voice is beautiful and uniquely calm--respectful of the sacred nature of this topic.
Though parts of this documentary look as though they may have been "staged", my opinion is that this small Tibetan community allowed the cameras to capture a profoundly revered Buddhist ceremony for the benefit of all sentient beings everywhere.