Buddha documentary PBS April 7, 2010

[David N. Snyder]

For those of you in the U.S.

http://www.pbs.org/thebuddha/

Narrated by Richard Gere.

[Ngawang Drolma]

Thanks David

[David N. Snyder]

For those of you who watched this (U.S. or parts of it can be seen online), what did you think of the documentary?

I thought there were too many interviews. I am looking forward to the Thich Nhat Hanh Hollywood movie, The Buddha, if it ever happens. There have already been many documentaries, I think to get the word out about Buddha, a top-notch Hollywood movie might do it.

[Laurazen]

I saw both parts last night. It seemed a straightforward retelling of the story of the Buddha's life, though the interviews contained some spin which, from my experiences at online Buddhist forums, I know would not sit well with all Buddhists and which represent a primarily western view of the dharma.

I personally didn't find it informative, but my husband, who knows very little about Buddhism, was clearly captivated by the story. It did explain some of the things I've tried to talk with him about-- some of the common misconceptions, such as practice is about bliss-following, and will solve all your problems. I didn't have a chance to talk much with him afterwards (I'm laid up with the flu and went back to bed) but thought it might have been a decent introduction to the Buddha's teachings for someone who isn't a practitioner.

[ball-of-string]

Laura, I hope you heal well and speedily from the flu.

Over all, it was pleasant to watch. I didn't hate it. I didn't learn anything from it, which was disappointing because I really am not all that knowledgeable about the life of Lord Buddha. I was a little confused about some of the people they chose for interviews. Especially the woman poet, who seemed to get A LOT of screen time. On one hand, her enthusiasm was admirable. But she made a lot of statements that equated her experience as doctrinal fact.

Sorry to those who had to suffer through my rants on other forums only to come here and see, "Oh, look, that Yankee bloke is ranting on again about that Buddha show."

[Stephen]

I watched this the other day and thought it was a pretty decent introduction. For how long it was, I thought it might touch on some of the details of Buddhism, but it didn't. Another good special of the same type was the BBC production "The Life of Buddha", in which a monk summed up the greatest treasure of Buddhism in two words: "Practice mindfulness".

[Namu Butsu]

I thought it was great, My wife and I are going to order a DVD copy. It really caught my wife's attention. She was mildly interested in buddhism, but the film actually caused her to go even deeper. Right now she chants OM Mani Padme Hum. I told her she can just do as she likes slowly but surely, and not make things into something that she must do.