Short Cut to Nirvana
I enjoyed watching Short Cut to Nirvana (directed by Maurizio Benazzo & Nick Day, 2005). I recommend this documentary particularly to anyone who has a connection with either Buddhism or India. Except for a few quick quirky camera shots at the beginning, I have no criticism about this film.
It made me feel present at this event of enormous proportion. From a Western point of view, I think it was just as alien as the trailer suggests. From a Buddhist point of view, witnessing this event is important. And now we can thank the directors of this film for bringing it to us.
Buddhists in general should enjoy watching the Dalai Lama’s participation side to side with Hindhu leaders and numberless amounts of gurus whose acts vary between proving their feats of mind over matter (some in ways that totally surprised me) and peace-and-love messages.
The gurus claims to enlightenment and links to old traditions through physical feats reminded me of some differences between Hindhuism and Buddhism. The Dalai Lama also briefly reminds the audience of a main doctrinal difference between the two religious traditions.
But Short Cut to Nirvana is more than the above. It is a documentary were one can sit to watch this incredible pilgrimage with Felliniesque sites of color and sound and, just as in Fellini’s films (such as Satyricon), without judging.
It made me feel present at this event of enormous proportion. From a Western point of view, I think it was just as alien as the trailer suggests. From a Buddhist point of view, witnessing this event is important. And now we can thank the directors of this film for bringing it to us.
Buddhists in general should enjoy watching the Dalai Lama’s participation side to side with Hindhu leaders and numberless amounts of gurus whose acts vary between proving their feats of mind over matter (some in ways that totally surprised me) and peace-and-love messages.
The gurus claims to enlightenment and links to old traditions through physical feats reminded me of some differences between Hindhuism and Buddhism. The Dalai Lama also briefly reminds the audience of a main doctrinal difference between the two religious traditions.
But Short Cut to Nirvana is more than the above. It is a documentary were one can sit to watch this incredible pilgrimage with Felliniesque sites of color and sound and, just as in Fellini’s films (such as Satyricon), without judging.
posted by Eliseo at 6:40 PM
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