Synopsis: Martin Scorsese's magical mystery mandala on the life of the Dalai Lama is a visually exhilarating, spiritually ambitious film that goes where Scorsese has never gone before.
Starring: Gyurme Tethong, Philip Glass, Robert Lin (II), Sonam Phuntsok, Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Tsewang Migyur Khangsar
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
more spiritual than Seven Years in Tibet, and more foccused into the early life of the 14th Dalai Lama, and his fight against Chinese invasions. its a remarkable achievement by Scorsese, and those who seen the qatsi trilogy, the hand of Phillip Glass is very recognizable here.
This was a very interesting movie. It was based on a true story of the life of the 14th Dali Lama. It started out with people searching for the reincarnation of the 13th Dali Lama. They found him by searching villages and testing children by having them pick out things that belonged to them in their past life. He succeeded. After turning 18, he is announced the 14th Dali Lama.
During his life, and in the past, China had tried to claim Tibet as it's own territory. As the movie progresses, China goes from knocking on the door of Tibet, to a full blown assassination attempt on the Dali Lama. All during the movie, the Dali Lama was faced with decision after decision about whether or not to go to war with China. Since he, and Buddhist in general, are peaceful, non violent beings, he decided not to declare war on China. Over the years, he had to endure the suffering of his people. The attacks on monasteries, the death of monks and nuns, and eventually the Dali Lama had to escape to India to avoid assassination.
The movie related to world religions by showing us how even in the eyes of war, the Tibetan Buddhist, the Dali Lama, did not give in to the need of war in order to save the lives of many of his countrymen. Instead, he chose the peaceful route. He stuck to the teachings of the Buddha.
Kundun is the biographical story of the fourteenth Dalai Lama. It is about a young boy, about three or four years old, and his family who live in Buddhist Tibet and how the visit from a monk changes their lives.
Kundun is a demanding little boy. At the table he demanda to sit where his father is sitting, at the head of the table. During the meal he demands that the story of his birth be told again. It is during a visit from a monk, who is traveling Tibet in search of the reincarnated Dalai Lama, that Kundun, in his demanding way, tells the monk that he wants his string of beads because they are his.
The monk returns to Kundun and his family. He gives Kundun a test. On a table he lays several objects, glasses, bells, etc. Some of the objects belong to the Dalai Lama. If Kundun is the reincarnated Dalai Lama as the monk assumes, then Kundun will pick only the objects that are his. Kundun would pick up some objects and others would just look at. It was with Kundun picking the brown cane (there was a white cane and a brown cane) that the monk and the group that was traveling with him acknowledged Kundun as the reincarnated Dalai Lama.
Kundun as well as his family were taken to the monastery Potala in Lhasa that Kundun could start his interse training in the teachings of Buddha. It was here at the monastery that Kundun also began learning about the affairs of state. As Dalai Lama, not only is he the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people but also their political leader. He was four and a half years old when he was formally installed as the fourteenth Dalai Lama.
He governed the Tibetan people with a deep understanding of the teachings of Buddha. Teachings such as The Four Noble Truths: 1) There will be suffering during one's life, 2) Desires cause suffering, 3) If desires stop then suffering stops and 4) The Noble Eightfold Path.
He lived and governed by the principles of Buddha he believed in The Noble Eightfold Path. This consist of: 1) right understanding, 2) right motives, 3) right speech, 4) right action, 5) right livelihood, 6) right effort, 7) right mindfulness and 8) right meditation.
He maintained this belief even as communist China began to invade Tibet in 1950. He took a non-violence approach in his meetings with Chairman Mao.
Eventually, after realizing that he was not going to be able to get China to acknowledge Tibet as an independent country. He took the advice of his close counal to escape Tibet. One evening in 1959, with a full moon as their only light, the Dalai Lama and a few monks and trusted advisor escaped from Tibet into India. the Indian government had promised assylum for the Dalai Lama and his followers that came with him.
Even though the movie ended with the Dalai Lama entering India at checkpoint 102, he is still in exile in India. In India he has established a government to help govern Tibet in Dharamsala in the Himalayas.
by: Samantha Cockman
This movie, Kundun setting happens in Tibet and is the story of the 14th Dahlia Lama. His orginal name was Hamu which means the Protector, he was born at dawn in Tibet. He was born typically in the same was as Lama Osel in my eastern site visit paper with no crying. On the day Kundun was born two crows flew on top of his house. The regent Rennington was the first to discover him and was later replaced and died in jail. Kundun picked up a bell, drum and glass as they observed him to see if he was really the real reincarnation of the 13th Dahlai Lama. He was a very smart child and even from the beginning of the movie you could tell the difference between him and his brothers, almost as if he was destined for greatness from the begninng. He was carried to another place to be further observed and I thought it was funny when he snaggled tooth unwrapped the 13th Dahlia Lama's teeth and said these are my teeth. I was sad when he had to leave his family becuase I feel like even if you have this calling on your life that it is unfortunate that you have to abandon your family even to serve a greater purpose. That's probally why I am not reincarnated. lol The 13th Dahlia Lama died a year before Kundun was born. While he was becoming a teenager Chinese communist were trying to take over Tibet he was put in a diffiucult situation. China ended up invading Tibet five years later. Kundun wrote a letter to President Truman trying to get help for his country at the same time he lost his father. He really showed a true test of suffering because he lost someone close to him at the same time he was going through the Chinese invasion. He kept saying that he did not want to react violently even though they threaten his country and his life. After his Enthronement his prime ministers suggested that he leave Tibet. At the Enthronement he was offered the Eight Auspicious items. He met with the Chinese dictator who told him that he religion was poision to his people. Kundun did not disagree or agrue with him because he really to me represented what peace was. At the Dungkhar Monastory he said that he wanted to go back home to protect his people. His trusted prime ministers decided to resign and he agreed. With no support from the United Nations, he met with a religious man and asked his new closest regent what to do. His regent told him the truth about what was happening in his country. He found out that his nuns and monks were for to fornicate in the streets and young children were forced to murder their parents. For the first time in the movie, Kundun cried. It was the first time in the movie that he showed expression. I believe it was because he felt sorrow for the people that were loyal to him and there was nothing he could do about it. He returned to Tibet to protect his people and they were being slaughtered for who they were. The Chinese wanted to end the rule of Kundun because he was afraid of the power Kundun had. Kundun wanted to have peace and live peaceably. His only option to save his life was to flee to India. I could only imagine how he felt because I could not imagine someone forcing me to leave the only home that I ever knew and the people that were so loyal to him. Kundun, refused to fight and decided to flee. During the night, him and some of his men dressed in soliders uniform fled to India. By watching the movie I could see the internal stress he was experiencing during this journey. His dreams were more and more violent and his internal suffering I believe contributed to his illness journying to India. I really enjoyed watching this movie because it depicted a person who endured so much for the sake of peace. I do not know of anyone who would have experienced what he went through and react non-violently as he did. It explemfied the true meaning of wisdom and compassion for others. He arrived at the border of India and to date has never returned back to Tibet. He escaped with his life but had to be without so many things. Martin Scorsse did an excellent job directing this movie and I would recommend this movie to anyone.
Kundun is a movie about Buddhism. It takes place in Tibet which is right beside China. There is a young boy; he is about five, when he is recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama. He is the Buddha reincarnated. Even as young as five this boy knew that he was Lama. He goes through all the teachings and grows up to be a highly respectable Dalai Lama. China comes in and wants to take over Tibet. They claim that they have always owned Tibet and Tibet as always been a part of China. Dalai Lama faces many hard and degrading experiences as he tries to live a life free of harm and still run his country.
Kundun relates very well to living religions. It talks about the rebirth of the Buddha and the Dalai Lamas. The book explains all of these things too. He has to learn the four noble truths, take them seriously, and live by them. It talked in the living religions book about having the left over bones and/or teeth of the Buddha. In the movie they had the teeth from the 13th Dalai Lama. They teach him at a young age that he has to have compassionate for all living things. This is expressed in the book, I think that all Buddhist have to have compassionate for all living things to stay true to their religion. People gave pretty gold offerings to the Dalai Lama in the movie. In the book it talks about giving flowers, fruit, water, light and things of this sort to the Buddha. Another difference I seen according to the textbook Living Religions is that Buddhist believes in cremation. In Kundun when the 14th Dalai Lama?s father passed away they cut him up, after paying their respects to him, and feed him to birds (vultures). I am not sure why they did this. As a young boy the 14th Dalai Lama was trying to still eat pork and eggs. His brother says to him do not eat pork it will hurt your brain. According to the book Buddhist are supposed to be vegetarians. In the movie Buddhist where eating pork, eggs, and other meat. It really shows the way of the Buddhist in a better aspect.
Martin Scorsese?s film Kundun that lacks compassion and sympathy as it tells the story of some of the most oppressed people in the world. It tells the story of the fourteenth Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of Tibet.
Starting in the 1930s, the story shows how they went to a remote village to discover the little boy they decided was the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. When watching the film it is hard to believe that this little boy who still bickers with his siblings will one day be a leader. But to make sure that this is who they have come to see a test is given to see if this boy really is the reincarnation of the thirteenth Dalai Lamas. Several items belonging to the previous Dalai Lama are laid out before the boy alongside some other items. The child is asked if he recognizes any of the items as his own. The boy picks correctly, proving that he is the new, and the old, Dalai Lama. After that the boy and his family are taken away from their village and brought into their own house and their own servants. The boy is raised as the reincarnation of the Lama's spirit and the future leader of a nation. The movie goes on and tells the life story of the leader I particularly like how the story is told because it is told from the point of view of the Dalai Lama. It is not a movie made for beauty but rather information.
The movie is related to world religion in that it tells the story of one of the most spiritual leaders of all times. His spirituality in itself is the definition of someone that is in touch with their religion. And Kundun is a very big part of the Buddhist religion.
This was a very interesting and informative movie and I would really use this as a teaching tool for world religions and world history.
The Kundun is a movie based on the life of the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama, which means The Presence, is the leader of the Tibetan society and culture. The movie beings with lamas (known today as monks and nuns)disguised as servants, whom are looking for the next Dalai Lama. They discover a promising contender. The child is born to a poor herding family, whom live in a Tibetan village near the Chinese border. This chronology begins in 1937 when the child is at the age of two and a half years old. The two and a half year old is named Tenzin Gyatso, whom already had sensed his destiny. The little boy is given a test, in which he must select different objects from the monks, that belonged to the previous Dalai Lama. He passes the test. He and his family are then moved to the capital city, Lhasa, where he is taught education and spiritual training. In Lhasa, at the age of four, he is taught as a monk, whom is separated from the rest of the world, and is defined head of state and of the Tibetan culture.
When he is fourteen, the Chinese lead by Mao Zedong , invade Tibet conquering the area which the once claimed. Explaining that they would like to re-incorporate it into the motherland. Mao asks Tenzin to meet him in China, were he is told that his being there is not needed. Mao tells Tenzin his perspective of the religion, he explains that the ?religion is poison? and the Tibetans that believe it are ?poisoned and inferior?. He returns to Tibet only to find out that the Chinese are planning on killing him. He then consults with his prophet, by then he acknowledges the he needs to flee Tibet, before he is killed. Since the flee of Tibet he has not returned.
The movie kundun starts of with a little boy named kundun. He first experiences a test by some monks to see if he was the next true Dalai Lama. This test was to see if he could recognize some items from the last Dalai Lama. In there culture the Dalai Lama goes through reincarnation and is reborn again. When the boy kundun recognizes the items from his previous life they take him to the head quarters where all the Dalai Lama live. As kundun become of age he learns more and more about his destiny and accepts the responsibility. Tibet where kundun is living is facing hardship because china is trying to take over. The people of Tibet begin to become angry with kundun, with him being seventeen he is somewhat afraid to start leading the people. Afraid that he would make the wrong decisions. He does start to take charge in running Tibet and with that he send out some of his people out to various places to convince them Tibet is and independent country so they will not be able to be taken over by china. There comes a time when Kundun goes to china and review what they are planning to offer. He realizes that they have a lot in common the Tibet and the china and they biggest issue is they are trying to modernize Tibet. Even when they combine with the china, they still start war and start killing the Tibet people. He faced with the difficult decision to either stay in Tibet a risk being killed or to move to India where there are friends there. This is a good movie if you what a somewhat insight in to the life of a Dalai Lama and different religious beliefs.
I liked this movie because it helped me to understand the indigenous tribes belief. They believed that Kundun would continue to be reborn and is very similar to Buddha. Kunduns resposiblity was to free the world of problems and worries. Each Dalai Lama is reborn and expected ot gain something and pick up from where the last one left off. each Dalai Lama was strong and didn't believe in violence. Kundun did believe that we bring on our own suffering and to relieve our selves from this we must look with in ourselves for the answer. I like this move because it has a realistic and understandable point of view. It is simple the less we do wrong, the less we will suffer from our wrong doings. In this movie china tried to destroy or takeover the Buddhists religion because they felt religion was useless wiht out politics mixed with it. But china didn't modernize tibet's religion and it did not stop the Dalai Lama.
Un-Scorsese film and yet so devoted to his spiritual subject and embrace.Enlightening progress,lovely images and the most beautiful in the clear sense of the term film by that great and unpredictable U.S. filmmaker.Will the East influence more of his later work?
Bartola Lisbon Indigenous Religion. Sept. 6, 2008.
Kundan
This movie was facinating to me. I related to the path of Kundun, but the chanting and the large face protruding behind him unnerved me.
Following this path, I understood the Indigenous Tribes belief that one particular prophet which they call Kundun will continue to be reborn until the end of time. This one particular prophet is the human likeness of Buddah, who will take the cares and worries away of the world. Each Dalai Lama that is reborn has some form of memory from the previous Dalai Lama and each new Lama is to pick up where the other left off.
Notes, stories, pictures and tablets are left for the caretakers of the Dalai Lama and himself. That way, the young Dalai Lama is reared to incorporate his old knowledge with the new knowledge he will gain.
In a sense, Kundun reminded me of Martin Luther King in that both did not believe in violance. But with Kundun, it goes much deeper. the Dalai Lama, which means "Ocean of Wisdom" believes that we are the cause of most of our own suffering; we should look for the reason of our suffering within ourselves; to look within is to have confidence in ones own ability to end the suffering; then a wish arises to find the path to peace for everyone wishes and desire for their happiness and to find their purer self.
Because he is a monk, his world is bound by prayer and study, in order to find the path he tries to instill throughout his land.
I feel he is a bit higher in respects to Ghandi (which is another subject), but the Dalai Lama is moe like a spiritual Emporer, whereas Ghandi fought non-violance for the rights of the people.
I would recommend this picture because of the fundamenal aspect of this movie, which is all to much of truth. If we learn not to do what is wrong, we will not suffer as much in life. Once you find what the problem is and fix it, you can move forward in helping others. It's just a path of right or wrong, will it harm you or hurt you. Do you want to be happy or sad. Choose the path that helps not hurt.
Buddahist too are a proud culture. In this picture I found that they would not give up their culture for modern religion. They fought with everything they had before they were raided by China.
Here, China's modern religion tried to destroy Buddahist religion. China stated that religon was no good and that religion and politics needed to be mixed in order to work effectively. China also felt they had to save Tibet from themselves because they were behind in the times.
China felt strong arming would work, but the Buddahist did not believe in violance. Unfortunately they were overtaken physically by China.
Here we see again that the Western Civilization has to have its way. It seems that nothing is good enough for the Western Religion unless they have a hand in destroying it. They forced China to bow down by assisting China with an addiction of Opium (as stated in the movie). Once addicted, the Western world was able rule. Then China turned around and destroyed Tibet.
However, though capturing Tibet, China did not modernize Tibet's religion, nor did China seize the Dalai Lama. Though the Dalai Lama has not returned to Tibet, he will live again.
A film I have been wanting to see for quite some time, purely on a spiritual level and because I have an attraction toward Tibet.
I feel I have learned a few things from this film, but at the same time I found it a little boring - which was a little disappointing.
The film, directed by Scorsese, was made well and I'm sure resembled the facts as a true story, it just wasn't as insightful as I had hoped it would be.
it tells hwo the dalai lama really was found and how he struglled to keep tibet her country safe from the chinese and it also tells some of the abilities the dalai lama have
Want proof that there are times that even Martin Scorsese is highly underrated? Watch his beautiful take on the life of the Dalai Lama then. I'll admit it's not Scorsese's best film (Ranging Bull will always be my favourite.) This near perfect film proves that Marty can do just about anything he wants and it will still be great.
Scorsese's experimental art film is years ahead of its time. Compelling, enigmatic and visually stunning. (You also can't go wrong with Phillip Glass.) It doesn't preach buddhism, it helps you experience it.
Kundun takes place in Tibet and it begins with some lamas looking for the next Dalai Lama. They stumble upon a child born to a poor family on the Chinese border. They give the boy a test and he passes the test and he and his family are brought to Lhasa. The boy is trained for the day he will become the next Dalai Lama. The boy struggles with his new role but he matures and takes a more active role as a religious leader. The Chinese Communists invade Tibet and tries to claim the lands as their own. Tibet asks for help from neighboring nations without any intervention. The Dalai Lama eventually learns that the Chinese intend to kill him. He consults his prophet and makes an escape route. The Dalai Lama flees Tibet and has not returned.
Kundun the movie has Buddhism all throughout it. It?s a story of finding the next Dali Lama and his struggles as a spiritual leader. The movie shows scenes of statues of Buddha and how the Buddhist practice meditation rituals.
Kundun the movie is where I got my information from.
Rebecca Smith
World Religions
Movie Review
Kundun Movie Review
The movie begins with a young boy in a small village who is playing. He is approached by a group of Monks. The young boy, Lhamo Dhondrub see?s the rosary around one of the Monks neck and asks for it. This rosary was a belonging of the thirteenth Dalia Lama that had just passed. It is said that the Dalia Lama goes through the birth and rebirth cycle and is the same person each time. That is why the Buddhist Monks are in search of the young boy. Surrounding him, the Buddhist Monks begin asking the boy what each of the items they have are. The Monks are waiting patiently to see if the boy is the reincarnation of the Buddha of compassion. If he is this said Buddha, then he is destined to lead the Tibetans. This child is destined to be the fourteenth Dalai Lama. He correctly guesses what each item is and he even is able to tell one Monk what monastery he is from. The Monk?s said no more and rushed the boy off to the palace so he could begin his quest to becoming the fourteenth Dalai Lama. Unfortunately the boy?s family could not continue on with him, however they were reimbursed and are able to live a better lifestyle. Before any training could become underway, Tibet becomes invaded with Chinese soldiers. China believed that they needed to suppress the Tibetans and un-annex the country and bring it back to the ?motherland?. The Dalai Lama was urged by all to flee Tibet to save himself. As he was leaving for his journey he decided to stay because he thought he should stay with his people. The Dalai Lama initially tried to follow the rules set by the Chinese. They even ventured to Beijing where they talked to a Chairman. No matter what the Dalai Lama did they could not escape the Chinese control. A decision was made to flee Tibet because they could not continue on with their ministries under the Chinese rule. Without help from other government they had no choice but to flee.
The movie relates to World Religions in many ways. One being that we are studding Buddhism and the Tibetan Buddhism is a highly known branch. The Tibetan?s were faced with many problems mainly the Chinese. Other governments turned their heads as the Buddhist followers left to find a better place to reach enlightenment. Secondly, we learn about the Dalai Lama and the importance he has over Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama represents peace and happiness. That is his goal, to shower the world with love and affection. His words are spoken so softly but have a lasting affect on people. Once he does speak the wisdom of many years? shines through. The Dalai Lama should be important to any religion because of the peace and compassion he relinquishes.
Kundun is a movie that tells the story of the 14th Dalai Lama. The story begins with a monk searching for the reincarnation if the 13th Dalai Lama. The monk finds the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in 1937 when the boy, Kundun, is only two years old. The boy proves his reincarnation by showing a group of men things that he said were his. The objects belonged to the 13 Daila Lama, and the men were very happy to see Kundun choose the correct objects. The boy remains with his family for another two years, and then at the age of four he and his family are taken by the monks to be trained to become the 14th Dalai Lama. The movie shows Kundun growing up and learning about the world and his calling in Buddhism. The movie shows Kundun's fears and abilities as a leader throughout his life. Kundun is to become the Dalai Lama once he turns 18, but due to the Chinese invasion or liberation, as the Chinese called it, of Tibet he assumed his post before his 18th birthday.
The movie showed how the 14 Dalai Lama delt with the Chinese coming into his country. The Dalai Lama always possesed an inner peace and a childlike expression on his face that emulated the beliefs of Buddhism and their non-violent ways. He tried to deal with the Chinese by letting them come into his country and appease their demands. Once the Dalai Lama realized that the Chinese were committing atrocities against the non-violent people of Tibet he was deeply saddened. With no army to defend the people, he wrote letters to other leaders of the world to try to save his country. The leaders of the other nation's did not come to help the Tibetan people. Originally, the Dalai Lama was determined to stay in his country. Ultimately, he agreed to exile in India after seeing that he would be assasinated if he did not leave.
This movie relates to world religion in showing how one nations religious beliefs, Tibets, ultimately cost them their country. Their beliefs of non-violence made them the perfect target for China to invade for their land and consume resources. It is sad that a nation of such peaceful people are not left alone to practice their religion and continue their cultural beliefs. Greed and power play a large role in politics. Politics could benefit humanity by embracing some of the beliefs in Buddhism of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
MCT:September 26, 2008
MCT:June 11, 2008
MCT:December 5, 2007
MCT:November 9, 2008
MCT:October 19, 2008
MCT:June 26, 2008
MCT:May 7, 2008
