Buddhist/Zen/Dharma Movies and Documentaries

[Kyosei]

Hi everybody!

I've searched for a topic like this one here in the forum, and though I found some scattered here and there, I can't find no specific topics on this subject. So, I decided to open a new topic for indications of (Zen) buddhist or "zen-flavoured" movies, or even Dharma movies and documentaries, I guess it is great when we can find good movies about Buddhism/Zen, and, personally, it somehow motivates my practice even more and resonates in me and make me happy as a budhist.

Maybe it's a good thing to do with the local Sangha or sitting group or even during a more "informal" period on a Sesshin, I guess, and to do link to Dharma talks, studies, or only to chat about... :P

So here is a list of the movies I've seen so far. Hopefully I'll put its IMDB page and add some Trailers here too.

Please feel free to indicate the ones you watched and liked


** Buddhist/Zen/Dharma movies:

- Zen (The Life of Master Dogen)

Plot summary:
'Zen' Buddhist teacher Dogen Zenji is a very important religious person during the Kamakura period, 750 years ago. After his mother died, he decides to move to China and settle as a Buddhist teacher. One bright morning, enlightened, Zenji returns to Japan as a devoted evangelist of the 'new' Buddhism. However, this new form of Buddhism is not accepted in all communities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1156470/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring

Plot summary: A young and truth seeking boy travels to an isolated lake, where an old Buddhist master lives on a small floating temple.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374546/

Trailer:



- Why Has Bodhidharma Left For The East?

Plot summary: Three people live in a remote Buddhist monastery near Mount Chonan: Hyegok, the old master; Yong Nan, a young man who has left his extended family in the city to seek enlightenment - Hyegok calls him Kibong!; and, an orphan lad Haejin, whom Hyegok has brought to the monastery to raise as a monk. (...)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097195/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- Enlightenment Guaranteed

Plot summary: Two very different brothers get together for a temporary stay in a Japanese zen monastry. The trip from Germany to Japan brings up some unexpected quests they have to manage. Soon both really have to leave their ordinary lifes behind and are on a voyage to themselves.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177749/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- Samsara

Plot summary: A spiritual love-story set in the majestic landscape of Ladakh, Himalayas. Samsara is a quest; one man's struggle to find spiritual Enlightenment by renouncing the world. And one woman's struggle to keep her enlightened love and life in the world. But their destiny turns, twists and comes to a surprise ending...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0196069/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

Trailer:



- Kundun

Plot summary: From childhood to adulthood, Tibet's fourteenth Dalai Lama deals with Chinese oppression and other problems.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119485/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- Travellers and Magicians

Plot summary: The two men embark on parallel, if separate, journeys. Their yearning is a common one--for a better and different life. Dondup, delayed by the timeless pace of his village, is forced to hitchhike through the beautiful wild countryside of Bhutan to reach his goal. He shares the road with a monk, an apple seller, a papermaker and his beautiful young daughter, Sonam. Throughout the journey, the perceptive yet mischievous monk relates the story of Tashi. It is a mystical fable of lust, jealousy and murder, that holds up a mirror to the restless Dondup, and his blossoming attraction to the innocent Sonam. The cataclysmic conclusion of the monk's tale leaves Dondup with a dilemma--is the grass truly greener on the other side?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378906/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:


- Phorpa (The Cup)

Plot summary: While the soccer World Cup is being played in France, two young Tibetan refugees arrive at a monastery/boarding school in exile in India. Its atmosphere of serene contemplation is somewhat disrupted by soccer fever, the chief instigator being a young student, the soccer enthusiast Orgyen. Prevented by various circumstances from seeing the Cup finals on television in a nearby village, Orgyen sets out to organize the rental of a TV set for the monastery. The enterprise becomes a test of solidarity, resourcefulness and friendship for the students, while the Lama, head of the monastery, contemplates the challenges of teaching the word of Buddha in a rapidly changing world.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0201840/?ref_=nv_sr_4

Trailer:



- Milarepa

Plot summary: Milarepa is a tale of greed and vengeance - demons, magic, murder and redemption. It is the story of the man who became Tibet's greatest mystic.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499238/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- Un Buda ("A Buddha")

Plot summary: Un Buda follows two brothers orphaned as children when their parents were taken by the military during the "Dirty Wars" of the 1970s in Argentina. Tomas (Agustin Markert) is now a drifting and withdrawn young man who experiments with ascetic practices and has an instinctive compassion for others. His older brother Rafael, played by Rafecas, is a university philosophy professor, detached and alone. Their struggles with each other and the world around them in Buenos Aires take a dramatic turn when they find themselves at a rural Zen center.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428283/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- Little Buddha

Plot summary: Lama Norbu comes to Seattle in search of the reincarnation of his dead teacher, Lama Dorje. His search leads him to young Jesse Conrad, Raju, a waif from Kathmandu, and an upper class Indian girl. Together, they journey to Bhutan where the three children must undergo a test to prove which is the true reincarnation. Interspersed with this, is the story of Siddharta, later known as the Buddha. It traces his spiritual journey from ignorance to true enlightenment.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107426/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- Seven Years On Tibet

Plot summary: True story of Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountain climber who became friends with the Dalai Lama at the time of China's takeover of Tibet.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120102/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- Siddartha

Plot summary: The story of a young Indian who embarks upon a journey to find the meaning of existence. Based on the novel by Hermann Hesse.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070689/?ref_=nv_sr_6

Trailer:



- Master Of Zen

Plot summary: History of Bodhidharma
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109521/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer: N/A


- Rikyu

Plot summary: Legendary tea master Sen no Rikyu is faced with his warmongering lord's unrealistic pretensions.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098204/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



** Documentary:

- The Buddha

Summary: After 400 BC, a new philosophy was born in South east Asia, generated from the ideas of Buddha, a mysterious Prince from India who gained enlightenment while he sat under a large, shapely fig tree. Buddha never claimed to be God or his emissary on earth, only that he was a human being who had found a kind of serenity that others could find, too. This documentary tells the story of his life.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478841/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Trailer:



- Unmistaken Child

Summary: In Nepal, a venerable monk, Geshe Lama Konchog, dies and one of his disciples, a youthful monk named Tenzin Zopa, searches for his master's reincarnation. The film follows his search to the Tsum Valley where he finds a young boy of the right age who uncannily responds to Konchog's possessions. Is this the reincarnation of the master? After the boy passes several tests, Tenzin takes him to meet the Dalai Lama. Will the parents agree to let the boy go to the monastery, and, if so, how will the child respond? Central to the film is the relationship the child develops with Tenzin.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286798/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- Amongst White Clouds

Summary: A journey exploring the practices of Chinese hermits living in the Zhongnan Mountains.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1270080/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- The Life of Buddha - BBC

Synopsys: A BBC/Discovery Channel co-production, this docu-narrative film describes the life of Siddharta Gautama, the process by which he arrived at the fundamentals of Buddhism and the archaeological findings confirming the traditional accounts of his life. In addition it also gives a glimpse of Buddhism today and features interviews by the Dalai Lama and other notable Buddhists.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1039902/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Full documentary:
N/A


- Sit - (Short Documentary Film on Vimeo)

Synopsys: A film about purpose in life, seen through the eyes of a Buddhist monk and his son.

Full documentary:



- The Zen Mind

Summary: (from Youtube): This is real zen. It is a journey across Japan from the small zen centers of Tokyo to the enormous zen monasteries of remote mountains. It is a look inside the very private world of the zen mind - the mind searching for enlightenment. The superb Shakuhachi flute is by Christopher Yohmei.

Trailer:



- Shobogenka

Summary: (translated from youtube): Master Kosen Thibaut and his commentaries on the Shobogenka. The documentary "Song Of The Dharma Eye" ("Shobogenka") reflects the zen teachings at the Shobogenji temple, where the master Kosen comments one of the foundamental texts of Zen, the Song of The Immediate Satori ("Shodoka") from master Yoka Daichi.

Full documentary:



- El Canto Del Dragon

Summary: (in spanish) Documental por Joel Daguerre y el Maestro Kosen
Desde Europa hasta Latinoamérica descubra la esencia de la enseñanza del Maestro Kosen, sucesor del Maestro Deshimaru y 83 patriarca en el linaje del Budismo Zen
Un viaje hacia el corazón de una sangha contemporánea...

Full documentary:



- Buddhist Life: The Story of Gudo Nishijima Roshi - YouTube

Summary: (From youtube): Mid-90s documentary about the life of Gudo Wafu Nishijima Roshi.

Part 1 (Of 4) - You can find the other parts in sequence



- Words Of My Perfect Teacher (I liked so much the soundtrack!)

Storyline: A filmmaker sets out make a film sbout her Tibetan Buddhist teacher, meets all kinds of interesting people who tell their version of what suffering is. Things aren't as much fun as she thought it was going to be. But she learns a lot about herself in the meantime.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387694/

Trailer:



- Soto Zen Docummentaries:

SOTOZEN Buddhism


Soto Zen Buddhism, Daihonzan Eiheiji


Soto Zen Buddhism, Daihonzan Sojiji



** Some Dharma allusions in:

- The Matrix

Plot summary: A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- The Razor's Edge

Plot summary: He had everything and wanted nothing. He learned that he had nothing and wanted everything. He saved the world and then it shattered. The path to enlightenment is as sharp and narrow as a razor's edge.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087980/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Trailer:



- Groundhog Day

Plot summary: A weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/

Trailer:



Peaceful Warrior

Plot Summary: A chance encounter with a stranger changes the life of a college gymnast.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438315/

Trailer:




Enjoy!

Gassho

Marcos

#SatToday

[Kyotai]

This is my favorite "zen" movie. It is called The Peaceful Warrior.

[Myosha]

Hello,

Thank you for the link.


Gassho
Myosha
sat today

[Jakuden]

Wow thank you, this is amazing! Maybe it can be made a sticky thread?
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Seishin]

Wow thank you, this is amazing! Maybe it can be made a sticky thread?
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday

Excellent idea for a sticky Jakuden. At some stage in the future I would certainly be interested in finding the documentaries listed - when I am a little further down the Path.

[Kyosei]

This is my favorite "zen" movie. It is called The Peaceful Warrior.

Ah, indeed Kyotai! I watched this one too! You know, sometimes it is hard to remember all we seen. I'll put this one in the list. Thank you for sharing!

Gassho

Marcos

#SatToday

[Kyotai]

Ah, indeed Kyotai! I watched this one too! You know, sometimes it is hard to remember all we seen. I'll put this one in the list. Thank you for sharing!

Gassho

Marcos

#SatToday

Your more then welcome.

Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Washin]

Awesome collection. Thank you for sharing, Marcos.
The Peaceful Warrior is a great movie indeed. Watched it twice.

Gassho
Washin
st

[Enjaku]

Thanks for sharing Marcos, much appreciated.
Look forward to checking some of these out.
Gassho,
Alex
Sat

[Marie]

I enjoyed "How To Cook Your Life".
Trailer:

Gassho,
Marie
sattoday

[Sekishi]

Hi all,

Thank you for starting this thread Marcos, and for all of you for participating. I have found significant value in many of these films (from a practice standpoint, and sometimes from an artistic standpoint). I am particularly enamoured with "Why Has Bodhidharma Left For The East?". It is beautiful. It is long. It is largely silent. There are scenes that just lodge in the mind and resonate.

Anyhow, some of these films are available via streaming services or youtube-rips, some not (or not in all regions of the world). Some are easy to get on DVD or Blu-ray, some not.

I was wondering what folks thought about creating an informal Treeleaf Lending Library / Inter-Sangha Loan system.

So I'm just throwing out ideas here... feel free to chime in.

I have some of these films on DVD and/or Blu-ray and would be willing to donate to the cause. I have a suspicion others at Treeleaf would as well. My wife owns a mail-order business (which I help out with from time to time) so we could help out with shipping supplies and logistics stuff.

Rough idea:

- I collect the various DVDs at my place, and put the DVD cases in storage (along with a label of who donated the disc in case they want it back some day) - we will only ship the disc, not the case.
- I work out a shipping envelope for the disc (not unlike those red Netflix envelopes) that would keep shipping costs down (particularly when sending internationally) and is (ideally) re-usable.
- We start a thread with a list of Dharma related DVDs that are available.
- If you would like to see one of the films, add your name to the bottom of the list under that film.
- When someone finishes a film, they put it back in the envelope, and send it on to the next person on the list.
- When someone receives a film, if the envelope is not in a re-usable state, post on the thread and I'll mail a new envelope to them.

Other thoughts:

- For some people, international exchange rates / shipping costs may be excessive, so could we make it possible to send these "postage due" (e.g. if you sign up for a disc, you might have to pay for it depending on who is sending it to you). Dana...
- We could keep costs down by allowing folks to skip down in the list and send the disc to someone else in their country.

I'd love to do this with books too (between my own collection, and the one at our local Sangha I have access to hundreds of Dharma books), but the shipping costs would be MUCH higher for international shipping.

Anyhow, thoughts? Good idea? Stupid idea? Too difficult?

Gassho,
Sekishi

#sattoday

[Kyotai]

It's a good idea. I may use it now and then. As you said, likely some logistical issues. Perhaps we could have a North American "librarian" and a European one.

Need to keep in mind dvds that are not region free.

I would donate the movie that I recommended if this takes place.

Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Kyosei]

Hi all,

Thank you for starting this thread Marcos, and for all of you for participating. I have found significant value in many of these films (from a practice standpoint, and sometimes from an artistic standpoint). I am particularly enamoured with "Why Has Bodhidharma Left For The East?". It is beautiful. It is long. It is largely silent. There are scenes that just lodge in the mind and resonate.

Anyhow, some of these films are available via streaming services or youtube-rips, some not (or not in all regions of the world). Some are easy to get on DVD or Blu-ray, some not.

I was wondering what folks thought about creating an informal Treeleaf Lending Library / Inter-Sangha Loan system.

So I'm just throwing out ideas here... feel free to chime in.

I have some of these films on DVD and/or Blu-ray and would be willing to donate to the cause. I have a suspicion others at Treeleaf would as well. My wife owns a mail-order business (which I help out with from time to time) so we could help out with shipping supplies and logistics stuff.

Rough idea:

- I collect the various DVDs at my place, and put the DVD cases in storage (along with a label of who donated the disc in case they want it back some day) - we will only ship the disc, not the case.
- I work out a shipping envelope for the disc (not unlike those red Netflix envelopes) that would keep shipping costs down (particularly when sending internationally) and is (ideally) re-usable.
- We start a thread with a list of Dharma related DVDs that are available.
- If you would like to see one of the films, add your name to the bottom of the list under that film.
- When someone finishes a film, they put it back in the envelope, and send it on to the next person on the list.
- When someone receives a film, if the envelope is not in a re-usable state, post on the thread and I'll mail a new envelope to them.

Other thoughts:

- For some people, international exchange rates / shipping costs may be excessive, so could we make it possible to send these "postage due" (e.g. if you sign up for a disc, you might have to pay for it depending on who is sending it to you). Dana...
- We could keep costs down by allowing folks to skip down in the list and send the disc to someone else in their country.

I'd love to do this with books too (between my own collection, and the one at our local Sangha I have access to hundreds of Dharma books), but the shipping costs would be MUCH higher for international shipping.

Anyhow, thoughts? Good idea? Stupid idea? Too difficult?

Gassho,
Sekishi

#sattoday

Why don't buy or rent a virtual disk (like Dropbox) and create a virtual library there? I guess it would be more efficient and aligned to the use of "electronic means" as we usually do.

Of course, there is the matter of legality. But I guess even to share DVDs there may be legal issues...

Gassho

Marcos

#SatToday

[Myogan]

I would suggest a pass it on lending library. Rather than sending it back to you, the person who had it last, mails it to the next one wishing the item.

Sharing DVDs is legal, but creating a digital copy would not be if the original is still in the hands of the person who made the copy.

I also encourage getting a library card and taking advantage of overdrive.com and hoopladigital.com ,both accessible with a public library card

[Sekishi]

Why don't buy or rent a virtual disk (like Dropbox) and create a virtual library there? I guess it would be more efficient and aligned to the use of "electronic means" as we usually do.

Of course, there is the matter of legality. But I guess even to share DVDs there may be legal issues...

Hi Marcos,

While I'm unclear about the legality of sending around discs, I'm pretty clear about the illegality (in the US) of setting up a streaming server. It would almost certainly be a violation of copyright and we just could not do that.

Gassho,
Sekishi

#sattoday

[Sekishi]

I would suggest a pass it on lending library. Rather than sending it back to you, the person who had it last, mails it to the next one wishing the item.

Agreed. In case I wasn't clear, I was definitely thinking it would be a "forward to the next person on the list" thing.

Gassho,
Sekishi

#sattoday

[Myogan]

Not zen but a good film, Dhamma Brothers

[Sekishi]

After discussing this more with Erin, meeting with our local Post Master, and spending some time on the USPS web site, here is what I discovered about international shipping. The short version: fairly expensive (around $12 USD).

- Assume:
- Large envelope (DVDs cannot legally be sent as letters because they are media)
- They must be considered "rigid" (discs cannot be bent, so use a different conveyor system than flexible envelopes)
- Under 0.5 lbs
- Less than 1/4" variation in parcel thickness

- Priority Mail International® Small Flat Rate Envelope (and all other envelopes) - faster, with tracking
- US (Virginia) > Canada (BC): $23.95 USD
- US > Mexico: $29.95 USD
- US > Japan: $30.95 USD
- US > UK: $32.95 USD
- US > Germany: $32.95 USD
- US > Ireland: $32.95 USD

- First-Class Package International Service - slower, no tracking
- US > Mexico: $11.50 USD
- US (Virginia) > Canada (BC): $11.75 USD
- US > UK: $13.50 USD
- US > Germany: $13.50 USD
- US > Ireland: $13.50 USD
- US > Japan: $13.75 USD

And thats what I know for now.

Gassho,
Sekishi

#sattoday

[Kokuu]

Great list, Marcos. Thank you!

Out of interest, Words of My Perfect Teacher is taken from the name of the central dharma book in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, written by Patrul Rinpoche.

Spring, Autumn, Winter, Summer... and Spring and Amongst White Clouds are two of my favourites. The latter can often be found on You Tube and is inspired by the book Road to Heaven by Bill Porter.

Others I have enjoyed include Brilliant Moon (featuring the life of beloved Tibetan Nyingma teacher, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche) and How To Cook Your Life (about Edward Espe Brown the tenzo of Tassajara Zen Center and directed by the director of Enlightenment Guaranteed, Doris Dörrie). Kung Fu Panda also deserves an honourable mention as does Star Wars (Yoda was based on Tibetan teacher Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche).

Yugen recommended a Japanese film to me a while ago which he felt has a considerable dharma message but I have yet to see (although I imagine Byōkan has!) - Red Beard, directed by Akira Kurosawa.

Gassho
Kokuu
#sattoday

[Kyonin]

Hi guys!

First of all, thanks to Marcos for compiling the list. Most of these movies I have seen, but I will get to the ones I didn't even know existed!

And Sekishi, please count me it. Thank you for the initiative

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[Kokuu]

I have the Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring DVD and would be happy to put in circulation. Don't know if it is problematic that it is European region DVD?

Gassho
Kokuu
#sattoday

[Geika]

Amongst White Clouds is on YouTube, and I have had Treeleaf's communal copy of Enlightenment Guaranteed for a long while, so I can send that along, but probably more easily after the holidays...

Gassho, sat today

[Kyosei]

Hey friends!

I just found a really FAR more extensive list of Buddhist movies on the Elephant Journal website.

Some links are broken, but at least there are the movies names.

Though comprehensiveness was not one of my stated goals when I offered the “Five Great Films about Buddhism” post a couple of days ago, a reader nonetheless commented that I had “missed a tremendous number” of titles. This reminded me that I had attempted a comprehensive list last year at my blog. Though I certainly cannot claim that this actually is a comprehensive list of films explicitly about Buddhism, it’s the best I can do with the resources for research at my disposal. Reader additions/suggestions are most welcome.

And just so we’re clear: What follows is a list is of all the significant narrative films and documentaries I can find that are specifically about Buddhism. This does not include films like The Matrix or Groundhog Day, which could be considered Buddish, but are not explicitly about Buddhism.

[One note: Like the IMDb, I have tended to use titles in the language of the country in which it was originally released. Thus, The Cup is listed as Phörpa; Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring as Bom Yeoreum Gaeul Gyeoul Geurigo Bom; Enlightenment Guaranteed as Erleuchtung Garantiert; and so on.]

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/...dhism-attempt/

Gassho

Marcos

#SatToday

[Kaisho]

This list is great Marco. I am a great film lover so this made my morning and gives me lots of options.
Thanks
SeaChel
Sat2day

Sent from my LGLS675 using Tapatalk

[Ongen]

Ok so this might sound weird, but the Kung Fu Panda series actually do hide a lot of wisdom in their jokes. Especially Kung Fu Panda 3 is worth watching with a different eye!

Gassho
Ongen

Sat Today

[Tokan]

I haven't read all of the replies in full, so please forgive me if someone has already said this, but at least some of these are available free to watch on youtube

[Washin]

..Master, do you know where India is?

..It is in my heart

Here's the link to a good film I enjoyed watching today.
Xuan Zang (2016. English subtitles)

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=Lk7FkBnFvE0

Gassho
Washin
st

[Robaato]

What a great list! Thank you for your hard work. I didn't know that there was a movie about Bodhidharma. I've recently watched Brad Warner's Hardcore Zen documentary. It's available on vimeo.com for $ 3.99.

[Meian]

It's a child's film (Disney-esque), but I adored Kubo and the Two Strings. More Shinto than Zen, I suppose, but I loved the story, it stayed with me.

Gassho
Kim
Sat today

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

[Jundo]

I found this, have yet to watch all of it (will this week), but it is another Chinese language '(with interesting English subtitles) flick with some budget restrictions on special effects and a little Kung Fu on the life of our heralded Sixth Zen Ancestor in China Hui-Neng, the illiterate layperson and kitchen worker who became our Head Honcho ...



Seems closer (a little) to the traditional legend than the two rather similar more Kung Fooey Bodhidharma movies that are out there ...

History of Bodhidharma


Master of Zen


Anyway, they are all (especially the Bodhidharma films) hoots.

Gassho, J

SatToday

PS - Master Bodhidharma ... who brought Zen to China and sat in a cave at Shaolin temple for 9 years ... is said to be the same "Bodhidharma" who brought Kung Fu to Shaolin temple. IT'S TRUE! (I mean, it's true that folks say that ... cause actually little is known about the historical Bodhidharma, and most of the stories and legends about him in the Zen world too are later inventions!) Here is a Bodhidharma Kung Fu action figure that's around ...



But the legend of a Bodhidharma/Kung Fu connection only developed many hundreds of years after Bodhidharma had lived. As Andy Ferguson writes in "Zen's Chinese Heritage" ...

"[S]tories linking Bodhidharma to Chinese martial arts, or gongfu, have no historical basis. No evidence exists of any relationship between Bodhidharma and Chinese Martial arts beyond their common connection with Shaolin Temple. A millenium separates the time of Bodhidharm's residence a that temple with the first mention of his supposed link to the martial arts. Thus, the story of this relationship must be seen as a relatively modern invention"

Here is more historical information on the origins of the Bodhidharma-Kung Fu connection ... or lack thereof:

http://www.historum.com/blogs/ghoste...dhidharma.html

[Sekishi]

Ok, I'm going to derail this discussion just momentarily to say that the Triad Bodhidharma figure is amazing!
https://www.manofactionfigures.com/p...ure-triad-toys

Ahem. I'll just let myself out.

Gassho,
Sekishi

#sattoday (with collectable figures from Totoro, Hikaru no Go, Star Wars, Legend of Zelda, etc.)

[Mp]

Thank you Jundo for the Sixth Zen Ancestor in China Hui-Neng video, it is great .... plus I do love the audio sounds of those old movies. =)

Gassho
Shingen

s@today

[Fredrik]

Great list by Marcos! I'll try to watch the films on the list that I have not seen.

I LOVE the Bodhidharma action figure!

There are a lot of movies set in the Shaolin Temple, but they usually focus on kung fu and not so much Buddhism. One of my favorite kung fu movies are "The Shaolin Temple".



"Based on a semi-true story of how Shaolin monks rescued the first emperor of the Tang dynasty, The Shaolin Temple was not only Jet Li’s cinematic debut but also the first martial arts epic made in mainland China since the Communist takeover. The film was instrumental in introducing wushu to film fans around the world. However, its most important impact was the reinstatement of the cultural value and historicity of Shaolin Temple."

[Aurkihnowe]

been meaning to order this, but have so far spent my money on vices im trying to get under control...oh! theres another motivator!

http://www.kanzeonthemovie.com/

also, not overtly buddhist, but this filmaker deserves a look: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_Reggio

and, the maker of samsara made a follow-up called baraka...

thanks to this thread i can do without netflix or redbox for awhile

gassho

richard

s@ 2day

[Troy]

Thank you for this list


•sat2day...合掌

Troy

[Tomás ESP]

Great list! I have watched many of these, but a recent movie that blew my mind was Kung fu Panda. I feel like many ideas in the movie are in sync with Jundo's teachings on Shikantaza an it's key ingredient of trust.

Gassho, Tomás
Sat&LaH

[Kokuu]

Great list! I have watched many of these, but a recent movie that blew my mind was Kung fu Panda. I feel like many ideas in the movie are in sync with Jundo's teachings on Shikantaza an it's key ingredient of trust.

There is no secret ingredient!

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Tomás ESP]

There is no secret ingredient!

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

Gassho, Tomás
Sat&LaH