TLDR: Barbie embarks on a cinematic adventure echoing Buddha’s path, delving into suffering, change, and the journey to inner peace.
In the 2023 release of “Barbie”, the iconic doll embarks on a journey that resonates with Buddha’s own journey and his teachings. From the concept of suffering to non-self, impermanence, and overcoming ignorance, the film subtly presents these themes in a relatable way.
Here are 6 moments you might have missed while looking at Ken’s abs or hearing truth bombs at the end of the movie.
*Obvious Spoiler Alerts*
A blend of Buddha & Barbie Cr: Google Images
#1 From Barbieland to Buddha: An Unexpected Journey
The film begins in a utopia called Barbieland, where Barbies live a life of blissful ignorance. Similar to the story of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, Barbie’s world is picture-perfect.
However, a burning query about mortality during a disco party shatters this illusion, propelling her on a journey beyond the confines of her plastic paradise.
“Do you ever think about dying?” – Barbie
This pivotal question echoes the Buddha’s exploration of life beyond the protected walls of his royal existence, where he encountered sickness, old age, and death. Buddha shares his realisation neatly in this sutta about old age.
“Why this laughter, why this joy, when the world is constantly burning, why, when enveloped by darkness, do you not seek for a light?” Dhammapada 146
#2 It does not last
Barbie’s perfect routine of waking up fresh, getting fake fresh milk, and having heels start to fall apart when the human-to-doll connection darkens. She starts to experience ageing and even bodily pains (anyone in their late 20s and beyond put your hands up?)
“Every day is the best day ever, and every night is girls’ night, from now until FOREVER!” – Barbie
Barbie’s ‘permanence’ narrative falls apart faster as she ventures beyond the plastic world (she tries to choose ignorance by opting for the pretty shoe instead of Birkenstock, but obviously takes the Birks upon intense nudging)
Barbie: “I never wanted anything to change!”
Gloria: “Oh honey, that’s life, it is all change”
This echoes what Buddha talked about change as one of the 3 sufferings that all beings experience in his First Noble Truth. Buddha shares that suffering can be caused by:
1) Pain (Dukkha Dukkha) experienced when spraining your ankle.
2) Mental formations (Sankhara Dukkha) experienced when you think/ judge/angst over what should/shouldn’t be done when spraining the ankle and how unfair it is to have it sprained before your wedding
3) Change (Vaparinama Dukkha) is experienced when we do not want things to change and it changes anyway. It is the painful craving of being unable to control permanence.
#3 Ken’s Identity Crisis & realisation of non-self (sort of)
Ken’s struggle with his identity mirrors the Buddhist teaching of attachment to self. This attachment, according to Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, often leads to suffering. Ken’s journey reflects the Buddhist understanding of non-self and interconnectedness.
“Who am I if I am not Ken?”
This crisis of identity and the eventual acceptance of his intrinsic worth without attaching to a particular identity reflects the Buddhist teaching of letting go of attachment to self to alleviate suffering.
The moment Ken realises he doesn’t need to be tethered to the idea of ‘Barbie & Ken’ but just ‘Ken’ unlocks his attachment to control. He can finally be himself.
Of course, the film doesn’t delve deeper into Non-self. I can’t imagine moviegoers going through the teaching of non-self in a light-hearted movie.
Buddha expounds non-self through a series of questions to the five disciples. Here is one line of questioning for us to understand a glimpse of nonself.
In this example, he questions that if we had a real, full self, we would be able to command it. Failing which, how can we call this ‘me’? You can read the deep sutta here. Definitely deeper than Ken’s realisation.
“Bhikkhus, form (body) is not-self. Were form self, then this form would not lead to affliction, and one could have it of form: ‘Let my form be thus, let my form be not thus.’ And since form is not-self, so it leads to affliction, and none can have it of form: ‘Let my form be thus, let my form be not thus.” – Buddha
#4 Placing your happiness in others
Barbie has a great day every day, but Ken only has a great day if Barbie looks at him. -Narrator
Ken waits for Barbie to notice him and feels awful when it doesn’t happen. He is even jealous of other Kens who get her attention. We see this evolve into toxicity as Ken builds his entire actions based on pleasing one lady.
The act of placing all of our happiness in one person who is subjected to change, ageing, sickness, and death sets us up for future unhappiness.
The Buddha encouraged us to seek within and not without for contentment. Noting that the world is ultimately unreliable. (How many bestest of friends have we lost since we ventured into the work-life?)
To cultivate stillness and peace alongside our Kalyana Mittas (Spiritual friends) is ideal as one slowly becomes at peace in the presence of oneself. With no one to prove.
“Searching all directions with one’s awareness,
one finds no one dearer than oneself.
In the same way, others are dear to themselves.
So one should not hurt others if one loves oneself.”
Stepping into the real world, Barbie’s journey becomes an awakening. She confronts suffering, particularly as a woman, as she experiences sexual harassment and criticism for creating unrealistic standards of beauty. This is a reflection of the first of the four noble truths in Buddhism – the existence of suffering. The world is not satisfactory
Ruth Handler, the real-life inventor of Barbie and co-founder of Mattel, serves as a mentor in the movie. She educates Barbie about suffering and the human experience, mirroring the role of a Buddhist teacher guiding disciples through the path of wisdom.
“The world is full of suffering. That’s part of being human.” – Ruth Handler
Of course, it is bleak if we stop there. If suffering is part of being human and we couldn’t do anything about it…we will all be pretty sad creatures scampering across our lives.
Zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh, shares that we shouldn’t fear suffering but rather fear that we do not have the methods to deal with suffering. The Buddha’s 8 fold path is one superb way of dealing with suffering. We just need to apply it.
“We try to transform suffering into something good. Even a lotus flower needs mud in order to grow. It can’t grow on marble. You have to recognize that there is a close connection between suffering and happiness. If you run away from suffering, you cannot find happiness. On the contrary, we should try to identify the roots of our suffering. Only then can we gain understanding and cultivate compassion.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
#6 Feel to Heal: Embracing Emotions
One of the most poignant moments in the film is when Ruth encourages Barbie to feel. This invitation to experience all emotions, including pain, resonates with the Buddhist practice of mindfulness, wherein one is encouraged to fully experience one’s emotions without judgment or aversion.
This reminded me of Buddhist teacher Tara Brach’s RAIN meditation method. This method encourages us to feel the difficult emotions in our lives in a mindful way.
You may read more about it here and try it in the article as well!
Conclusion
“Barbie” (2023) takes viewers on a journey of self-discovery, suffering, transformation, and enlightenment, mirroring the teachings of Buddhism. Through its characters and narrative, the film encourages viewers to reflect on their own understanding of life, happiness, and self, embracing the impermanence of life and the journey towards self-realisation.
Wise Steps:
Reflect on how we can find Dhamma moments in our entertainment; there are opportunities to tie Dhamma to the drama we consume
Where are we putting our happiness right now? Is it mostly external? Or the internal?
TLDR: Meditation retreat can give the impression of being a restricted period. Keeping an open mind, one may be surprised by the depth of learning from the experience – in our own external behaviour and internal reflection.
I had an opportunity to attend an 8-day meditation retreat at Wat Marp Jan in Rayong, Thailand in February. It is a serene forest monastery following Ajahn Chah’s tradition located southeast of Bangkok, headed by Ajahn Anan. It’s the second meditation retreat I’ve attended (the first was with Ajahn Brahmali in Batam, Indonesia just a few months prior) and I credit this chance to the ripening of merits accumulated 🙂
This second retreat is totally different for me. Both Venerable Ajahns have their own styles of teaching and the environments were different too. Considering retreatants were housed in the dormitory within Wat Marp Jan compounds, one can expect to have a front-row view of certain aspects of monastic life.
I’d like to share some memorable experiences at Wat Marp Jan, or perhaps as encouragement for others who are considering such a retreat. As it is a rather long reflection, the article would be presented in two parts: Part 1 on external observation and Part 2 on internal observation.
Change in the external environment
Arriving at Wat Marp Jan, the females were dropped off at the female dormitory just below the Eating Hall. The dormitory was simple, but clean and tidy. Retreatants were to keep noble silence throughout the period for a more supportive practice. This included surrendering mobile phones for safekeeping at the beginning of the retreat period.
Keeping silent is not new to me, a practice that I’ve come to enjoy occasionally to bring calm to the mind (side reading for those interested in understanding the quiet ones). This was the longest period that I’d kept silent, and it may turn out to either be a boring or restless period.
This may very well be the case if one hasn’t developed stable concentration or if the mind contains many defilements.
My mind floated between quiet and noise initially, but it was probably an overall supportive environment for me. With no distraction from mobile phones and unnecessary chatter, a general sense of peace arose.
Physical sensation
Having a history of physical injury, I was quite apprehensive about whether the living conditions (we slept on a very thin mattress on the floor) would trigger the old lower back pain. Aches did surface throughout the week, but fortunately, it was bearable and could be alleviated with regular stretching exercises during daily personal time.
The daily schedule consisted of meditations, chanting, Dhamma talk, and personal time. The depth and intensity of the practice may be determined by one’s choices.
Although the meditations were more suitable for practitioners with some experience, as they were self-directed. Of course, one can choose to sit for multiple shorter sessions if that’s more appropriate for their situation.
There were times when guilt and shame surfaced: “Why can’t I sit as long as the others?” But eventually, I accepted that this was where I started and I could only continue from there. I tried to use the bodily sensation as a meditation object: the aches are a result of the body’s condition, not something I can control. It helped to lighten the mind during practice.
I’ve always enjoyed meditating out in nature. Knowing this condition, I fully utilised the opportunity during garden meditation and walking meditation during the personal time – where I experienced deeper concentration.
While I couldn’t control the outcome, I could still find a more supportive environment to support the sitting.
Where one is highly likely to settle in peace – like the little monk Cr: The Author
Bowing
Bowing is a regular activity for Buddhists. It’s common practice to bow to the Buddha statue when we enter the hall; to Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha during chanting; to the teacher before and after a Dhamma talk; to a more senior monk after a meditation session; at any time to express a sense of respect.
One may think that if they need to bow multiple times in a day, bowing could turn into an automated mindless activity.
Eating hall where day activities were held Cr: Author
Before this retreat, I used to find the act of bowing to the Buddha statue awkward — not quite sure how deep to bow, where to keep my hands, and how long to remain bowing. Strangely, I experienced bowing in a new light this time. For me, it has turned into an expression of gratitude, humility, and reverence.
The simple act of kneeling and lowering my head to the floor turned into a ritual of entering into the space, calming myself down, and truly expressing my gratitude. I am now more mindful of the meaning behind this ‘automated’ action.
Chores
Chores or cleaning around the monastery was also a daily occurrence. Four of us were assigned to the public toilet by the monastery gate. I was gladly surprised by the respect and good attitude of the lay visitors who used the facilities with care. The conditions were as good as or even better than typical public toilet facilities.
After a couple of days, the four of us found the best arrangement to complete the chores with little speech and quietly went about our roles.
Not many people will be particularly happy cleaning public toilets, but a light attitude can be felt by all of us.
Three of us even spent some time afterwards helping sweep fallen leaves in the entrance area. We found the act of sweeping a meditative one, not to clean the space but purely to sweep the leaves. We saw how the leaves would continue to fall even after we swept the area and we just needed to continue forward – like one of Ajahn Brahm’s famous quotes: “what’s done is finished” 🙂
Daily chanting
There were 2 chanting sessions each day, in the morning and evening. Morning chanting verses were quite fixed, while there were slight variations for evening chanting verses.
I realised that after each chanting session, the mind was more settled to continue into either meditation or Dhamma talk.
I particularly enjoyed the evening chanting in the main Uposatha hall, where I could feel the vibration of everyone’s unified voice and energy. Even the higher-paced and longer verses didn’t bother me much, the activity sent a jolt of energy into the body and mind.
Returning home, I registered for Wat Marp Jan’s evening Zoom session to continue this practice where possible. The energy level is muted by the distance, but good enough as an anchor for me to maintain the practice.
Summary
This is the first-half of my reflection on the retreat. It may spur readers to become curious themselves, or it may turn into a deterrent. Nevertheless, I hope it can serve as a consideration for those who would like to have some insights before making their decision.
Wise steps:
When there’s an opportunity to participate in a meditation retreat, trust the faith to guide us.
Keeping silent can turn out to be chaos or peace, it’s on us to cultivate supportive conditions for peace.
Reflecting on the purpose behind the small actions, we may find a deeper meaning to carry into daily life.
Vesak Day, or Buddha Day, is a sacred day for millions of Buddhists worldwide. It commemorates the day that Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and passed away. It gives us an opportunity for quiet reflection on Buddha’s teachings and the values of compassion, wisdom, and kindness.
It has evolved over time and brings different meanings to different people!
If you are trying to plan out your Vesak Day weekend in 2023 to bask in the spirit of Vesak, check out these 9 things you can do!
1. Plan your calendar for your temple-hopping!
Find an excuse to head out for the long weekend by visiting the many temples that are open. Use our directory to navigate the many online and offline activities. Who knows?
You might find yourself in the middle of a concert or a peaceful chanting session.
Your Vesak directory is right here, featuring over 60 activities of different Buddhist traditions from 1 June 2023- 4th June 2023!
2. Three steps, One bow
Photo Credit: KMSPKS
The three-step, one-bow ceremony is an expression of devotion and serves to lessen mental defilements or build virtue as one goes through the activity. This practice, which symbolically reminds us of the difficult but rewarding journey to enlightenment, has been passed down and has evolved into the 3-Step, 1-Bow we know today.
While tuning in to some peaceful Buddhist teaching (food for the heart), why not check out food for the body?
Check out food fairs organised by Buddhist Fellowship near Newton or spicy tteokbokki and takoyaki at KMSPKS’s Vesak Carnival
4. Help fill the stomachs of the needy
Unsplash
In the spirit of Buddha’s compassion shown to many beings, why not give back by volunteering at a Soup kitchen? You can choose to volunteer with Willing Hearts in multiple time slots and different tasks.
Visit nature places with your insect repellant to reconnect with nature by taking in the good vibes. Plug into the sound of nature to meditate or try one of the meditation audio guides! Check out our article on forest bathing!
We highly recommend botanic gardens, marina barrage, or a nearby park!
6. Clean up our ocean
We often think that giving means the gift of money. This Vesak, we invite you to rethink the idea of generosity! Volunteer with Youth Corps Singapore to help clean our beaches. Releasing wildlife harms the ecosystem, why not help marine life by cleaning our beaches? #seastheday
In the spirit of non-harming, why not go vegetarian? The possibilities are endless with vegetarian food. Check out our very own vegetarian affordable food guide!
TLDR: The Harry Potter series has demonstrated many different ways for us to cultivate immeasurable love to ourselves and other beings. Apart from learning different spells in Hogwarts, we can also apply our magical abilities to further strengthen our loving-kindness and extend the benefits of metta to the muggles and beyond!
“Expecto patronum!” I exclaimed as I garnered all the thoughts of loving-kindness (metta in Pāli) within me to cast my Great Grey owl patronus, wishing all sentient beings around and beyond me well and happy. As I get up from my seat cushion, I visualise my energy and joy restored – just as how the dementors are scattered to the four winds by my patronus charm, bringing back happy thoughts.The joy of peace hugs me.
Dementors are a type of soul-less evil creature and thought to be the foulest beings on Harry Potter’s planet Earth. They have the power to consume the happiness out of you, creating feelings of dejection and despair.
A dementor’s kiss, the kiss of death.
Some of us may forget what our first kiss was like. You’ll never forget being kissed by a dementor, however, in fact you’ll forget everything – instead of your saliva, the kiss sucks your soul, trapping its lovers forever, so deadly that it leaves its victim lifeless in a permanent vegetative state – a punishment worse than death.
A patronus charm is one of the most powerful protective spells and it’s also the main spell used to protect against dementors. The charm takes the form of an animal in which the caster shares a great affinity with.
It is an exceptionally complicated and difficult spell to produce, as it channels the caster’s happy emotions into a spirit guardian. A patronus drives away dementors due to its counterforce of immense positive energy.
Patronus equals Metta?
A patronus spell is the only way to protect us against a dementor. Initiating as a pure concentration of happiness, it conjures a spirit guardian that drives away dark creatures.
Likewise, metta is the direct remedy the Buddha recommends to counteract ill will. Metta bhavana, or loving-kindness cultivation, allows us to develop friendliness and spontaneous feelings of positivity, which is extended universally to all beings without discrimination or reservations.
This is one of many examples of how we can find similarities of Buddhist values in the stories of Harry Potter and his friends.
The Harry Potter series of books is one of the most widely read young adult fantasy series in the world; I’m sure that most of us have come across the story in one way or another. What can we learn and apply from Harry Potter? Quite a lot! The idea of loving-kindness features strongly in Harry Potter. Here’re some scenes you might have missed!
The magic of Metta
As mentioned at the beginning, the patronus spell is basically a form of loving-kindness meditation. So now the question is, how do you practise loving-kindness meditation? Just like how a great witch (me, haha) would cast her patronus, one must first muster happy sensations!
We first begin with the development of loving-kindness (metta) towards ourselves, wishing ourselves to be well and happy, to be free from physical and mental suffering.
I propose to take oneself as the first object of metta as true loving-kindness for others is only practicable when we are able to feel genuine loving-kindness for ourselves. How do we love others when we cannot even love ourselves, right? We can’t possibly pour from an empty cup! A lot of our anger and aversion directed towards others spring from the negativity we grasp on ourselves.
Hence, to grant access to the flow of friendliness and kindness outwards, we need to melt down the hardened scab embodied by negative attitudes. Once the feeling of metta kindles and fills us up, we can stretch it to others: shifting from our loved ones, to furry animals, and to acquaintances. We wish them to be well, healthy and happy.
As our patronus gradually takes its form and shape, we are ready to broaden it to people whom we are not agreeable with. Bit by bit, aversion and ill will, like dementors, won’t have room and will soon diminish in Azkaban, the detention facility for convicted criminals in the magical world .
The idea behind dementors
Interestingly, J. K. Rowling, Author of the Potterverse, mentioned that she used depression and self-hatred as a source material for dementors. Dementors are the very personification of our inner demons.
Self-hatred often comes with a heavy price tag.
It makes us perturbed, dissatisfied with life, or even depressed. Just like the dementors, self-hatred sucks the happiness out of us, leaving us feeling nothing but a sense of lack within.
What can we do at times like this? We can confront our self-loathing thoughts in a non-judgemental way by sending metta to ourselves. Metta involves being friendly and benevolent as opposed to being harsh and judgy. Ironically, many of us make incredibly harsh, cruel self-criticism that we would never have uttered to a total stranger, let alone someone we care about.
An opportunity to spend time with ourselves
Metta meditation gives us the opportunity to spend some time with ourselves. As we pay close attention and awareness to each moment, we can open our hearts to genuinely loving ourselves for who we are. We accept our foibles and imperfections.
By developing a calm and open state of mind, we can see ourselves and others more clearly and lovingly. We understand that other sentient beings are not much different from ourselves, each in search of happiness and steers clear of suffering.
We may, perhaps, be more inclined to find the courage to let go of the hurtful past.
Loving ourselves is the gateway to loving others.
Another component unravelled in the Potterverse is mindfulness. Just as Harry taught Dumbleldore’s Army how to fight off bad guys in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix where the kids had to fend for themselves against Voldermort’s death squad, your patronus can only protect you for as long as you stay focused.
When we aren’t mindfully aware of the suffering we are facing, we can’t give ourselves compassion. We are just repressing the pain or ignoring it, or being involved in the maze of problem solving..
We have to pause for a moment, admit and accept the torment. And we acknowledge that in this moment, we need metta for ourselves. We can’t be kind to ourselves if we refuse to face the distress.
By being mindful, we recognise that we are suffering. Being kind to ourselves in that suffering helps to reduce anxiety and related depression too.
What about the death eaters in our lives? What can we do?
Apart from identifying that cruelty to ourselves stands from distress and suffering from within, we may also discover that many people, whom we deemed as “profoundly wicked” or whose mission in life seem out to make us uneasy, are also in pain inside.
The all-time great wizard Albus Dumbledore saw through Voldemort past his icy snake-like skin and understood that Voldemort is in fact lonely and very much dissatisfied with his life. Dumbledore managed to grow his compassion in sight of such an “evil person”.
Dumbledore strongly believes it is more tragic to be alive and loveless than dead. Apart from pity, we could also turn this compassion into empathy: Voldemort was conditioned into the way he was.
Voldemort was, after all, conceived without love, his father abandoned his mother and him. Both his parents were unhappy and he spent most of his childhood in an orphanage as a loner. Even for someone as powerful and monstrous as he is, we could see that Voldemort was suffering.
In Potterverse, we notice that there are far more creatures other than humans that have magical ability. Likewise, in the muggle world, metta radiates beyond the human realm.
In the Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts, we saw how Newt Scamander, a magizoologist known for his passion for magical creatures and beasts, was delightfully fascinated by all creatures, even those that seem hideous to the normal eye, stretching as far as to describing them as fantastic. Newt feels extremely connected to all sorts of creatures and always defends them.
Leta Lestrange, one of the closest friends of Newt since their Hogwarts days, affirmed this by saying Newt has never met a monster that he couldn’t love.
We can learn to have a heart just like Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts, big enough to room any living creatures, no matter what it is. But how?
The Buddha was a strong proponent of non-discrimination, so shall our practice on metta be thus. Regardless of race, language, religion, gender, sexuality, etc, all beings deserve to be happy, to be free from suffering and to receive metta from us.
The Buddha has used many similes in his teachings to let us better understand and visualise his point. Buddha has shown us how a love similar to that of a mother’s love could be used to cultivate unbounded love for all sentient beings.
A mother’s love has been greatly emphasised in the Harry Potter series where Lily Potter literally embodied herself by using her own body as a shield to block off Voldermort’s Avada Kedavra death curse to protect her child, her only child.
As Dumbledore has repeated time and again, love is one of the most powerful forms of magic. This magic of love is also the main reason why Harry Potter is untouchable by the Dark Lord till the age of 17.
It is also through love, that Snape, a loyal death eater (did I also mention that it was him who was the spy responsible for informing the Dark Lord the prophecy foretelling Voldermort’s downfall and lead to the eventual death of Lily Potter whom he tried so hard to protect?!?!), betrayed the dark side and joined the path of righteousness.
The power of Metta
Learning from Voldermort’s defeat, we shall not look down on the power of metta. The Buddha reminded his disciples to not underestimate metta using the stars and moon’s radiance as an analogy:
Just as the radiance of stars do not match up to sixteenth part of the moon’s radiance, no one worldly merit is worth a sixteenth part of a mind released by loving-kindness. A mind that radiates loving-kindness and full of love glows and dazzles, shining brighter than a diamond.
There are a lot of takeaways from our daily mundane life regarding metta that we can reflect on. Even if religion is not involved, cultivating metta does no harm but let us be kinder and make the environment we live in a more bearable place.
May we continue to practice kind speech and actions to avoid hurting others and ourselves, cultivate right thoughts. With the right means, may we have compassion for ourselves and to those around us.
May we have the right effort and energy to walk the path of peace and pave the way for a happier, harmonious and suffering-free world filled with metta.
May we be a great wizard with a powerful patronus. And may we be well and happy. Because at the end of the day, “Yer a wizard Buddha, Harry!”
Buddhist Film Reviews is a partnership between HOL & THIS Buddhist Film Festival 2022 (3rd Sep 2022). THISBFF 2022 features 1 film this year for viewers to get a taste of 2023’s full film festival!
TLDR: A reluctant educator is sent to a ‘dark valley’, what will he learn? Will he find happiness there or does happiness await for him in a place like Australia?
Director Pawo Choyning Dorji explores the answer of happiness in a real-life inspired narrative and picturesque stills taken mainly in Bhutan’s Lunana, a remote village sitting on the Himalayan highlands along the Bhutan–Tibetan border.
The Dark Valley
Lunana, literally translated as the dark valley, is an eight-day hike from the nearest road. No electricity. No cellular data. Harsh cold winds. An isolated community of 56, Lunana is surrounded by the daunting heights of the Himalayan mountain range.
No wonder the main protagonist, Ugyen, a reluctant educator from Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, who so desires to migrate to Australia, finds it tough to accept a teaching stint to the children of Lunana, for them to be more than yak herders and cordyceps gatherers.
Weaving skilful cinematographic techniques with multi-layered storytelling, such as contrasting long shots of Himalayan mountains and close-up shots of character interaction, the film allows its viewers to experience humanity’s warmth that flows from a heart purified by Lunana’s vast pristine landscape.
Throughout every intentional juxtaposition of characters sprinkled with dashes of humour, Director Pawo guides us to witness Ugyen’s growth from a stuck-up young adult into a self-sacrificing teacher that “touches the future” of Lunana’s young generation.
Generosity in a material scarce land
Credits: THISBFF
As if the purity of Lunana’s land and its villagers’ humble hearts steeped into his, Ugyen learns how material scarcity distils into easy contentment and unwavering generosity.
The latter virtue is most impressionable amongst the Lunana villagers. We observe the giving of material comfort to a stranger, the giving of compassion towards an unappreciative city-dweller, and the giving of goodwill towards all beings through an offering of songs.
A yak in the classroom
Credits: THISBFF
The film’s recurring song, titled Yak Lebi Lhadar, has a heart-stirring tune that calls out the precious bond between a yak and his herder. In Bhutan, yaks are gentle creatures the highlanders depend on for fuel and meat.
Viewers soon learn of this song’s significance in the film when Ugyen had to leave this village of simplicity before winter.
From a receiver of Lunana villagers’ warm hospitality to a giver of hope and motivation to its children, Ugyen is seen to experience happiness in heart-warming moments as his generosity grows with the spirit of the highlanders.
But is this happiness limited to being in Lunana? Where else can Ugyen seek it from? Would Ugyen return to Lunana again for the following spring? The viewers beg to wonder.
This film reveals details at the most unsuspecting moments to form the dots for viewers to connect! If you intend to watch, give all your attention to the little nooks and crannies in the story. The answer to happiness awaits in your awareness.
Liked what our author experienced? Book your tickets right here!
Vesak Day, also known as Buddha Day, is a sacred day to millions of Buddhists worldwide. It commemorates the day that Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and passed away. It gives us an opportunity for quiet reflection on Buddha’s teachings and the values of compassion, wisdom, and kindness.
It has evolved over time and brings different meanings to different people!
After 2 years of muted celebrations due to the pandemic, this year’s May 15 will see practitioners gathering and celebrating it in different ways. If you are trying to plan out your Vesak Day weekend to bask in the spirit of Vesak, check out these 10 things you can do!
1. Plan your calendar for your temple-hopping!
Find an excuse to head out for the long weekend by visiting the many temples that are open. Use our directory to navigate the many online and offline activities. Who knows?
You might find yourself in the middle of a concert or peaceful chanting session.
The three-step, one-bow ceremony is an expression of devotion and serves to lessen mental defilements or build virtue as one goes through the activity. This practice, which symbolically reminds us of the difficult but rewarding journey to enlightenment, has been passed down and has evolved into the 3-Step, 1-Bow we know today.
While tuning in to some peaceful Buddhist teaching (food for the heart), why not check out food for the body?
Check out food fairs organised by Buddhist Fellowship near newton or spicy tteokbokki and takoyaki at KMSPKS’s Vesak Carnival
4. Help fill the stomachs of the needy
Unsplash
In the spirit of Buddha’s compassion shown to many beings, why not give back by volunteering at a Soup kitchen? There are multiple time slots and different tasks you can choose to volunteer with Willing Hearts.
Visit nature places with your insect repellant to reconnect with nature by taking in the good vibes. Plug into the sound of nature to meditate or try one of the meditation audio guides!
We highly recommend botanic gardens, marina barrage, or a nearby park!
6. Be a Buddy to seniors
Credit: IMDA
We often think that giving means the gift of money. This Vesak, we invite you to rethink the idea of generosity! Volunteer with YouthCorp SG & Healthhub to strengthen the digital literacy of our seniors by empowering them and reducing the waiting time at the polyclinics.
In the spirit of non-harming, why not go vegetarian? The possibilities are endless with vegetarian food. Check out this sleek guide to vegetarian food places in Singapore!
