Top Ten Movies for Buddhists

Finally I’ve finished my movie reviews!  I’ve been wanting to post this for awhile.  There are so many movies that demonstrate correct view and other spiritual principles in a fun way.  Here are some of my favorites.  Click on the links to see my full description!

Groundhog Day – spiritual concepts:  samsara and cyclic life

Matrix – spiritual concepts:  we create our reality, the world is a projection of our mind

Inception – spiritual concept:  the world is a projection of our mind

Ushpizin – spiritual concepts: prayer changes things, we create our own reality, consider the uses of adversity

Milarepa – spiritual concepts: overcoming obstacles, purification of negativities, anyone can become enlightened

What the Bleep Do We Know – spiritual concepts: conditioned responses and the physiology behind them, deceptive reality

The Truman Show – spiritual concept: deceptive reality

Kumare – spiritual concepts: intention is the most important aspect of spiritual growth. belief in the teacher is powerful, we all have the answers within us

Seven Pounds – spiritual concept:  bodhichitta

V for Vendetta – spiritual concepts: destruction of self, Kali/Ekajati, cessation of fear

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta portrays an aspect of spiritual v for vendetta movie coverdevelopment that is frequently overlooked and rarely embraced.  In many traditions, both Hindu and Buddhist, there are fierce deities that perform the job of removing obstacles.  Two such fierce babes are Kali and Ekajati (Blue Tara).  Some of the many obstacles that these two remove are complacency and deep seated fears and addiction.

If that little bit of wine you take at dinner every once in awhile keeps you comfortable and not growing spiritually, then they can create circumstances that turns that into a devastating addiction.  Or if your great job and comfy home has lulled you into inaction, Kali or Ekajati will be glad to take that job away for you.

In V for Vendetta Natalie Portman, our lead star, has suffered from anxiety most of her life, probably due, in part, to losses she experienced as a child.  Then through torture and trial she overcomes the greatest fear (fear of death) and becomes free.  It might have been thought she did not have what it would take to withstand her circumstances and stay in integrity, but she did.  And through her strength of will she tapped into an even stronger and more eternal sense of self.

It is when we lose attachment to things and then finally ourselves that we achieve true freedom.  As long as we are acting from fear of any sort we are chained.  As my favorite quote of the week says:

…swept along on four fierce river currents, chained up tight in past deeds, hard to undo, stuffed in a steel cage of grasping self, smothered in the pitch-black ignorance.

 Je Tsongkapa (Three Principle Paths)

Natalie’s liberation came because of a choice she made.  Eventually, due to that choice, and the actions that followed she was able to realize a cessation of fear.  This absence of fear (a major mental affliction for many of is) means that she actually realized a greater truth about who she is.

Your purchase through the above link helps support the work of TESLI.  Thanks!