Bodhi Gaya, The Sacred Land of Buddhahood

This is a fine documentary about Bodhgaya, the place where the Buddha awakened, and its significance in the Buddhist world.

The film includes a short illustrated biography of the early life of Siddhattha up and till he sat under the tree at the Bodhgaya site and attained full liberation.

It also include a history of the site, including Zuanxang’s association with the site, and lays special emphasis on its refounding by Anagarika Dharmapala at the turn of the 20th century.

The film looks at the ongoing work of the Maha Bodhi Society, including their outreach work amongst the poor, and the festivals that are held there including the Monlam.

There are interviews with various people including Ven Seevali, who was in charge of the Maha Bodhi Society at the time, and the 17th Karmapa; and also with visitors and people working at the various projects at the site.

The film also briefly visits some of the sites around Bodhigaya, including the site of the austerities, the Mucilinda Pond and the Nairanjana River.

Overall the film, while not as deep as it may be, does manage to get over that this is not just a historical site, but one that is alive and vibrant to this day, with devotees still walking the Path laid down by the Buddha.