This section of the Thai animation feature, Thus Have I Heard, tells the story of the weeks after Awakening, including the episode with the King of Nāgas, Mucalinda; the offering of medicinal fruit; the meeting with the merchants Tapussa and Bhallika; the decision to teach; the first discourse; the third discourse; the conversion of the Bhaddavaggiya, the Kassapa brothers and King Bimbisāra; and the appointment of Sāriputta and Moggallāna as Chief Disciples.
This five-hour animated film, which I have divided here into five sections, is probably the best Life of the Buddha feature film that has been made so far, being firmly based on the traditional stories in the Theravāda tradition, and giving enough space for the Buddha’s teachings to come through on full display.
The animation is very well-drawn, and the timing and direction are excellent. The only problem is the poor dubbing into English which could have been so much better if they had have employed people who knew the stories and Pāḷi. Still I really wouldn’t let that put you off as this is still far ahead of any of the other films made on the subject, and deserves to be seen far and wide.
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to see an album of screenshots click here