Skip to content

Dharma Documentaries

Dharma. Culture. Ecology.

Menu
  • Dharma
  • Culture
  • Ecology
  • Archives
  • About
Menu

Path to Enlightenment, 1/4

Posted on May 30, 2014August 21, 2015 by Dharma Documentaries
The first of four drama films on the Life of the Buddha and his main disciples, covering the period from the ascetic practice to the establishment of the Bamboo Grove (Vietnamese with English Subtitles)

Path-to-Enlightenment-1

I have watched a number of film adaptations of the Buddha’s life, and most of them disappoint to be frank, focusing mainly on the drama of his decision to go forth and ending with his Awakening, which for many of us is just where the real story begins.

This series of films from Vietnam is way out ahead of the rest, in that it intersects the Buddha’s story with that of his disciples, and the Awakening happens with the first hour, after which we move on to the Dhamma teaching and further episodes.

The films have been made by the Hoang Phap Mopnastery in Ho Chi Minh City, in cooperation with the Nghiep Thang Studios, and the only complaint I have is with the subtitles, which are very poor in places.

The first film covers the story of Sariputra and Maudgalyayana, two young men seeking the truth in various teachers and teachings, who find what they are seeking in the Buddha and his Dhamra.

A sub story is of Kasyapa and Bhadda, who are a married, but celibate couple. They give away all they own, and Kasyapa becomes a wandering ascetic.

The Bodhisatta’s own story is then covered when he is seen practising extreme austerities along with the group-of-five. He eventually realises that this is not the way, and taking solid food, first strengthens his body, before heading for the Bodhi Tree.

There he fights off Mara and his cohorts and becomes the Buddha. Afterwards he is requested by Brahma to teach for the benefit of mankind, and he joins his former companions, now at Rsipatana and gives his first teaching.

He then moves to Gaya, where he meets with Uruvilva Kasyapa and his fire worshippers, who are here portrayed as follows of Zoroastrianism (they were Brahminical Fire worshippers), who also convert.

Afterwards we see him arrive in Rajagrha and meet up again with King Bimbisara and receive his first monastery the Bamboo Grove. The film closes with outside ascetics getting increasingly neglected and plotting the Buddha’s downfall.

As you can see from the plot, there are many interwoven stories, most of it based on the early texts, and quite accurately portrayed. I will show the remaining parts in subsequent weeks.

 

if this video is no longer available please leave a comment so I can update the page
(the comment is not published)

 

to see an album of stills click here

 

TAGS:
Culture, Buddha Biography, Dhamma, Disciples, India

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Comments do not appear straight away, but are moderated before publication

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Subscriptions

Follow our Facebook Page Follow our Tweets Subscribe to our Feed

Subscribe by Email

Email


Shortlink and QR

https://dharma-documentaries.net/b/2qi

Donations

This site has taken more than a dozen years and 1000s of hours to build, and has 800+ documentaries on it. If you would like to help, you can do so here. Even small amounts make a difference.

or Bank Transfer to:
Mr. Ng Choon Aun, Public Bank Berhad (Malaysia), Acc. No. 6352323912, Swift: PBBEMYKL

Copyright

If anyone has any copyright claims please contact me at dharmadocus@gmail.com and the posts and films will be immediately removed.

Top Ten Tags

Theravada
Mahayana
Vajrayana

India
Silk Road
China
Tibet

Arts
Lectures
Rights

Popular Posts

  • The Freedom of being a Buddhist Nun
  • Bright and Shining Mind in a Disabled Body
  • The Leshan Giant Buddha Statue
  • The Silk Road Series 7/16: Khotan-Oasis of Silk and Jade
  • David Eckel: Buddhism 3-4 of 24
  • The Tibetan Oracles
  • The Mountain Yogi, Lama Govinda
  • Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar: The Untold Truth
  • Indian Roots of Tibetan Buddhism
  • Avalokiteshvara (Chinese Movie)

Recent Posts

  • Passage to Buddha (Hwaomkyung)
  • In the Footsteps of Wonhyo
  • The Children of the Buddha
  • The Heirs of Genghis Khan
  • Morin Khuur, the Mongolian Horse-Head Fiddle
  • Taiga, the Last Nomads of Mongolia
  • The Wizards of Myanmar
  • Buddha’s Lost Children
  • Zen Buddhism – In Search of Self
  • Why Has Bodhidharma Left for the East?

Random Posts

  • Indiana Jones 15, The Guardians of Dunhuang
  • Why Has Bodhidharma Left for the East?
  • Iraq in Fragments
  • The Story of Buddhism 06, Masterpieces of Buddhist Art
  • Lost Oasis on the Silk Road, Parts 7-9
  • Anagarika Dharmapala
  • Eminent Buddhists 3-4, Yijing and the West Market
  • The Day India Burned: Partition
  • Bhutan 3, The Legend of Tiger’s Nest Monastery
  • King Bhumibol of Thailand, The People’s King

Related Posts

  • Path to Enlightenment, 3/4
  • Path to Enlightenment, 2/4
  • Great Minds 4, The Buddha
  • Path to Enlightenment, 4/4
  • The Life of the Buddha Animation Film
  • The Story of Buddhism 01, Path of Compassion
  • Unheard Voices and Notes to Myself
  • Bodh Gaya, the Seat of Enlightenment
  • Bodhi Gaya, The Sacred Land of Buddhahood
  • The Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha
© 2023 Dharma Documentaries | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme