Reference
The film follows Tenzin Zopa as he goes through the countryside seeking out the reincarnation of his master for a few years. Featuring Tibetan Buddhist practices and ceremony that teachers may not be exposed to otherwise, this would be a good film for teachers to show to their classes as a supplement to any curriculum on Buddhism. Not only would it solidify any concepts the teachers may have already gone through with their class, but what the students see, such as the child playing with the toys of his past incarnation and seeing monks scoop out pearls from the teacher's ashes early in the movie (they are considered a sign of holiness in Tibetan Buddhism), will make the students indirectly confront how these beliefs and concepts play out in real life.
This film would be appropriate for children ages 13 & Up. There is no offensive materials, and actually explores themes of faithfulness, culture, and family as the film progresses. As a Tibetan Buddhist monk, Tenzin Zopa follows the teachings of “no birth and no death” and not being attached to other conditions or people (the former being a conceptual framework students of the 11th or 12th grade may learn in their Buddhist units). However, we see Tenzin saddened at the loss of his mentor, and apparent happiness when he goes out to seek his reincarnation. His reincarnate master is in the form of a toddler when found by Tenzin, and is therefore still under the care of his family. While the students may be a bit disconcerted at the fact that this small child is separated from his family, it is made apparent through the work of the documentarians that the Tibetan Buddhist monastic community is not lacking in familial warmth and compassion when interacting with each other. Thus, by presenting this documentary, not only will Tibetan Buddhism be presented in an “everyday manner” the students do not normally have the opportunity to witness, but it will bring about fruitful questions of how people of different cultures interact with their belief systems, and how that ties into the history of the situation and the current situations of individuals that are a part of this small section of the world. Even though Tibetan Buddhism is accepted as faith among the people that are seen in this documentary, students will be able to use the critical thinking skills they may have picked up when learning about various wisdom traditions from around the world to see how Tibetan Buddhism acts primarily as a social and cultural web that defines certain aspects of life in Nepal, and how it has influenced certain perspectives and traditions.
