A Shorthand to WISDOM OF HAPPINESS: We Review the New Documentary

Producers Richard Gere and Owen Moverman, in conjunction with the Walo Kamm Foundation, have joined together to bring us Wisdom of Happiness, a documentary narrated by Tencho Gyatso, aka His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. In a world of increasing tension and division, this achingly beautiful documentary is a salve for the times in which we live.

Introduction

Beginning with his own personal reflections on a life reared to greatness, His Holiness the Dalai Lama addresses the camera directly as he offers his wisdom to us. Recalling his youth, when he considered Chairman Mao of China a friend and father-figure, to the eventual invasion and occupation of Tibet which caused him to flee, Gyatso is affable, vulnerable, and sagacious. As anyone who has read the landmark 1998 book The Art of Happiness by Gyatso and psychologist Howard C. Cutler knows, His Holiness the Dalai Lama finds little difficulty juggling the ancient wisdom of Buddhism with the cacophony of the modern world.

The film opens beautifully with busy cityscapes fading into serene clouds as we hear His Holiness guide us, in his “broken English,” to breathe. Hold. Breathe. Calmness. Over the next ninety minutes, interspersed with personal anecdotes and ancient aphorisms, His Holiness entreats us to seek calmness; to seek peace.

Gyatso recounts his upbringing: rigorous training and instruction in Buddhist philosophy to rightfully embody the Dalai Lama, whipped with a special yellow “holy” whip when insolent. He recalls the joy of childhood and the propensity of children to love play above all else; to reject nation, color, or separation in favor of play. He recalls his stern father and doting mother, later suggesting that more prevalent female leadership around the world would engender a more compassionate and cooperative global community.

Synopsis

Another of Gyatso’s books, A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night: A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, offers further insight into what one will find in this film, much to the surprise of the uninitiated. Buddhism isn’t a religion, and it isn’t built on faith. It’s real and works within the real world. Many who have never heard Gyatso speak or read his words would be surprised to learn that he values investigation over faith and insists that an educated mind is powerful. He understands and appreciates science, but recognizes that the mind is not physiological and remains separate from the brain.

Gyatso bemoans the lines of division that have been drawn by Man, offering the balance of nature’s harmony as an inspiration. He bemoans global warming, reminding us that living on the moon or Mars is a fantasy that distracts from the reality of the one Earth we’ve all been given on which to live. He questions religion, noting that all religions teach love yet we continue to kill each other. And he teaches forgiveness and that we can condemn actions without condemning the actors.

Discussion

In perhaps my favorite revelation of the film, Gyatso admits that he loves to window shop. The baubles delight him, and he loves to marvel at the craftsmanship. Though he doesn’t purchase. He understands that material need corrupts. I feel there’s something to be emulated in that ideal. You want, then you have, so what of want?

I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this documentary. I was surprised that it was an hour and a half of His Holiness the Dalai Lama talking over breathtaking imagery and stellar sound design. No interviewer, moderator, or counterpoints. Just the man and his wisdom. It’s refreshing in that he speaks with gentleness, and is never commanding. You don’t get the impression he’s proselytizing or delivering a lecture. Further, there is no test at the end. Only the reminder that when all is overwhelming, you can simply breathe.

Conclusion

Wisdom of Happiness is deceptively simple, and if you want to skip the film, I can lay out the two steps right now:

1. Love yourself. You cannot understand love if you don’t experience it for yourself.
2. Extend love to others. It’s really that simple.

That said, you should still definitely watch this film if this sort of thing interests you. Manuel Bauer’s photography is stunning and coupled perfectly with sound design from Julian Joseph and Kurt Human. Ariel Marx’s music never overtakes Gyatso’s words. Rather, it offers a buoyant blanket upon which they rest.

Wisdom of Happiness is available on all VOD platforms on September 15th.

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