Documentaries
 Click to enlarge |
IMPERMANENCE: Embracing Change by David Hodge and Hi-Jin Hodge Cloth, 160 pp. 108 b&w photos. 7.5" x 6.5", plus 3-hour DVD. #IMEMCH - list price $ 29.95 Our Price $20.96 (you save 30%) Published by Snow Lion What does it mean that we are constantly changing? How do people confront ideas like death and change? Asked to contribute to an exhibit celebrating the work of the Dalai Lama, multimedia artists David and Hi-Jin Hodge interviewed over a hundred people about impermanence and change in their lives. Their subjects ranged from philosophers to gardeners, economists to spiritual leaders, doctors to patients. The result was incredibly moving. The Hodges' installation consisted of a large, circular arrangement of mounted iPods on which the interviews played simultaneously, each on its own screen. Now this unique record has been made available for a wider audience; it includes both a book and a DVD so that the interviews can be viewed as they were seen in the original exhibit. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
10 QUESTIONS FOR THE DALAI LAMA--DVD directed by Rick Ray, music by Peter Kater 85-min. DVD. #TEQUDV - $ 29.95 If you had only one hour, what would you ask the Dalai Lama? In Ten Questions for the Dalai Lama, this award-winning documentary by the director of The Soul of India examines some of the fundamental questions of our time with the Dalai Lama in this well-produced film. Includes rare historical footage as well as images taken with hidden camera in Tibet. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
21 TARAS: Our Journey through Life produced, directed, edited, composed by Anahata Iradah, featuring the work of Prema Dasara DVD includes 29 sections. #21TADV - $ 25.00 The Dance of Tara is an expression of the highest human ideals. The goal of the practice is to manifest enlightened mind—to integrate all dimensions of consciousness, to see clearly the truth behind phenomena, to develop the mind, so it may function in life, empowered and inspired. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
ANGRY MONK: Reflections on Tibet DVD film by Luc Schaedler 97-min. DVD #ANMODV - $ 24.95 Gendun Choephel is a legendary figure in Tibet. Believed to be the reincarnation of a famous Buddhist lama, this promising young monk turned his back on monastic life and became a fierce critic of his country's religious conservatism, cultural isolationism and reactionary government. After leaving the monastery in 1934, and fueled by his intellectual curiosity and free-spirited nature, Choephel traveled throughout Tibet and India in order to understand the true history of his country. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
BLESSINGS: The Tsoknyi Nangchen Nuns of Tibet DVD narrated by Richard Gere, compiled by Victress Hitchcock, Jampa Kalden, Cynthia Kneen 90-min. DVD gift version. There are English subtitles when needed, English voice-over for the Tibetan. #BLTSDV - $ 24.95 In the summer of 2005, renowned Tibetan Buddhist teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche III led a group of Western women students to Nangchen, a remote nomadic region of Eastern Tibet. They journeyed to meet the Tsoknyi Nangchen nuns—3000 women who practice the ancient yogic traditions initiated in the 1800s by the first Tsoknyi Rinpoche, who envisioned a time when these women would become some of the most accomplished spiritual practitioners in the world. Despite all 40 nunneries being destroyed during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, a handful of survivors kept their practices alive, and emerged to rebuild their sanctuaries by hand... stone by stone. Now the wisdom tradition of the nuns is once again vital and growing. Blessings is the compelling story of these remarkable female practitioners. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
BRILLIANT MOON: Glimpses of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche DVD directed and produced by Neten Chokling, narrated by Richard Gere and Lou Reed, written by Neten Chokling and Tenzing Choyang Gyari, exec produced by Shechen Rabjam, cinematography by Matthieu Ricard and Vivian Kurtz 56 min DVD. #BRMODV - $ 24.95 Brilliant Moon: Glimpses of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche chronicles the life of the writer, poet, and meditation master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, one of Tibet's most revered 20th-century Buddhist teachers. Known as the teacher of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Royal Family of Bhutan, his life and teachings were an inspiration to all who encountered him. Two of his admirers are Richard Gere and Lou Reed, who provide the narration for his dangerous journey out of China and the subsequent spread of his influence around the world. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
CHAMPION OF COMPASSION: Kalachakra DVD by Tashi Eugyal, narrated by Thupten Jinpa 65-min. DVD #CHCODV - $ 14.95 This well-made documentary focuses on many aspects of the Kalachakra initiation--its purpose (with an extensive commentary by the abbot of Namgyal, India), the sand mandala, sacred dance--and is filled with beautiful footage of HH the Dalai Lama in Toronto. Special features include a history of Tibet and its struggle, as well as a glimpse into what it takes to organize such an event! Narrated by His Holiness' translator. | |
 Click to enlarge |
CHINA: The Rebirth of an Empire by Jesse and Jeremy Veverka, with Chalmers Johnson Color DVD, 86 min., NTSC. #CHREEM - $ 17.99 China's unprecedented growth has placed it on the verge of overtaking the United States as the world's preeminent power. But what type of power will China become? In today's interconnected and globalized world, the answer affects each and every one of us. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
COMPASSION IN EXILE: The Story of the 14th Dalai Lama a film by Mickey Lemle, music by Philip Glass 62 min. DVD, NTSC. #COEXDV - $ 24.95 This is the story of the Dalai Lama, and it is filled with wonderful photos (much never before seen), film clips and candid interviews with His Holiness, his family and other prominent people and Tibetans who have left Tibet. With candor and humor, the Dalai Lama describes his upbringing and the key moments in his life leading to his becoming head of state at age sixteen, meeting with Mao Zedong, and of his life in exile and non-violent struggle on behalf of his people. This DVD is inspiring throughout. | |
 Click to enlarge |
CREATING BUDDHAS: The Making and Meaning of Fabric Thangkas by Isadora Gabrielle Leidenfrost Approx. 1-hr. DVD. #CRBUDV - $ 25.00 Featuring Robert Thurman, Glenn Mullin, and China Galland, this film documents the art of fabric thangkas--here told through the story of Leslie Rinchen Wangmo, who masters a "male" art to create a fabric thangka of Tara. Made of embroidered silk and applique, these thangkas are rare, and exquisitely beautiful. Visit snowlionpub.com/samples/CreatingBuddhasMaking&MeaningOfFabricThangkas.doc for an in-depth article on this. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM DVD produced and directed by Bari Pearlman, editor Carla Ruff, photography director Gina Konstantinakos 68-minute DVD, color, in Standard and Wide screen formats. #DAWIDV - $ 29.99 An intimate portrait of a rare and extraordinary spiritual community and the women who created it—the Nuns of Kala Rongo Monastery. With Lama Norlha Rinpoche and the people of Nangchen, Tibet. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
DESTROYER OF ILLUSION: The Secret World of a Tibetan Lama DVD written and directed by Richard Kohn, produced by Franz-Christophe Giercke and Barbara Becker, narrated by Richard Gere 56-min. DVD. Plays on computers and most DVD players. #DEILDV - $ 24.95 Unprecedented access and intimate knowledge inform this richly detailed and beautifully filmed portrait of a secret Tibetan Buddhist ritual, the Mani Rimdu festival, and the remarkable spiritual teacher, Trulshik Rinpoche, who leads and preserves this centuries-old tradition. Previously broadcast on PBS More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
THE DEVOTION OF MATTHIEU RICARD Directed by George Schouten and Babeth M. VanLoo 67 min., color, English (and Dutch and French with English subtitles), stereo, NTSC/All Region. #DEMADV - $ 24.95 Nearly forty years ago Matthieu Ricard left his native France and a promising career in cellular genetics to become a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in Nepal. He is now a translator, photographer and best selling author (The Monk and the Philosopher, Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill) and an active participant in scientific research on the effects of meditation on the brain. He is involved in a number of humanitarian projects in Tibet and Nepal, where he resides. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
KUNDUN: The True Story of a Man Whose Struggle Would Lead a Nation DVD a film by Martin Scorsese, music by Philip Glass Run time: approx. 135 minutes. #KUTHDV - $ 16.95 Praised as one of the best films of the year, Kundun is a motion picture masterpiece directed by five-time Academy Awary-nominated director Martin Scorsese. It's the incredible true story of one of the world's most fascinating leaders--Tibet's Dalai Lama--and his daring struggle to rune a nation at one of the most challenging times in its history. Powerfully told and set against a backdrop of world politics, the film's release created an international uproar! Featuring a striking, Oscar-nominated score by renowned composer Philip Glass, this extraordinary motion picture has been greeted with both controversy and worldwide acclaim... experience it for yourself! More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
THE LION'S ROAR: The Classic Portrait of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa DVD by Rick Fields 50-min. DVD #LIRODV - $ 24.95 The Lion's Roar is a magnificent work--dramatic, moving, richly colorful in both sound and sight. It depicts the life and times of one of Tibetan Buddhism's most respected leaders. Packed with rare footage of Trungpa, Dilgo Khyentse, Jamgon Kongtrul, Tai Situ, Kalu and other great Rinpoches, it traces the Karmapa's lineage from its earliest roots to the 20th century. The Tibetan tradition of enlightened reincarnation began in the 8th century with the Karmapa lineage and continues to this day. Karmapa, the Black Hat Lama of Tibet, has been honored as a Living Buddha in his seventeen successive incarnations. The coming of the first Karmapa fulfilled a prophecy made by the Buddha that this emanation of Compassion would appear in the world in order to alleviate the sufferings of humanity in the Dark Ages of materialism. Newly released on DVD! More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
MANDALA: World of the Mystic Circle produced by Martin McGee and Cathy Steffan 55-min. DVD #MAWODV - $ 19.95 A finalist at the American Film and Video Festival, this film explores mandalas' archetypal motifs on a myriad of levels with experts in physics, philosophy, architecture, psychology and art. As one of its outstanding features it captures, from start to finish, the month-long creation by Tibetan monks of the famous Kalachakra sand mandala. This well-narrated, informative, stimulating docu-DVD with beautiful photography is a delight to watch again and again. An excellent tool for educators. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
MESSAGE OF THE TIBETANS DVD by Arnaud Desjardins #METIDV - $ 39.95 Arnaud Desjardins met His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the first time in 1963, and gained his support to shoot these films. All the most revered masters agreed to participate in the making of these films: The Dalai Lama in person, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H. the XVIth Gyalwa Karmapa, Dugpa Tupse Rinpoche, the yogis Lopon Sonam Zangpo and Abo Rinpoche, Tai Situ Rinpoche... and many other eminent masters. More ... | |
 Click to enlarge |
MILAREPA: Magician, Murderer, Saint DVD by Neten Chokling Feature-length NTSC DVD. #MIRDVD - list price $ 24.99 Our Price $21.99 (you save 12%) This feature film, beautifully photographed in the stunning Lahual-Spiti region of Northern India, depicts the true story of the youthful Milarepa. Covering his early years, this compelling story shows how and why he sets out to learn black magic, developing mystical powers. The movie is based on a true story, from centuries-old oral traditions, of the early life of Milarepa, and how he is propelled into a world of sorrow and betrayal after his father's sudden death. Destitute and hopeless, he seeks ways to exact revenge on his enemies, encountering magicians, demons, an enigmatic teacher and an unfolding world of mystical powers, along the way. But Milarepa's true revelation comes when he is confronted with the consequences of his anger, which teach him the most. The film offers a provocative parallel to the cycle of violence and retribution we see consuming today's world. More ... | |