Lord Buddha comes alive through cinema
Ven Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director of Tibet House said on the opening of the BODHIPATH Film Festival that visual art had always been a channel for education and information to the masses.
Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day festival, organised by the International Buddhist confederation, the Venerable, a Special Guest, explained that cinema was an extremely powerful tool to influence the public. “However, cinema also depicts the level of thinking of the public. Films will be made in accordance with the current thinking in society”, he added.
Ven Geshe Damdul mentioned that during the Buddha’s times, paintings were commissioned by Sakyamuni that showed his teachings and educated the public.
The five senses in a person play an important role in absorbing the message. He further said that if the visuals are of ‘low level’, the society will be absorbing these, and therefore, we see a lot of crime, including cyber-crime prevalent these days. Similarly,conflicts, wars, climate disaster and mistrust will be the order of the day, he noted.
Professor Robert A.F.
Thurman, an American Buddhist author and academic who is a Padma Shri and has written, edited, and translated several books on Tibetan Buddhism, on a brief visit to Delhi, took time off to speak at the festival. He shared insights into his latest book on Manjushri, a work in progress. In Mahayana Buddhism, Manjushri is a bodhisattva who represents great wisdom and enlightenment, the Professor mentioned.
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