Available online
Description
This is a shorter version of a film made in the monastery of Tangboche, in Nepal, in 1973. The producer and narrator - Peter Montagnon - re-edited it for the Open University. Mr. Montagnon spent a ...substantial amount of time in Tangboche and was accompanied by a friend and interpreter, himself a Buddhist monk. So it is hoped that the emphases are faithful to the experience of being a monk in Tangboche. The child monks are shown training in meditation and chant The ancient style of scholarly disputation is shown, and the monks - who otherwise live apart from each other, in communal prayer. But though prayer is incessant and everything - wind, waterpower and constant human effort - is harnessed to the movement of the prayerwheels, in the end prayer is not at the heart of spiritual life. The heart is meditation, through which you may arrive at the state of Nirvana, once described by the Buddha as "a roaring silence".
This is a shorter version of a film made in the monastery of Tangboche, in Nepal, in 1973. The producer and narrator - Peter Montagnon - re-edited it for the Open University. Mr. Montagnon spent a ...substantial amount of time in Tangboche and was accompanied by a friend and interpreter, himself a Buddhist monk. So it is hoped that the emphases are faithful to the experience of being a monk in Tangboche. The child monks are shown training in meditation and chant The ancient style of scholarly disputation is shown, and the monks - who otherwise live apart from each other, in communal prayer. But though prayer is incessant and everything - wind, waterpower and constant human effort - is harnessed to the movement of the prayerwheels, in the end prayer is not at the heart of spiritual life. The heart is meditation, through which you may arrive at the state of Nirvana, once described by the Buddha as "a roaring silence".
| Module code and title: | AD208, Man's religious quest |
|---|---|
| Item code: | AD208; 13 |
| First transmission date: | 22-04-1978 |
| Published: | 1978 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:23:30 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Peter Montagnon |
| Contributor: | Peter Montagnon |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Buddhist religion; Nepal; Nirvana; Tangboche |
| Footage description: | The programme is a specially edited version of a film made by Peter Montagnon in 1973 - It opens with shots of the monastery of Tangboche in Nepal, over which the Buddha's description of Nirvana is read. A monk is seen praying at dawn. Montagnon compares the life of a Tibetan monk with that of a Western monk. Shots of monks chanting and playing music, over which Montagnon comments on this religious music. Film of a village woman making offerings and turning a prayer wheel. Commentary on these rituals from Montagnon. The woman is seen feeding her small son, over which Montagnon comments on the Buddhist belief in reincarnation. Shots of monks engaged in manual work. Montagnon describes the division of labour in the monastery. Film of the shrine room and the library. Montagnon describes the studies undergone by Tibetan monks and explains the role of the geshe. Film of monks debating in trauitional manner on the open hillside. Montagnon briefly states the Buddhist perception of reality. Shots of young novices being instructed by a monk. Montagnon explains why these children are taught. Shots of villagers eating together over which the concepts of Dukha is explained. Film of mantras on prayer wheels, rocks and flags, with commentary from Montagnon. A group of monks are observed chanting in unison accompanied by drums and cymbals. Over this Montagnon explains the importance to the monks of meditation and the chanting of mantras. Shots of a small guest-house at the side of the monastery. A man is seen chanting above and turning the guest house's huge prayer wheel. Shots of many small prayer wheels. Montagnon comments that the essence of Buddhism is solitary meditation. Shots of a monk meditating alone. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72741 |
| Production number: | 00525_3433 |
| Videofinder number: | 3604 |
| Available to public: | no |
