Review of Little Buddha (1993) by Saundra R — 11 Nov 2014

Little Buddha Movie Review.

Plot Summary.

This story begins in Tibet. This Buddhist priest (lama) sees several signs that lead him to believe that a teacher he had and adored several years ago may have been reincarnated. The lama goes from Tibet to Seattle to see if this young white boy is the same person. He meets the boy and the boy has several characteristics that the lama's teacher had. The two become friends.

The lama tells the boy the story of the birth of Buddhism and also how the young prince Siddhartha who eventually began to be called Buddha. The movie goes back and forth between the search for the lama's teacher and ancient Nepal.

World Religion.

This movie relates to world religion because it starts with the birth of Buddhism. Our textbook details the founder of the Buddhist dharma, a historical figure named Gautama Siddhartha. He is formally known as The Buddha. His father was King Suddhodana.

The movie show how Buddha's father tried to shield him from certain unpleasant things about the world but he was curious about them so he snuck out to see what he could find out. King Suddhodana always wanted to ensure that his son would follow in his footsteps and would one day become King of the World. That's why he went great lengths to insulate his son from those troubling aspects of the world that inspired some people to abandon the worldly life for a religious calling. Siddhartha's mother died seven days after he was born.

The main focal point of the contemporary part of the movie is about the search for the reincarnation of the teacher. The Buddha had radical teachings of the Dharma and they went against the prevailing beliefs of his time. An example is reincarnation. He said there was no such thing as a permanent soul or atman. . He said that he only knew what he himself had experienced and that impermance was the reality we should awaken to alleviate our suffering.

This movie was interesting and made me somewhat more knowledgeable about the beginnings of Buddhism.

Reference:

Brodd, Jeffrey et al. Invitation to World Religions. Oxford: University Press, 2013.