Buddhism goes to the movies : introduction to Buddhist thought and practice / Ronald S. Green.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Green, Ronald S., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Buddhism in motion pictures.

Buddhism.

Motion pictures.

Physical Description:

xvii, 159 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Routledge, 2014.

Summary:

Buddhism Goes to the Movies: Introduction to Buddhist Thought and Practice explains the basics of Buddhist philosophy and practice through a number of dramatic films from around the world. This book introduces readers in a dynamic way to the major traditions of Buddhism: the Theravada, and various interrelated Mahayana divisions including Zen, Pure Land and Tantric Buddhism. Students can use Ronald Green's book to gain insights into classic Buddhist themes, including Buddhist awakening, the importance of the theory of dependent origination, the notion of no-self, and Buddhist ideas about life, death, and why we are here. Contemporary developments are also explored, including the Socially Engaged Buddhism demonstrated by such figures as the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other Buddhist activists. Finally, comparisons between filmic expressions of Buddhism and more traditional artistic expressions of Buddhism-such as mandala drawings-are also drawn. Buddhism Goes to the Movies is an excellent way to bring Buddhist thought, history, and activity to the uninitiated and interested reader. Book jacket.

Contents:

Early representations of Buddhism in films : Broken blossoms (D.W. Griffith, USA, 1919) and Lost horizon (Frank Capra, USA, 1937)

The four noble truths and Fight club (David Fincher, USA, 2000)

Buddhist awakening and Waking life (Richard Linklater, USA, 2001)

Dependant origination and I heart Huckabees (David O. Russell, USA, 2004)

Korean Seon Buddhism and Why has Bodhi-dharma left for the East? (Young-Kyun Bae, South Korea, 1989)

Theravāda Buddhism, socially engaged Buddhism and The Burmese harp (Biruma no tategoto, Kon Ichikawa, Japan, 1956)

Tibetan Buddhism and The cup (Khyentse Norbu, Bhutan, 2000)

Japanese Shin Buddhism and Departures (Okuribito, Yōjirō Takita, Japan, 2008)

The Buddhist order of nuns and Windhorse (Paul Wagner, USA, 1998)

Thai Buddhism in horror films : Nang Nak (Nonzee Nimibutr, Thailand, 1999) and Uncle Boonmee who can recall his past lives (Pichatpong Weerasethaku, Thailand, 2010).

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780415841467

0415841461

9780415841481

0415841488

OCLC:

848267796