a little midwinter serenity
December 20, 2008 4:03 PM   Subscribe

Historic, beautiful and interesting footage of Tibetan lamas and yogis teaching Buddhism, just 4 years after their escape from Tibet, when the Chinese invaded in 1959. "In 1963, for the first time, the Dalai Lama allowed a Westerner, Desjardins, to film the heart of the Tibetan tradition." Some meditation instruction taught by yogis: Tantra as practiced in Tibet, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Lerab's Youtube channel has all kinds of video gems for those interested in Buddhist and Hindu spiritual practice.

Buddhism and Tantrism: "two films were originally shown on French television in the 1960's and are a wonderful testimony, revealing some of Tibet's foremost masters as they were then. It includes footage of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, the Sixteenth Karmapa, Dudjom Rinpoche, Ling Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Sakya Trizin, and the yogis Abo Rinpoche and Lopon Sonam Zangpo. The original sixties commentaries have been retained, even though it may sound a bit dated in places." "There are unusual scenes of yogis performing preparatory meditation exercises."

About Arnaud Desjardins, born 18 June 1925. Books he's written.

Also on Lerab's YouTube channel:

The Tibetan Book of the Dead #1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

From Lerab's blog:
"A Short History of Bön - Extracted from the pamphlet "Tibetan gYung-Drung Bön Monastery in India," published by the Yungdrung Bön Monastic Center, Solan, 1983. Translated by Tadeusz Skorupski."
posted by nickyskye (12 comments total) 32 users marked this as a favorite
 
My three eyes look forward to checking out these links.
posted by gman at 4:07 PM on December 20, 2008


What an awesome way to ignore xmas! Thanks, nickyskye!
posted by smartyboots at 4:25 PM on December 20, 2008


This is an absolutely fantastic post. Very interesting material and his MySpace picture is wonderful. Thank you so much nickyskye.
posted by tellurian at 5:47 PM on December 20, 2008


I have really enjoyed watching these - had to confirm that the "Book of the Dead" videos are narrated by Leonard Cohen. Beautiful interpretation with a truly lovely voice explaining it all.
Thanks nicky!
posted by readery at 8:10 PM on December 20, 2008


Ah, must be the namesake.
posted by dhartung at 8:38 PM on December 20, 2008


Very interesting (if a bit wonderstruck) exploration into the world of Tibetan Buddhism, with some great footage of the present Dalai Lama many years ago. (He is apparently ill, or exhausted, right now. And his vision of the selection of the future D.L., as discussed here previously, is pretty different than Tibetan Buddhist tradition. But, then, the world is in extreme transition economically and politically, and, theologically.)
posted by kozad at 8:47 PM on December 20, 2008


This is great. Thanks, nickyskye.
posted by homunculus at 9:12 PM on December 20, 2008


Merci nickyskye! Much appreciated post.
posted by fcummins at 2:54 AM on December 21, 2008


Wow, wonderful stuff nickyskye - thank you. Great for a snowy Sunday morning - thank you!
posted by madamjujujive at 6:25 AM on December 21, 2008


Ah, must be the namesake.

Actually, no, I'd never heard of the guy before this, but it's ironically fitting!
posted by desjardins at 10:06 AM on December 22, 2008






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