Brilliant Moon (DVD Review)

22 Mar, 2011 By: Angelique Flores

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Street 3/29/11
Kino Lorber/Alive Mind
Documentary
$24.98 DVD
Not rated.

The Dalai Lama may be one of the most internationally well-known and influential Buddhist monks of current times, but another highly respected Tibetan Buddhist was Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Narrated by Richard Gere, Brilliant Moon details Rinpoche’s birth, death and “rebirth” as another monk. Through interviews with those whose lives were touched by Rinpoche, photos, rare archival footage and beautiful, brightly colored animation, the monk’s story and his influence is brought to life.

Rinpoche was born in 1910 in Tibet and became a monk as a boy. He was given a monastic name that means “brilliant moon” in English.

A writer, poet, scholar and nonsectarian monk, Rinpoche was revered not only for his wisdom but also for his righteous way of life. He traveled the world to teach many, including the Dalai Lama, and was the spiritual advisor to the royal family of Bhutan. He helped preserve rare Tibetan Buddhist texts and restore temples.

Rinpoche made time for anyone who wanted to see him and had a sense of humor and affectionate way about him that disarmed visitors and followers. With a strong sense of humility, he was willing to learn from anyone who crossed his path, even those deemed clumsy by other teachers.

Rinpoche died in 1991. He is believed to have been reincarnated in Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, who was born in 1993.

Whether you have an understanding of Buddhism or not, Brilliant Moon is a wonderful biographical portrait of a man whose influential reach continues even after his death.
 

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