Film: Tibet (Tibet)

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Places
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00:00:00: SOUND UP
00:00:02: [GRAPHIC – Explore - MUSIC PLAYS]
00:00:09: Bells ringing, farmer & yaks
00:00:20: [GRAPHIC – MAP OF TIBET - DRUMMING]
00:00:41: CHARLIE: One definition of philanthropy is a love for the betterment of humanity through selfless giving. What better place to learn about the spiritual betterment of humanity than Tibet? Its capital, Lhasa is considered by many to be the spiritual heartbeat of the world.
00:01:04: MAN: [TRANSLATION GRAPHIC]: The Potala Palace was founded in the 7th century. They used to call the Potala Palace: Palace of Compassion. Some of the pilgrims got here by walking and some pilgrims came by prostration, all the way from Qinghai to Lhasa. It takes about two and a half years to get back to their home. That’s because we have to take on some hardship. You have to have a pure mind and a solid heart. Then you will get more results…to get good karma for the next life. Also, we are going to prayer for all human beings. So, they’re coming by foot, walking all the way from their homeland. They came from Qinghai Province which is about 1,200 kilometers away.
00:02:14: MAN: He’s 83 years old. This is his first time to visit the Potala Palace. To pray at this holy place.
00:02:43: [SOUNDS OF MONKS CHANTING AND TIBETANS TALKING]
00:02:55: CHARLIE: This is monk debating. This is where they practice all their philosophy. Tibetan monks come to debate. This is where they practice scripture. One monk sits, the other monk stands. One monk gives an edict of philosophy. The monk sitting down responds.
00:03:22: MONK: [TRANSLATION GRAPHIC] I’ve been a monk for 35 years. I chose to be a monk so I could maintain and practice, the teachings of Lord Buddha. Not so much to help me personally, but to better allow me to help others. [BELLS, DRONING SOUND, TEA CUPS CLICKING]
00:03:58: CHARLIE: Can you share with me what compassion means to you?
00:04:01: PROFESSOR TSEDUM: [TRANSLATION GRAPHIC] Compassion is to provide food to those without food…and clothes to those without clothes. To be kind to all beings as if they were your own children. To keep focused on the betterment of others…and not think about one’s own pleasure and comfort. In this way, our mind gets stronger and stronger and we eventually develop this amazing motherly compassion. We meditate on that compassion to develop an enlightened mind.
00:04:37: CHARLIE: Why do all the Tibetan people come here on pilgrimage?
00:04:40: PROFESSOR TSEDUM: Some are here to pray for more personal wealth. Some are here to participate in political activities. Some are here for sightseeing. So, there are all kinds of reasons. And then there are some who are here for Dharma. In Buddhism, Dharma means helping other sentient beings…freeing one’s self from the three poisons and helping others. When other beings are hurt, that is not Buddhist Dharma.
00:05:23: CHARLIE: What are the three poisons?
00:05:24: PROFESSOR TSEDUM: Attachment or desire is the first poison. The second, ignorance. Hatred, the third. These are the poisons that control all of us. They produce fighting with other human beings. Killing others and feeling hatred towards them. In the word “Sangya” (enlightenment), there are two words “sang” and “gya.” “Sang” means getting rid of the three poisons…and “gya” means complete knowledge of everything…of all phenomena. You get this certain feeling of “knowing”…and that “knowing” is what we call Enlightenment. Enlightenment is something you can’t see or feel with your eyes or hands. It is something we can only understand through practice.
00:06:40: CHARLIE: (AS MONK PLACES SCARF AROUND HIM) Thank you.
00:07:08: CHARLIE: I’m in line in here, about to pay homage to the oldest Buddha in the world and the monk in front of me, his cell phone goes off. (CELL PHONE RINGING) His cell phone goes off and he picks it up and, as he’s praying to the oldest Buddha in the world, he’s having a conversation and I just thought that was surreal. He’s in the full garb and I want to tap the monk and say, “Hey, can you be quiet for a moment?” And he’s just rapping on the phone and I just think it’s so bizarre. Everywhere I go, I see monks and Maasai tribe text messaging. It’s going to be really interesting because there’s so many incredible things to technology, yet there’s a balance to it because there’s going to be a lot of things that take away from culture, too.
00:08:02: CHARLIE: I’m in Tibet right now, in an Internet café. I want to check a few emails. I think I’m going to come in a little place and be by myself. Look around you. I got half of Tibet right now talking to people all over the world talking about all kinds of topics. It’s crazy. I can’t even get on a machine.
00:08:21: CHARLIE: Hi, there! (TO PERSON ON COMPUTER)
00:08:24: TIBETAN WOMAN: He wants to talk to you.
00:08:31: CHARLIE: Hey, buddy! (THEY LAUGH) Where are you? You must be pretty far away. You guys met long distance on the Internet. Wow! Do you think that the Internet is changing the country?
00:08:47: TIBETAN WOMAN: [TRANSLATION GRAPHIC] Yes, I do. I go online when I get off work…or after school to talk to friends. So I come here to stay in touch with family and friends. Going online is a game of communication with words. Right now, young kids have a very colorful life. Internet and things like computer games are part of the fun…In my leisure time, I like to come here to talk to my family and friends and sometimes play video games.
00:09:20: CHARLIE: People from all over the planet can talk to each other and learn about each other and share ideas and information and question a lot of authority.
00:09:29: END OF FILM

Now Viewing: Tibet

Journey with the explore team to the spiritual city of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. See Potala Palace, the traditional winter home of the Dalai Lama and a pilgrimage destination for thousands of Buddhists. Listen to the sounds of monks practicing the art of debate at the Sera Monastery, and witness the many ways in which new technologies are changing the Tibetan cultural landscape.