10 Questions For The Dalai Lama

I watched a Documentary called "10 Questions For The Dalai Lama" - my first touch with Buddhism. This movie is less about religion and more about Tibet and the political battle. However, still an engaging movie. You can learn about how Buddhists THINK - which is a big part of understanding Buddhism.

Here's a trailer of the movie:



  

Out of the 10 questions asked, I chose the following to reveal to you. I don't want to reveal all 10 as that would be disrespectful to the actual film :)

Question #1: Why does it seem that people are RICHER in India than even in the West. Obviously, wealth wise, the West is far wealthier. Why is that the Poor smile more than the Rich?

Answer #1: [Paraphrased] "The poor have very little to lose, very little stress. The rich have much to lose and always absorbed in wanting more, more, more. They're never happy because of greed. The poor simply want enough to make their daily needs then they are very happy. The more possessions, the more we have to lose, the less happy we will be."

Question #2: Why is the crime rate so much less in India, even with a higher population than places like the United States?  Why are people in the West so much more prone to anger than the East? The East is so much more prone to patience, is it because they have just accepted their faith?"

Answer #2: [Paraphrased] "It has to do with self discipline and being aware of consequences. The East separates desire with the right/wrong better. In the West you grow up in a society where people are more emotional and more reactive. The East you're trained to be more aware of consequences and of what is right or wrong. It's mostly cultural based."

Question #3: What do we do about religious differences and the fights it creates, especially in places like the Middle East?

Answer #3: [Paraphrased "There needs to be more personal respect, that's all. We need to simple respect the beliefs of another and not impose our own onto them. Two should first participate in festivals and mutual celebrations and become PERSONAL friends, THEN, they should discuss serious matters such as land...especially in the Middle East."

The movie was a good overall watch. But I guess I don't specifically recommend it if your only goal is to learn about Buddhism. I. however, am glad I watched it because I had NO understanding of the Tibet issue - now I do!