Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

[Hoyu]

Attention All Filmgoers,
Break out your tickets and take a seat because our next film is about to begin.....

[youtube]

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Available for purchase:
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Amongst-Clouds-Ch ... 263&sr=8-1

To rent:
Netflix
https://signup.netflix.com/movie/Amongs ... s/70129260

Discussion will begin April 1st.(Honestly it will....this isn't a prank )

Gassho,
Hoyu(Treeleaf Usher)

[BrianW]

Re: Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

Saw this movie quite some time ago...will have to take a second look. Thanks for the heads up on Netfix!

Gassho,
Jisen/BrianW

[Hoyu]

Re: Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

Thanks for the heads up on Netfix!

Happy to help out Jisen
I always try to do a little legwork to make it as convenient as possible for folks. Once in a while I even find a free, but legal version, as I did with our last film "Life In A Day"(which I would also recommend checking out).

Gassho,
Hoyu(Treeleaf usher)

[Seimyo]

Re: Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

Here's a link to the whole film (streaming):
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/amongst-white-clouds/

Gassho,
Chris

[Kaishin]

Re: Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

Here's a link to the whole film (streaming):
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/amongst-white-clouds/

Gassho,
Chris

Ah, great, thanks!

[Kaishin]

Re: Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

I rather enjoyed this film. Lots of admiration for these mountain monks! I can't imagine spending even a month in such a solitary dwelling, and some of them have done it for years.

One question I had that is not addressed (or I missed it), what do they do when they return from the mountains? Do they use their experiences to spread the dharma and assist others? If not, it seems to be a rather selfish pursuit.

Some choice quotes that I took away:

there are good things about both [being a householder or a hermit]... but in the end a house-holder is stuck in the mundane world

So it seems some think, even though they are ostensibly Mahayana, that real liberation is reserved for hermit monks?

if you see through this world and let go of it, this is wisdom. if you see through it, but don't let go, that's just "talking zen"

That's always the challenge... I'm definitely guilty of "talking zen" but not "walking the walk"

just talking about it is no good... you can memorize all the texts, it won't help you...without discipline, meditation, and wisdom, it's nonsense to think you'll be liberated from this birth and death.

Sometimes I get bogged down by all the unread texts out there, wanting to read everything hoping that the mystery will be revealed. It's times like these that I need to sit most!

[Jundo]

Re: Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

One question I had that is not addressed (or I missed it), what do they do when they return from the mountains? Do they use their experiences to spread the dharma and assist others? If not, it seems to be a rather selfish pursuit.

Well, that is your judgment of them ... and their seemingly lonely Practice may serve to save sentient beings in countless ways, seen and unseen. For one example, their Practice is a torch, a beacon, that inspires others ... enough for this book and film to be made ... to be seen by thousands ... and to inspire so many of them. Karmic effects are not always obvious to the eye, like the ripples of a stone tossed in the water that may spread endlessly.

Also, there is always a place in this Way for a time alone, in the silence and isolation of the little "self" wrestling with its "me myself and i" ... all while communing with This from which one is never apart and isolated. We save others by mastering saving oneself ... like those airplane safety instructions where the parent must first put on her own oxygen mask before helping the child.

Some choice quotes that I took away:

there are good things about both [being a householder or a hermit]... but in the end a house-holder is stuck in the mundane world

So it seems some think, even though they are ostensibly Mahayana, that real liberation is reserved for hermit monks?

Ah, well, as the householder may judge them ... that is just their judgement of the householder! It is traditional, in a Buddhist World led for centuries by full time monastics, that such beliefs would be upheld which raise the monastic way. There was also a strong flavor in much of Buddhism emphasizing escape from the dusty world.

But one can find the silence and isolation of the little "self" amid the dust and noise ... all while communing with This from which one is never apart and isolated.

Gassho, J

[Kaishin]

Re: Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

For one example, their Practice is a torch, a beacon, that inspires others ... enough for this book and film to be made ... to be seen by thousands ... and to inspire so many of them.

Very true! Thank you for for your comments _/_

[Kyonin]

Re: Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

I just saw this movie last night and I loved it.

I had read about hermits and how they lived, but seeing it in a much closer and personal way was great. I was blown away by how these masters see the world and how they relate to them.

How simple, yet complex, their life can be and it was simply impressive their level of renunciation.

Like Jundo said, it's inspiring to say the least.

But a question comes to mind. After they return from the mountains, are they buddhas? Do they dedicate their lives to teaching or get back to regular jobs?

How can you get a regular job and get into the work-buy-sleep cycle after you no longer need as many as material things as the rest of the people?

I would really like to try this way of life...

Thank you for putting this movie on my sight. I shall watch it again to learn more.

[gilles]

Re: Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

"...lets have a cup of tea and the we'll talk...
...master what can you tell me about zen...
...there is nothing to talk about..."

gassho
gilles

[Koshin]

Re: Now Playing: Amongst White Clouds (2005)

"...lets have a cup of tea and the we'll talk...
...master what can you tell me about zen...
...there is nothing to talk about..."

gassho
gilles

Yeah, I really liked that part....

That simple yet so difficult life...so much to learn

Thank you very much for putting this movie on our radar