Wisdom of Happiness, Starring the 14th Dalai Lama

He promoted "mindfulness" before it was cool. He still advocates nonviolence even though it is currently out of favor, with violence and terrorism regularly celebrated on the streets of New York and London (especially the anti-Semitic variety). In some ways, the Tibetan Buddhism espoused by His Holiness, the 14^th Dalai Lama has already had tremendous influence on the Western world, since his exile in 1959. Yet, in other ways, we need his teachings now more than ever. Fortunately, the Dalai Lama obliges, delivering essentially a summation of his teachings that he offers for both longtime followers and casual newcomers in Barbara Miller & Philip Delaquis’s documentary, Wisdom of Happiness, executive produced by Richard Gere, which is now playing in New York.

Although His Holiness provides a brief recap of his flight from Tibet, stressing how his willingness to come to an understanding with the CCP was undermined by Mao’s betrayal, he essentially seeks to lay a practical philosophical groundwork for personal happiness. He starts with the premise that everyone desires happiness and peace, which, arguably might only be half true in these times, while admitting that this will be an increasingly difficult goal in the 21^st Century (which is hard to deny).

Much of what the Dalai Lama recommends will dovetail nicely with the mindfulness movement/industry, such as his practice of conscious meditation. Yet, ironically, many woke extremists have turned against him, due to manufactured outrages. Nevertheless, for real “progressives,” His Holiness’s teaching should hold great appeal. Throughout the film, he champions scientific inquiry, suggesting that it is religious dogma that should give way when the two conflict. (Indeed, Dawn Gifford Engle documented his scientific curiosity at length in The Dalai Lama: Scientist).

Frankly, he serves up progressive catnip when His Holiness argues for greater female representation among national leaders, because he has observed women have an inherently more peaceful nature. Yet, the Dalai Lama is perhaps at his most progressive when he discusses the need for wiser environmental stewardship.

Yet, his environmental advocacy brings the film full circle, back to China’s rapacious despoilment of Tibet’s ecology. His Holiness makes a salient point, observing most of the rivers that sustain all of Asia have their source in Tibet, concluding: “preserving Tibetan ecology is not only of interest for Tibetans, but for the whole of Asia.”

Indeed, consideration of the Dalai Lama inevitably forces us to confront China’s oppression of Tibet. He mourns the “one million Tibetans killed since ’59 through starvation and torture in gulag.” However, His Holiness has also led the struggle to preserve the Tibetan identity and culture, against the CCP’s concerted campaign to destroy both. Wisdom of Happiness is another timely means towards that end (arriving late in His Holiness’s 90^th birthday year). Recommended for the insight, humility, and warmth expressed by its subject, Wisdom of Happiness is now playing in New York, at the Quad Cinema.