The Path of the Dalai Lama, His Holiness in Graphic Novel Form

Like Superman and Batman, His Holiness, the 14^th Dalai Lama is now the star of his own graphic novel, but his superpowers are mindfulness, nonviolence, and integrity. In a way, you could argue he also exhibits precognition. As the 13^th Dalai Lama, he foretold impending threats to Tibet and its Tibetan Buddhist faith, both from foreign and domestic sources. Yet, due to his nonviolent convictions, the 14^th Dalai Lama still tried to negotiate a peaceful arrangement with the CCP occupiers, to preserve the nation’s culture and traditions. It did not work, but it led to an ironically triumphant exile chronicled Tom Taylor’s graphic novel, The Path of the Dalai Lama, illustrated by Matyas Namai, which releases this Tuesday.

In addition to unexpcted enthusiiasm for advanced science, His Holiness is also surprisingly receptive to comics and graphic novels, because he gave Taylor and Namai his blessing for this project, based on their comic adaption of Orwell’s 1984. Their collaboration follows the historic events that might be familiar to many, especially if you have seen Martin Scorsese’s Kundun, despite Disney’s efforts to hide it. Yet, they cover some telling and undeniably significant incidents, like the 13^th Dalai Lama’s aforementioned prophecy and the year and a half he spent as a hostage to Muslim Chinese warlord Ma Bufang, before the young newly identified reincarnate was finally allowed to continue to Lhasa.

Clearly, Taylor’s graphic novel will not appear on the CCP’s reading lists. In addition to documenting the horrors of the late 1950s invasion and colonization, he also devotes considerable space to the late 1980s mass protests and the mid-1990s self-immolations, which have been almost entirely forgotten by the Western media in recent years. Taylor does a decent job channeling HH’s personality, but his real strength comes in the way he crystalizes decades of personal and national history into 100-some pages of incredibly striking comic panels.

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.

Tribeca ’25: Kundun

Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner abjectly apologized for this film, calling it “s stupid mistake.” On bended knee, he groveled to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP): “The bad news is the film was made; the good news is nobody watched it.” Disney saw to that. The film in question was directed by Martin Scorsese, who dedicated it to his recently deceased mother, Catherine. It was also nominated for four Academy Awards, including Philip Glass’s justly celebrated score. However, you can’t stream Scorsese’s cinematic biography of the 14^th (and according to him, last) Dalai Lama. Again, Disney made the conscious decision to keep it out of circulation. Hence any screening of Scorsese’s Kundun is a big deal, so its special screening to celebrate Scorsese’s birthday at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival is a huge event.

Born Lhamo Thondup, the Dalai Lama was a rather willful child, but also an intelligent one. Reting, the Regent of Tibet quickly realizes the bright little boy should be tested to determine whether he is the reincarnated spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, which indeed turns out to be the case.

As the recognized Dalai Lama studies at Potala Palace, he shows a keen curiosity regarding the outside world. That will be just as well, because the outside world soon barges into Tibet. Unfortunately, after the devastation of WWII, England and Europe are too exhausted to intervene when China invades and annexes Tibet. Likewise, the newly independent India is too disorganized and America is too far. Consequently, the Dalai Lama and his ministers agree to negotiate with Mao.

However, many of the senior Lamas realize they are really only stalling for time, even though the Dalai Lama still hopes for a more equitable and autonomous arrangement. Sadly, as the CCP starts razing monasteries, the Dalai Lama recognizes the CCP as the oppressors they always intended to be. Nevertheless, he resists seeking sanctuary in India, because he refuses to abandon his people when they need him the most.

It is easy to see why Kundun (the Tibetans’ term of reverence and affection for the Dalai Lama, meaning “the Presence”) angered the CCP. First of all, it is an excellent film, unlike the junky rom-coms and stilted propaganda movies the Chinese film industry now cranks out. It also forthrightly depicts the brutality and destruction of the CCP occupation. Yet, it is small but telling moments, like when the Dalai Lama bemoans the blaring bombastic Chinese propaganda music, lamenting: “they even took our silence,” that are especially devastating.

Indeed, Scorsese and screenwriter Melissa Mathison follow the historical record, depicting the Dalai Lama as neither a rebel nor a hot-head. He was a remains a man of non-violence, who was forced into a painful exile, as a means of preserving the Tibetan national soul.

Despite the tragedy it captures, Kundun is a gorgeous film, magnificently lensed by acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins. He and Scorsese use the colors and imagery of the Tibetan sand mandala to arresting effect. Glass’s score is hypnotic, but it also expresses a sense of awe. Just in terms of technical artistry, Kundun is unusually accomplished.

Never Forget Tibet, The Dalai Lama’s Untold Story

The world's most celebrated advocate of non-violence is also technically the most wanted fugitive. The Chinese Communist Party still calls him a criminal, but the world knows Tenzin Gyatso, the 14^th Dalai Lama as a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. However, hardly anyone would have known him at all were it not for Har Mander Singh, an officer with the Indian Frontier Administrative Service. His Holiness reunites with the man who safely escorted him to his new home-in-exile in Jean-Paul Mertinez’s documentary, Never Forget Tibet, The Dalai Lama’s Untold Story, which has a special nationwide Fathom Events screening this Thursday.

Technically, the Dalai Lama’s 1959 escape was his second try. Frankly, he tried to reach some kind of accommodation with the CCP, but they were determined to dominate the Tibetan nation. When the PLA started shelling Lhasa, His Holiness was already gone, but his party was not sure where their journey would end.

Fortunately, Singh was posted to Bomdila. Even though Nehru agreed to extend asylum to His Holiness, communication was still pretty spotty. Singh stuck his neck out a little protecting the Dalai Lama’s party once he crossed the border, but his initiative was vindicated—and appreciated by His Holiness, whom the Singhs personally hosted like family.

Mertinez’s documentary largely follows An Officer and His Holiness, a nonfiction account written by Singh’s niece Rani, a British journalist. Her uncle passed away in 2020, but Mertinez filmed his visit to Dharamshala, for an emotional final meeting with His Holiness.

There is also some new historical material in Never Forget Tibet, including detail on the flight from Lhasa and the secret correspondence between the Dalai Lama, Nehru, and Harold Macmillan. It is an amazing historical episode, but Mertinez tells it in a restrained manner. Frankly, sometimes the energy level could have been raised a tad, without compromising the historical integrity.

Regardless, Never Forget Tibet helps humanize an icon, His Holiness, while providing context on his relationship with his Indian hosts. It is more complicated than we might have assumed, because of India’s up-and-down diplomatic relations with Mainland China.

Sunrise/Sunset, Starring the Dalai Lama, on OVID.tv

Sometimes a film without an explicitly political message becomes political because of who might appear in it. This is a perfect example. Self-exiled Ukrainian-born Russian filmmaker Vitaly Mansky documented a day in the life of the Dalai Lama at his Dharamshala headquarters in Sunrise/Sunset. To their credit, OVID.tv has most likely forsaken the Mainland Chinese market by streaming his intimate documentary, which starts streaming this Wednesday. They will probably also be frozen out of Russia too, because they are also picking up Mansky’s chilling Putin’s Witnesses the same day.

His Holiness is up early at 3:00 AM, when he starts his full routine of physical exercise and religious devotion. The Nobel Laureate also has a full agenda of dignitaries who have scheduled an audience with him. (Ironically, this day he is receiving an unofficial delegation from Russia.)

Mansky had total access during his 24-hour window, so he was able to capture an image rarely seen in Dalai Lama documentaries. That would be the armed guards the Indian government provides His Holiness. (Sadly, this is a necessary concession for the Peace Prize recipient.) Those who follow Tibet Buddhism will recognize Sunrise/Sunset was produced over ten years ago, because The Dalai Lama was still talking about his next reincarnation (just not in Tibet), whereas lately he has suggested (including in the doc, The Last Dalai Lama) he just might forego further reincarnations, to prevent the CCP from anointing a puppet imposter.

Regardless, he displays the same warm graciousness we are used to seeing from him. For the last twenty minutes or so, the Dalai Lama is only heard rather than seen, as Mansky marries up audio of an interview he conducted with footage of his long train trek back to Russia. Weirdly, His Holiness spends a great deal of time discussing over-population. However, one of his potential solutions, more recruiting more monks and nuns, might have been a dry joke.

The Dalai Lama: Scientist

For decades, Western scientists and clergy have focused on areas of fundamental disagreement between science and religion. Yet, the question of evolution vs. creationism has virtually no bearing on people’s every day lives. In contrast, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama has focused on areas of compatibility between Tibetan Buddhist teachings and modern science. He has also sponsored research designed to foster greater emotional well-being for all humanity. Dawn Gifford Engle documents His Holiness’s engagement with the scientific community in The Dalai Lama: Scientist, which releases tomorrow on VOD.

Even as a child, before he was recognized as the reincarnate Lama, the young Tibetan Buddhist displayed a natural curiosity about the way things work. As the titular head of the Tibetan society in exile, the Dalai Lama has fostered scientific education and opened dialogue with some of the world’s leading scientists. Many prestigious physicists, biologists, and neuro-scientists consider him a personal friend, but the Dalai Lama’s relationship with the late Francisco Varela receives special focus.

Throughout the film, Engle and the Dalai Lama’s colleagues identify key areas of quantum physics, cognitive psychology, and neuroscience where Tibetan Buddhist teachings largely concur with the latest cutting-edge theories. In fact, the Venn diagram overlap is often quite striking. Engle never dumbs down any of this heady material, which is admirable. However, she heavily relies on archival video footage of the Dalai Lama’s scientific symposiums. There is just no getting around the fact this is a talking film.

The Last Dalai Lama? If Tibet were Free, We Wouldn’t be Asking

The Javits Center is so out of the way, most people do not realize Manhattan extends that far west. It is an evil looking building, but it was the only venue in the City large enough to accommodate the 14^th Dalai Lama’s 80^th birthday and long-life celebration. In contrast, General Secretary Xi could hold his at a table in Starbuck’s, if you excluded all the favor-seekers. Such longevity and so many friends seem to be signs of good karma, yet the Dalai Lama has lived most of his life in exile. Given the worsening human rights situation in his Tibetan homeland, he might be the final Dalai Lama to reincarnate. His Holiness takes stock of his life and legacy in Mickey Lemle’s The Last Dalai Lama (trailer here), which opens this Friday in New York.

Now a vigorous eighty-two-years young, His Holiness has been on the world stage since he was a teenager. When only nineteen, he led a delegation to meet with Tibet’s Chinese occupiers. Initially, he thought he had persuaded Mao and Zhou to allow his people greater freedom of conscience, but alas that was not the case. Eventually, he was forced into exile, but in doing so, he became one of the world’s great statesmen and spiritual leaders. Ironically, he would spread Tibetan Buddhism farther than it had ever reached before. Yet, his commitment to emotional health and awareness always transcends faiths and religions.

In fact, the first half of the film is largely devoted to various educational endeavors that promote healthy mindfulness rather than Buddhist doctrine. That is all very nice, but the film’s title clearly begs a much bigger question. It is indeed true the 14^th Dalai Lama has said he does not expect to reincarnate again—and if he does, it will absolutely not be in Tibet. Again, blame China, who insist the Communist Party must play an active role in “selecting” the reincarnate Dalai Lama, much as they did with the contested Panchen Lama, whom virtually all Tibetans consider an illegitimate puppet because he is. The Panchen Lama officially recognized by the 14^th Dalai Lama has been held incommunicado since 1995. He was six years old at the time.

Lemle does not spend a great deal of time recapping China’s systematic violation of human rights in the captive nation or their rapacious despoilment of the once pristine environment. However, he directly addresses the surge in Tibetan self-immolation to protest the occupation, which deeply pains His Holiness. It also starkly contrasts the militarism of the invading Communists with the humanistic, nonviolent principles of Tibetan Buddhism.

In military terms, this seems to be a mismatch that grossly favors the occupiers. Yet, as Victress Hitchcock’s documentary When the Iron Bird Flies argues (and Lemle’s film largely seconds) Tibet Buddhism has lost all the battles yet it has already won the war. Which has more international adherents, Tibetan Buddhism or whatever the CP currently calls its “Chinese Dream” Crony Capitalistic-Socialist ideology? Who is more respected globally, His Holiness or Xi-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed? There is no contest.

Of course, it does not hurt Lemle’s film that the 14^th Dalai Lama is such a warm, charismatic, and often witty figure (for instance, he archly comments, if the Party now believes in reincarnation so strongly, they should go find the reincarnated Mao.). Lemle, who previously documented His Holiness in Compassion in Exile, once again secured first-class access and continued to share a real rapport with his subject. He also deserves credit for his nonpartisanship, including an insightful segment with former President George W. Bush, the first sitting president to appear publicly with His Holiness. Highly recommended, The Last Dalai Lama? opens this Friday (7/28) in New York, at the IFC Center.

Tibetan Night at Two Boots

NBC has been dubbed “Nothing But Communism” for the fawning coverage of the Chinese government seen during its Olympic broadcasts, so a documentary reminding the world that there is in fact a place called Tibet, which happens to be occupied by China, would seem timely indeed. Screening Saturday night at Two Boots’ Pioneer Theater, the documentary Dancing at Amdo (trailer here) attempts to examine the Tibetan occupation dispassionately from all sides, but in doing so, it leaves many obvious questions unasked.

Amdo starts with historical context, but seems to accept the proposition that pre-Communist Tibet was a feudal society. A local CP official’s assertion to that effect is essentially accepted at face value, which becomes a pattern throughout the film. Evidently there is an ongoing scholarly debate regarding the nature and extent of Tibetan serfdom, and the only academic involved in the film, Dr. Melvyn Goldstein, holds to the position of extreme serfdom. What sounds like a solely academic controversy has greater significance, since Tibet’s presumed history of serfdom has been used to justify the Chinese occupation.

The filmmakers do contend that the Tibetan government in exile is certainly more progressive than whatever may have preceded it, giving them credit for the democratic election of their prime minister. Also, there is no attempt to whitewash the crimes committed during the Cultural Revolution against Tibetan culture. According to the Venerable Amchok Rinpoche, the director of the government in exile’s archives, of the estimated six thousand monasteries existing in Tibet before the Gang of Four’s ascension, “at least 70 percent, seven zero, 70 percent are totally gone.”

In general though, Amdo seems all too willing to let the words of the current Chinese government pass unchallenged. After showing some vintage Cold War cartoons to mock American anti-Communist attitudes, we hear from Ye Xiaowen, the director general for the State Administration for Religious Affairs tell us: “Over the past few years, my office has done a lot of things to protect the Chinese people’s freedom of religious belief.”

That there is even such an agency for “Religious Affairs” is in itself chilling. Considering there are only five officially authorized religions in China and each is directly controlled by that agency, Ye’s statement is quite a jaw-dropper. Even if conditions have improved for Tibetan Buddhists, Chinese Christians would surely take issue with his assurances, and regardless how one feels about Falun Gong practitioners, there is little question they have been persecuted for their beliefs. Far from challenging Ye, we see stills of the filmmakers as Ye praises them, saying: “You are now looking at China through your camera and you are trying to see the truth.”

While at times informative, the greatest problem with Amdo is the lack of independent critical voices at such junctures. Yes, we do hear from the Dalai Lama and other members of the government in exile, like the venerable archivist, who seems to personify wisdom, and is allowed to rebut Ye’s claims late in the film. However, with their homeland occupied by the Chinese, there are very legitimate political and diplomatic reasons for them to be circumspect in their interviews.

The strongest scenes in Amdo document the attempts to keep Tibetan culture alive, through the institutions established by the Dalai Lama and the government in exile. Several officials talk about the distinctions between a living, dynamic art and that which is maintained on life-support in museum-style preservation programs. We also hear about traditional Tibetan productions rewritten by the Chinese to suit their propaganda purposes. Although the results are mixed, in general it seems legitimate contemporary Tibetan culture still remains quite vital.

With the Dalai Lama now accepting the possibility of Hong Kong style Communist rule in Tibet, the region might be reaching a turning point. The richness of Tibetan culture is nicely highlighted in Amdo, so its continued survival is a very real concern. However, the film should not be one’s primary source for historical and geo-political background on the conflict. It screens tomorrow night at Two Boots.

Come for the Dalai Lama, Stay for Genghis Khan

The Missing Peace: Artists Consider the Dalai Lama recently opened at The Rubin Museum of Art in Clesea. Unfortunately, the Chinese will not be able to read a review of the exhibition here, because this site is now being blocked. (That was fast.) What you will see if you go to the Rubin is an uneven exhibit that takes far too much thematic latitude.

If you are expected a great deal of Dalai Lama portraiture, you might be disappointed. There is certainly some, and frankly it represents the best of the show. Chase Bailey’s “Evolution into a Manifestation” uses bold colors in its modernistic depiction. Some “portraits” were more cerebral, like Ken Aptekar’s “I Saw the Figure Five in Gold,” a cool “reincarnation” of Charles Demuth famous numeral painting of William Carlos Williams. There were some representations that were just weird like Sylvie Fleury’s “Kirlian” aura photography, produced from an old pair of his Holiness’ shoes. Even the Dalai Lama himself may have found that a little out there, as the exhibit card notes, when informed of the work: “he chuckled and noted that the shoes had been resoled several times and that the resulting aura might well be that of his cobbler.”

The work included for addressing themes related to the Dalai Lama, filed under headings like Tibet, Belief Systems, Humanity in Transition, and Empathy & Compassion, tended to be a mixed bag. Of course there is a predictably clichéd anti-Bush, anti-Iraq War piece from Tom Nakashima. There is a powerful take on Mao’s barbarism from Tenzing Rigdol titled “Brief History of Tibet,” which depicts the Chairman’s two-faced nature: the placid public mask and “the artist’s perception of Mao’s actual face, wrathful and demonic.” Of course the piece is labeled anti-war, rather than anti-Communist.

There is a virtual tour available, corresponding to the California leg of the traveling exhibit. It does not match the Rubin’s lay out, on the fourth, fifth, and basement levels of the museum. If you do go (free admission after 7:00 Fri.) definitely check out Mongolia: Beyond Chinggis Khan, which offers a somewhat revisionist look at the Mongol leader better known as Genghis.

The exhibit signage makes a compelling case for Khan, as someone who abolished torture, established religious freedom, and repealed taxes for doctors, clergy, and teachers. Whenever he expanded his rule to new lands it seemed a cultural renaissance followed shortly thereafter. Of course during Soviet control of Mongolia, the Communists launched a propaganda campaign against Khan, a Mongol national hero who represented a symbolic threat to their misrule. In 1962 they flip-flopped on their anti-Khan campaign, presumably trying to co-opt his national prestige. The exhibit includes relatively recent photos of Mongolia, including one of a 1962 monument to Khan the Communists built to mark the presumed 800th anniversary of his birth. Now the Communists are gone and the Mongolians openly celebrate Khan.

It seems perverse that in the west, we have largely accepted the attacks against Khan by the Communists and Middle Eastern states that have held a historical grudge against him. He was even portrayed by John Wayne in The Conqueror (1956), which should be enough street cred for any great historical figure.