Little Buddha

4 Pages 927 Words

Little Buddha
To “know” rather than believing or wishing, not being afraid to examine anything and everything, including one’s own personal agenda is how one can truly believe in the Buddhist way. In the movie Little Buddha, two characters struggle to find meaning in their life and embark on a journey towards a new way, the middle way. In order to comprehend any given message one must examine and see firsthand. Siddhartha and Dean realized they had to embark on an individual journey in order to fully understand and feel a concept come alive. Only when they are able to see what is true, can then begin to genuinely understand anything. Until then, they have to suspend judgment and criticism and just observe. Dean and Siddhartha had to accomplish similar obstacles on their journey, to put aside preference in order to obtain an open mind, in order for them to have "awareness". Siddhartha experienced helplessness similar to Dean through demonstrating over devotion on their first journey in the search of meaning. In order to find the right “middle” path and overcome their self-contained ways, they had to experience helplessness.
To live life through stories is not enough, one must take a journey to expose the self to diversity and begin the path towards the middle way. In the beginning of the movie, the importance of Jesse’s important day seemed void to his father, Dean Conrad. His father held a negative view towards the Buddhist priests and their intrusion in his home. His concerns were devoted to his own worries and his friend’s fear of bankruptcy. His hindered views affected his sons’ ability to experience another way of life, a “myth” as Dean said. In parallel to Jesse, Siddhartha is prisoner to his dad’s narcissistic views, unable to view the world outside his familiar city walls. You can see in the next scene that Jesse’s father as well as Siddhartha begins to embark on their individual yet connec...