User Reviews

I enjoyed this movie for so many different levels. for one it lacked the high 'sophisticated, philosophical' atmosphere that we see in other more in-depth documentaries on the Dharma. Due to this, it had an entertaining quality that allowed you to relax and open up to it. The messages shown in the documentary were I found quite lax, because there was no real depth. At the same time as an introduction to general Buddhism, it did a nice job. I watch the movie again and again because, as a student of Buddhism, I like to be reminded about the core ideas in a way that sin't as scholarly as other sources. I gave it an 7/10 because not only is it fun at times, but as a piece of entertainment it does not cookie cut Buddhism as other shows have done in the past.

I met Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche (the teacher) before I had heard about the film. I then read the reviews and was initially duped by the negative comments. Recently I met Luc (the Vancouver student) at a meditation retreat and found him to be much wiser than he lets on. I had purchased the DVD and watched it for the first time yesterday. It's one of those films that you can watch again and again and discover another profound teaching hidden in the words - if you're willing and able to go there. If not, then it will not seem useful. DKR carries on the traditions of the great masters of the past and is an important bridge that transcends ancient Eastern teachings to the "modern" Western minds.

For non-practitioners, it is a good introduction to Buddhism. And those who are, there are many insightful comments about finding a good teacher. In either case, there are life lessons that are very profound.

When it comes to films about the Buddhist and Hindu worlds, you really have to know beforehand what you're looking at, otherwise it will make little or no sense -- or worse. Capturing the inner journey on film is probably impossible. Having issued that warning, I can tell you this is a good film.

When we first meet Rinpoche (a reincarnated Tibetan Buddhist teacher), he is a solitary little man walking around London, followed by a handful of totally enthralled students. He has a passion for soccer, and apparently good food, too. It is not clear if he has a shrine room, an organization, or a practice center -- the usual venue for Buddhist teachers. He seems aware of but untouched by his surroundings.

It is only when we get to his home base in Bhutan that we see he is a major spiritual, social, and political figure. People are bowing to him all over the place, he blesses hundreds of people, he is chauffered, and wined and dined.

So what does this actually tell us about the dharma? A lot, but you have to know what you're seeing before you see it. First, his Western students are immensely lucky to have such access to him; they hang out watching TV, cook dinner together, etc. As Rinpoche laments himself, in Buddhist countries the gap is too great between him and the ordinary people for him to be as effective a teacher as he should.

It also shows us how an enlightened being is truly without ego pretense. He is as happy and comfortable living in a plebe flat in London, as sitting on a throne in Bhutan and naming babies for groveling parents. He is not so much a teacher of important subject matter, but the embodiment of that subject matter. It's that total lack of pretense that rings true. Not that he's an easy man to be around -- far from it, but it is one of the jobs of the real teacher to keep his students off balance. It keeps them from turning into a barnacle on the guru, and forces them to work with their own minds, which is the whole point of this particular spiritual path. Occasionally he does say a few words about the dharma, mostly geared to Westerners.

This film also contains a gem of an interview, two interlaced interviews actually, one of them with Gesar Mukpo, the half American/half Tibetan son of Chogyam Trungpa Rin. and a tulku in his own right, and the other with Steven Seagal, who gets sliced and diced as a total phony. People need to be warned about the bad teachers. In fact, it was around the time Steven Seagal was enthroned that I left Buddhism as a formal member.

So once again, this is a film for true believers. Preaching to the choir so to speak. It is also possible for someone who knows nothing about Buddhism to watch this film and become inspired to check out the dharma, and I think that was a primary reason he gave approval for the film.

It's been about 40 years since Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism landed in the West, and this film is a fascinating reality check on how it is developing. This film shows that overall it is developing very well, not only in terms of creating good students, but challenging Tibetans to adapt the core of their teachings to a very alien culture.

"Words of My Perfect Teacher" follows around three disciples of a Tibetan/Bhutanese Buddhist teacher as they deal with his abrasive spiritual teaching techniques.

The movie is really so ridiculous that it becomes entertaining. The three disciples (one of whom is the director) are slavish puppy-dogs to the teacher, following him around the world while hanging on his every word and emitting high-pitched fake laughter at his jokes. One disciple from Vancouver has to be one of the most annoying and obnoxious characters ever captured on screen. These people don't need spiritual enlightenment, they need therapy and some friends.

Technically, the movie is poorly done. The narrative thread follows the teacher, the director's spritual journey, the progress of the film as the teacher disappears for months and the other disciples at random intervals. Instead of insight into the people in the film, the film inserts scene after scene of the characters looking around in quick cuts while 'profound insight' music plays.

For all of this, the lives portrayed in the film are reasonably interesting, and the film is such a train wreck that it'll keep your interest for most of the time.

5/10

The beauty of the cinematography of the film is undeniable. One can enjoy getting to know the four main characters of the film through all of their trails. As one who is not familiar with Buddhist practice, it is an interesting introduction to the Tibetan Buddhist practice of the living teacher, and the tests that his students must endure. The viewer is allowed to participate in the journey, not only throughout the gorgeous mountains of Bhutan, but also the spiritual journey of the students. One cannot sit and watch this film without having one's breath taken away by the beauty of this country. Soundtrack is great as well!

Point of Reference: I am a REAL novice to the study of Buddhism-I've just started down this path and Perfect Teacher was the first film I've seen on Buddhism. Great treatment of the subj., but on a very basic level. I was looking for something with a bit more substance, but found it entertaining and somewhat enlightening. :) There were several times when I was surprised by the words or actions of the director of the film-it would have been useful to have had an understanding of the backgrounds of those involved making the film, with respect to their own journeys in Buddhism, their thoughts / experiences to date, etc. Without that its difficult to understand their words / actions in context.

The version of the film we saw had sub-titles which I found distracting. I would see the film again just to focus my attention on Rimpoche Khyentse-there were times when his words got lost in the "background noise".

I enjoyed watching this movie so much, next day i watched it again. Why? This movie gives a very good view of how a vajrayana teacher can train his students. Usually, vajrayana teachers are Tibetan Buddhist teachers. The vajrayana path is the quick path, but it is not without dangers and it requires a good connection with a vajrayana teacher, or lama. "he has to be the mirror, to see yourself. but he is also the assassin, he is the man or the woman whom you have hired to completely dismantle you" In the movie we follow a few students, some new, some old, while making this film. This is one of the good points, you can see the questions a new student has, a stage which the older student has passed already. The teacher just acts spontaneously, which is no problem unless you are rigid: and, aren't we all? "Guess what, happiness cannot be found in the refrigerator" Another good point is that the movie is interspersed with the wisdom of Dzongsar Khyenste, and he makes some really good comments."When you don't have obsessions, when you don't have hangups, when you don't have inhibition,when you are not afraid; you will be breaking some rules, when you are not afraid, you will not be fulfilling someone's expectation's, what more enlightenment do you want?" I agree with the other commentator that segal is a kind of strange or maybe negative thing in the movie. But then I cannot but agree to what he says "nobody knows for sure whether he's an idiot or a great master" The biggest downside of the movie is that if people themselves are not students of a vajrayana teacher, I'm doubtful they will understand the movie. (which can explain the low grade!) But, this is really an inside look into vajrayana Buddhism. Especially for students, but also for anyone interested I can highly recommend it. But, it all depends on your View!

If you pay attention, you might discover the answers you've been searching for to the ultimate questions. Have you ever wondered what causes suffering? or what is the path to happiness? Well, it's all here. But, the question is, can you see your own eyelashes? This is a rare opportunity to spend time with a Buddhist Master who has no qualms about revealing secrets that many have spent lifetimes searching for.

Other reviewers of the film have found some characters in this film irritating, but perhaps they were seeing themselves in it, and it was too difficult for them to accept. Sometimes it's hardest to have compassion for ourselves, to build the confidence to walk out of our own ignorance.

One bit which I found lacking was the one sided view offered of Steven Seagal. And, the transitioning around his segment which "subtlely inferred doubt and a negative view". This is just my preference for the Verite style over that of Documentary. That's all...