Inner Peace

Want to know how we watched this movie with our kids? Here are our buttery bits of wisdom:

• This film is an excellent introduction to Buddhism, one of the world's major religions. It is, however, very long and our kids watched it in two installments. They stayed with it for the beautiful, color-saturated scenes depicting Prince Siddhartha and the story of how he gave up his wife and children to seek enlightenment approximately 2500 years ago. We recommend this film for kids over eight; there isn't any profanity or violence and only one adult situation, between a husband and wife.
• Younger Viewers could just watch the Siddharta part of the movie, as there are few films about Buddhism for kids.
• The film raises perplexing questions that may be difficult to answer. In the movie, Jesse's family is asked to allow him travel to Bhutan so that monks can figure out if he is the reincarnation of Buddha. Off the child goes without a satisfying explanation of what will happen if he is determined to be the next Buddha.
• Little Buddha was inspired by the real life story of Sonam Wansdu, born in Seattle in 1992. The great, great nephew of a revered leader of a sect of Tibetan Buddhism, his mother dreamed her son would become a great teacher while she was pregnant. Sonam Wangdu is now living in a monastery in Katmandu, studying to become leader of the sect.
  

Want to know how to talk to your kids about this film?  Here are some conversation starters:

• The idea of reincarnation is central the film, and to Buddhism. Once they understand the concept, ask them to compare Buddhism to their own religion.
• The scenes in Seattle are shot in cool colors like gray and blue.  The action in the East is filled with rich, warm colors.  Ask your kids how the use of color made them feel and what they think the director was trying to acheive.
  
• It's a bit of stunt casting for a popular action star like Keanu Reeves to play the Buddha. Do the kids believe him as Siddhartha, searching for the meaning of life?

Want to know how to enjoy this exhibit with your kids? Here are our buttery bits of wisdom:

• We recommend this adventure for all ages, but go soon - it closes on September 10. The information desk at the entrance has a great set of cards which were a huge hit with our two very active ten year-old boys. The front of each card depicts pieces of art and the boys had fun going on a treasure hunt to find each piece. The back of the cards provided more information, so we parents sounded like art history majors when explaining what we saw to our kids! The exhibit is small enough that a stroller baby can make it through with ease.
  
• The closest UCLA entrance is off Sunset at Westwood. Park in Lot 4 for $7, but don't forget to buy a ticket at a kiosk if the gates are wide open - you'll be ticketed! The Fowler is a short walk from the parking lot and is wheelchair accessible.
• We made a day of our museum visit by loading bikes into the car, and exploring the UCLA campus - a great adventure for a summer day when students are still on vacation. The Fowler's guard let the kids park their bikes in a side room next to his desk. Our kids' favorites spots around campus include a student cafe with Baskin-Robbins ice cream and the Ackerman Union bookstore and food court.
• The Fowler Museum is dedicated to exploring diversity and is an elegant, yet accessible, spot for a quick dose of culture. It's low key, and free and the exhibits are off-the-beaten and surprisingly original.
  
• COOL FACTS: The word Lama is translated as teacher. The current XIV Dalai Lama has been the first to travel to the West, started the Free Tibet campaign and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
  

Want to know a little more about Buddhism in Los Angeles?  Here are a few tidbits:

• The Dalai Lama is scheduled to be in the Los Angeles area from Sept. 12 - 14, 2006.  A public talk is scheduled at the Gibson Ampitheatre at Universal City.  For tickets, contact www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1038252.
  
• Tibet is a huge country, about three times the size of California, that is surrounded by some of the highest mountains in the world. In 1950 the Chinese invaded Tibet and in 1959, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet and established a government in exile in Dharamsala, India.
  
• In 1989, The Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, in part for his commitment to nonviolent approach to negotiating peace between Tibet and China. He has worked to preserve his country's culture and history and to spread his message of compassion, tolerance and peace. If your kids are interested, have them watch Kundun, described below.
• There are different Buddhist sects throughout the world.  In Los Angeles, different communities have different beliefs and their own places of worship, including:  Nishi Hongwanji Temple (founded in 1925, this is the oldest Buddhist temple in Los Angeles and now a part of the Japanese American National Museum); Hsi Lai Temple (founded in 1988, this is the largest Buddhist monastery in the United States); Dharma Sah Zen Center (Korean, near Park La Brea), Khemara Buddikaram (Cambodian, in in Long Beach), Wat Thai (Thai in North Hollywood).  Khandakapala Buddhist Center in Los Angeles offers meditation classes in the Tibetan style.  http://www.meditateinla.org// or 323-223-0610.
  
• COOL FACT: Some experts claim that Los Angeles will be the center of American Buddhism in the 21st Century given large Thai, Korean, Sri Lankan, Vietnamese, Zen, Chinese and Japanese communities in Southern California.
  

Want cyberspace connections to learn more about The Dalai Lama?  Here are our surfing suggestions:

• http://www.dalailamafoundation.org/members/en/index.jsp  A wonderful site with curriculum guides for parents and educators that digs deeper into "The Missing Peace;" also includes more information of The Dalai Lama and links to other sites.
  
• http://www.teachwithmovies.org/ This website is geared for educators and requires a nominal annual fee, but we love their segment about Little Buddha.