The documentary "Buddha's Lost Children" directed by Mark Verkerk shows the life of the famous in Thailand Buddhist monk, Khru Bah Neua. During the last 15 years, he dedicates his life to orphaned and abandoned children, raising and giving them everything they would not get if they stayed in their villages. This film is about dedication, compassion and pure love, love to everything Khru Bah has and everything he does.
The film demonstrates the basic Buddhist's canons and ideas about life. So Khru Bah teaches his disciples not to steal, not to lie, and more importantly, he teaches them to concentrate on their own minds and to have them in peace. When the new novice comes, the monk demands from him not only basic repetitions of the Sutras, but pure concentration on them. And judging by that, Khru Bah decides whether he will be a good disciple or not. When something bad happens, Khru Bah always proclaims: "That is because their hearts are not yet in peace". So for him, as for a Buddhist monk, the internal state and presence of internal harmony is the most important thing, and that is what he wants to teach his novices. According to the same principle, he calls the tattoo a test whether you can take your mind out of body or not. If it remains there, the tattoo will hurt. This was very interesting and new Buddhist viewpoint that I grabbed for myself.
Another important aspect of this film is that it destroys the stereotype and misconceptions about Buddhism as the most peaceful religion, which does not permit any physical or mental pressure. Khru Bah says: "If the horse is stubborn, the child needs to beat it. If the child is stubborn, I need to beat him". So he shows them what is right and what is wrong, but as now they are incapable to distinguish between it, sometimes they need to be punished to reach that understanding. He shows them that life is suffering, and only through the dedication to teachings, concentration and peaceful heart, you will become a better person.
What I personally liked the most about this film is the way it is shooted. Because it is so natural, there are not any artificial and high colored scenes. The film shows real lives, real emotions, real people, without any trials to make it more beautiful or more appealing to the eyes of viewers. And looking on that, you feel that you are travelling with them, you see with your own eyes how poor these people from villages are, you hear the cry of that little boy, you feel how kindly the monk talks with you. You feel immersed and affected, that is why the movie touches your heart, and for me, even makes me cry during some episodes.
Overall, it is one of the best documentaries I have seen so far. The story itself is incredible, and sometimes it is very hard to believe that there are such people like Khru Bah, who are so generous, so kind, so caring. And I think this film should be must-watch for everyone independently of the interest in religions, because it teaches us that despite of any harsh conditions of life, it is still possible to be good and to do good to others in any way that you can. Until there are people like Khru Bah, the world is safe.
Review of Buddha's Lost Children
