Every once in a while, hatred in the name of religion raises its ugly head. Fortunately, every once in a while, individuals rise above the muck and strengthen the truth that understanding and compassion cuts across all religious extremism. Such is the story of the movie ‘My name is Khan’.

Set in America, this movie tells the story of Rizvan Khan, a displaced Indian in the great apple. Rizvan is also autistic with Asperger’s Syndrome. Being autistic has one advantage and that is to see life through simple yes-no reality.

This is one great movie albeit a long one lasting something like 3 hours (161 minutes). If you are watching it on CD, I suggest you start spinning the disk in the early evening and bring lots of tissue. Unless of course you are into late nights or tomorrow is an off day. If not you will end up like me, slipping to bed at 2am!
I can’t help but say this. Shah Rukh Khan had never been my favorite. There was something about his youthful cheekiness that did not appeal to me. But of course, zillions of teenager and those in their late fifties totally disagree and would happily kill me. I mean, I seriously believe that the proposers for his Datukship must be women. How else could it be?!

All this aside, Khan captivated me here. I can begin to understand why he is a treated like a god in India. Indians of all sects and religion speaks of him with affection in their eyes. Even Tibetan sweet young things. His portrayal of an autistic seems rather stiff and predictable but then he is forgiven simply because there is something about Khan that you cannot resist.

And I must not forget to mention Kajol Devgan who plays the female lead. She may not have the god queen look but her glittering eyes and typical playful Indian charm should be enough to captivate. I think she was at her best towards the end as a woman with resolve of steel.
Watch this movie though for the sake of its theme. It is about cutting through that invisible divide that separates us. A divide created only in our own mind, confused by untruths spread and infused by society which is blind and know no better.

Finally enjoy the movie for the great love and warmth as we follow the lives of Muslims, Hindus and Christians who find truth in the end.

Yah movie mujkho borhot prasande hu!

It is taught that the practice and fruition of all virtues begin with generosity.

Come to think of it, it seems to make sense. It is only through being able to give things away that stuff like ego, pride, selfishness can be conquered. Suddenly, that voice of ours that says, “Hey, this ten dollars is mine so why should I give it away?” sounds so loud. If we pause to listen, that is.

There is the giving of money and there are other forms of giving like giving of a smile, assistance, knowledge, trust and so forth which brings me to a movie.

I saw the movie Seven Pounds recently. It is an old show – Will Smith and the lovely Rosario Dawson. The theme is giving and it is the giving of what is dearest to all of us – our body parts and our life! It is also about paying for our mistakes, about remorse but that is only what I perceive from the show and not what the script intended.

Reverend Dhamaratana talked about donation of organs recently. It is logical that once we are dead, our organs are of no use to us. And truth be told, our carcass has to be left behind. It is not likely that the keeper of Hades will ask us to see our passport and do a body search to check that all the parts and organs are complete.

Eerie thought but I have an excuse. My old worn out parts are a bad bargain.

With the recent interest in Wing Chun Kung Fu movies, I find this screen test of Bruce Lee rather interesting. I am not a Bruce Lee fan as such but much credit is owed to him for popularising Wing Chun, directly or indirectly.

Tibetan Prayer Flags Yushu

Watching the movie 2012 was fun but who would believe that the world would end in 2012. Not for another million years! Well, in the movie it did. Well…almost did. (I will not tell you the ending so as not to spoil your fun, just in case you have yet to watch it).

I have a friend who is really seriously concerned that the Mayan prediction that the world will end in 2012 is true. He is still really serious – making his career and money!

It was a movie to be enjoyed. Not much emphasis on the doomsday thing but there is something on human values. What value that is, you will have to watch to find out. But there is one part featuring Tibetans which I find purposeful.

Although I only know the Tibetans and their culture in a superficial way, I do think that they have suffered much injustice at the hands of the Chinese. It has been 50 years or so now that the red army marched in and took over Tibet and claimed it as part of China. Atrocities and cruelty were unleashed onto defenseless herdsmen while the world silently watched.

Tibet’s misfortune is the world’s fortune. Tibet has been the archive of the full collection of Buddhist teachings and with them scattered like ants across the globe, precious teachings which would otherwise have remained locked within the Land of Snow.

Tibet today remains colonized.

Thus, I am glad that the movie 2012 has a part where Tibetans are featured. Kudos to the producers, writers and all else on the team! Most may not understand the language spoken but at the very least, people may know Tibet still exists and hopefully try to understand their plight more.

I hope soon the leaders and people of China will have the wisdom to give Tibet back to the Tibetans. Now they are prisoners in their own land.

I saw Jack today. It is a movie starring Robin Williams and the lovely Jennifer Lopez.

It was the last scene that made me think. This show is about a boy who ages four times faster than normal kids.  So by the time he graduated from high school he was like 70.

Having the honor of giving the speech at the graduation ceremony, he said life is short. So we should not waste too much time. Look at me, he said.

The point struck. For the better part of our busy lives, we tend not to realize that time is so precious. We procrastinate and push things off to another day. Before we realize it, we are on the way down. Our body aches more and in more places too. We could not do the things of youth anymore.

Believe me, this is true because it is happening to me. It is better to get out there and do the things that matters and not wait.

As to what it is that matters, each one of us differs. But to me, it means finding that elusive meaning in life. And also to me, it means being able to be happy for with happiness nothing else matters.

Just like the story of three people who were given one wish each. The first wished for lots of money yet wanted more. He was not happy. The second wished for wealth and fame but with that he was not happy because he had no one to share it with. A lovely understanding wife was missing.

Would the third learn from their error and wished for wealth, fame and wives. No he did not. Or did he wish for more wishes? He did not.

He made the wisest choice. He wished for happiness.

Happiness is the ultimate. With that, there is nothing more. If you lack a certain thing, the power of your wish will ensure you get it since if you do not have that, you cannot be happy and your wish would not be fulfilled.

We may not get real wishes like that in the story but then I feel happiness is related to contentment. It is also not about the degree of happiness. Happiness either is there or it is not. There are many ways but I read that the first step lies in understanding craving. I think that is true.