Buddhism Concepts in Khyentse Norbu’s “Travelers and Magicians” (2003)
Written by Khyentse Norbu, “Travelers and Magicians” finds its basis in the lives of two main characters, each seeking a form of completion in their lives. First, there is Dondup, who wants to go to America in an attempt to acquire more money than what his job as a government officer pays. Then there is Tashi, who wants women in his life rather than the studies his father forces him to endure. For Dondup to get to America, he has first to go to the Thimphu after which viewers are unclear on what will happen. After missing the only bus to Thimphu, Dondup first encounters an apple seller and a Buddhist monk with whom he decides to travel. Then the trio meets a rice papermaker and his daughter, both of whom are also going to Thimphu in a bid to sell their merchandise. It is the monk that tells the story of Tashi, a restless young man who thirsts for a life different from the ordinary life of studying. Tashi gains an opportunity to live differently when he gets lost and meets a woodcutter and his beautiful wife Deki. Whilst living with the couple, Tashi begins an affair with Deki, an act that later result in pregnancy. On that note, both Dondup and Tashi want more and seek to have different lives. Tashi completes his journey for a different life and then discovers a different life might not be as comfortable and predictable as he thought. His act of running away from Deki and her husband, whom they poison in fear of his reaction to the pregnancy, is evidence to Tashi’s desire to go back to his past life. Therefore, movie viewers can conclude that, the Buddhist monk sought to teach a lesson to the travelling Dondup. In turn, the lesson's concepts were to aid him in making a sound decision on whether or not he should leave for America. The monk’s narrative depicts a life lesson where a person’s desires are met just so viewers can see the outcomes. Tashi wishes to meet beautiful girls who are “fair-skinned and sexy” (Norbu 32:55) unlike the sunburnt women in his village. Consequently, the runaway horse takes him to the home of an old woodcutter and his beautiful and fair-skinned young wife (Norbu 37:00). It is in the interaction of the three that Buddhism teachings are evident. This research paper seeks to identify the use of the monk’s story in the film to enlighten people on Buddhist ideologies on the audience.
First, concurring with Buddhist teachings Agay, the old woodcutter, opens his home to young Tashi who happens to be injured and cold as the scene portrays an ongoing storm (Norbu 37:18). In “A History of the World's Religions” Noss and Grangaard retell the story of the prince Siddhartha. As the founding father of Buddhism, the prince decides to renounce all his “household life” (166) and embarks on a self-meditation journey. After the failure of his “self-mortification”, entailing the founder’s personal refrain from any form of body luxuries (Noss and Grangaard 169), Siddhartha adopts a new form of meditation. However, he first sought nourishment as his body could no longer “support his intellect” (169). The authors tell of a young woman, Sujata, providing the wandering mendicant with a “bowl of rice cooked in milk” (170). By the woman’s act of kindness, the father of Buddhism attained the doctrines with which believers in the religion continue to live. Consequently, it is safe to argue that the compassion forms the basis in Buddhism religion (Yeh 99). In the narration, the poor woodcutter allows Tashi into his home despite his desire to live in solitude with his wife. Agay also expresses his fear of young men stealing his woman (Norbu 1:08:42). Thus is the case with Agay and the unknown man that later plots his murder with his wife. In accord with Buddhist teachings, Agay continues to house Tashi despite the numerous instances he mentioned awareness of the young man’s imminent betrayal. A good instance is in the scene where Deki is bathing, and Agay tells Tashi that he knows what he is thinking (Norbu 1:12:44). Any other man would have chased the imposing visitor from their home, but Agay maintains the same hospitality from the moment Tashi knocks on his door.
Siddhartha’s teachings originate from a period of self-denial of worldly pleasures and comforts of life and long periods of meditation (Noss and Grangaard 168-171). Consequently, to become a monk, rule number five states, “Abstain from intoxicants” (Noss and Grangaard 172). Agay in the narrative is regularly partaking of an alcoholic brew that, not only interferes with his better judgment, but later leads to his death. The former concept arises in the aforementioned scene where he tells Tashi that he knows what he is thinking (Norbu 1:12:44). It is important for viewers to note that in most conversations, the woodcutter has a drink in his hands and the instant mentioned above is no different. In turn, Tashi and Deki use the man’s love for wine to carry on their affair unnoticed (Norbu 1:20:08). The affair then leads to a pregnancy then finally, the need to kill Deki’s husband. The duo poisoned Agay’s drink with herbs Tashi collects from the forest (1:25:35). Amongst the Buddhists, it is a belief that any form of intoxication will lead to man’s downfall and the narration portrays that notion. In addition, According to Noss and Grangaard, attest to the notion of the “dissolution of desires, the cravings and attachments that leave one vulnerable to suffering” (180). Agay’s experiences fit the Buddhist teaching entirely as it is his cravings for wine and wishes to keep his wife from the eyes of other men that left him vulnerable to his murderers.
Murder is against any religious education, and Buddhism is not different. In addition, Buddhism adapts and modifies the rule of karma as per their doctrines (Noss and Grangaard 175). According to Siddhartha’s teachings, “All elements, all entities, all phenomena are thus related directly and indirectly to one another in the universe” (Yeh 92). Consequently, Buddhists teach that those who renounce their evil desires will find “their old karma is exhausted; no new karma is being produced” (Noss and Grangaard 175). The lesson applies to the monk’s narrative in the sense that when Tashi and Deki kill Agay their blossoming love affair is cut short. In the case of Deki, her karma is harshest because she loses both men. First, her husband lies dying because of the poison (Norbu 1:35:04). Second, ridden by guilt, Tashi runs away from her in a bid to return to his father’s house (Norbu 1:36:19). Finally, yet importantly, Deki falls into a big river thus ending two lives, her own and that of the unborn child (Norbu 1:37:00). On that note, Tashi’s karma comes in the loss of his child and lover. Buddhists believe in the existence of karma but also encourages changes in character that will in turn, disprove any chances of bad karma. In the case of the lovers, if they were to apologize to Agay instead of choosing to kill him, Deki and the baby would have survived.
Conclusively, the whole narration is an experience as a whole in the sense that, whilst Dondup wants a different life outside the village, there are very high chances that America would be disappointing. Just as Tashi finally opts to return to his home, Dondup would probably realize that the boring village has all he needs. As a caution, the monk points out that he has a meaningful and respectable job (Norbu 43:51) and a beautiful girl he can marry (Norbu1:00:22).
Work Cited
Noss, David S. and Gangaard Blake R. A History of the World's Religions, Twelfth Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2007. Print.
Travelers and Magicians. Dir. Khyentse Norbu. Perf. Sonam Lhamo and Lhakpa Dorji Tshewang Dendup. Zeitgeist Films. 2003. YouTube.
Yeh, Theresa Der-lan. "The Way to Peace: A Buddhist Perspective." International Journal of Peace Studies, Vol. 11, No. 1 (2006): 91-112. Print.
