Film: Kundun Part one

Theme: Belief systems

Instructional objective: Students will be able to identify how Buddhism shaped the culture of Tibet and how their beliefs shaped the way they say the world

Motivation: In traditional Tibet a child was chosen who was believed to be the reincarnation of the previous leader of the country and given power to rule. What problems would a child have who was leading a country?

Central question: How did Buddhism create a unique system of chosing a ruler in Tibet?

Plot Summary:

Kundun is the story of the 14th Dalai Lama, from the "discovery" of his "reincarnation" at age two until his self-exile in India after the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Before he reaches maturity, the Dalai Lama is placed at the head of his small, undeveloped and very religious country. He must contend with the surging strength and territorial ambitions of China, a newly unified and invigorated great power. The Dalai Lama's religious beliefs eventually place him into greater and greater conflict with Mao Ze Dong and the People's Republic of China.
The film shows how the boy grows to be a young man, trying to do what is right and serve his people, while resisting the Chinese through nonviolence. Finally, the Dalai Lama is forced to leave Tibet and seek exile in India.

Problems: The film is hardly objective. It portrays the events through the eyes of the Tibetan exile community. There is a serious historical innacuracy in stating that Tibet existed for a thousand years living at peace with its neighbors.

Activity:Students will watch the film and answer the following questions

1) What signs about Kundun show that he was a special child from birth?

2) Why do the rulers of the country believe might be true about Kundun?

3) What tests do they set up to check if Kundun is the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama?

4) What proves to the officials that Kundun is the reincarnation of the last Dalai Lama?

5) Where is Kundun taken and why?

6) Where will Kundun live and how will he be treated?

7) What are five parts of Kundun's training?

8) What does the incident with Reding show about political unrest in Tibet?

9) How do the officials around Kundun show both trust and mistrust of him as a leader?

10) What does Kundun learn about the threat that China poses to his country?

11) What does the letter of the old Dalai Lama warn Kundun about?

12) What happens to Kundun's father and what does it show about Tibetan Buddhist culture?

Assignment: Students will write a Regents essay using information from Kundun: How did Buddhist beliefs affect the power structure of traditional Tibetan society