Richard gere on a Timely Film Celebrating the Dalai Lama’s โLife โand Message
Actor Richard Gere reflects on his involvementโ withโค a new film centered around theโ life and teachings of the Dalai Lama, a figure he’s known and admired for decades. He believesโ theโ film arrives at a โฃcrucial moment, โoffering a โฃmuch-needed “corrective” to a world increasingly defined by โfear, โฃanger, and distrust.
Gere explains that the film’sโค core message focuses on the โฃfundamental โnature of human beings, challenging the societal narrative of a competitive, “dog-eat-dog”โค world. He emphasizes the dalai Lama’s belief that inherent kindness, generosity, and compassion are our true selves, obscured by temporary โmental states and labelsโ – political affiliations, national identities, even our understanding of what it means to be โคhuman โคor animal.โ These, he argues, are constructs that can be managed and ultimately transcend.
Initially envisioned as a centerpiece for the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday celebration, the film’s relevance has only deepened asโ global tensions have escalated. Gere notesโฃ a pervasive “dissonant, crazy reality” he observes during his travels, extending far beyond the United States.He describesโฃ theโ film as functioning as “medicine,” prompting viewers to examine thier current โฃstate, understand howโข theyโ arrived there, and envision a more positive future.
The film’s message โขof peace, happiness, and compassion inspires a senseโค of personal duty, Gere acknowledges. He stresses that individuals are โคultimately accountable for their own experiences and โฃthat โขpositive change begins with self-advancement and dedicated practice. โคHe points to theโ Dalai Lama himself, who โฃat 90 years old, still dedicates hours to daily practice before engaging with the world.
Gere highlights the Dalai Lama’s unwavering optimism and commitment to helping everyone, even those he perceives as acting โfrom a place of negativity. He explains that the Dalai Lamaโฃ views harmful behavior as stemmingโค from “self-cherishing,” leading to ignorance and ultimately, destructive actions.โฃ However, he believes this “illness” can be overcome,โ revealing โthe inherent loving and compassionate nature within each person.
What might surprise audiences โabout โคthe Dalai Lama,Gere suggests,is โฃhis very human side.โ Heโค recountsโ aโ moment during filming where raw footageโ captured the Dalai lama needing assistance withโข simple tasks like sitting and finding his glasses. This seemingly mundane detail, initially considered for removal, was ultimatelyโค retained because it revealed a relatable vulnerability, demonstrating that โขeven a figure of such immense spiritual stature โexperiences everyday human moments.