Mount Kailash Return to Tibet

Starring:Paul Horn
Studio: Janson Video Inc
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
The sequel to Journey Inside Tibet, this extraordinary film documents musician Paul Horn's return pilgrimage to one of the most spiritual and remote places in the world. According to four Eastern religions, Mount Kailash is the spiritual center of the universe. This is a beautifully filmed program with a deep message regarding overcoming obstacles, enduring when the odds are against you and getting in touch with a simpler and quieter lifestyle.

On this DVD:
Two complete one-hour documentary films ...
 The original Journey Inside Tibet, hosted and narrated by Kris Kristofferson
 Mt. Kailash: Return to Tibet, recorded in Dolby 5:1 stereo surround sound
 Behind the Music of Mt. Kailash, featurette immediately following Mt. Kailash

Description

The sequel to Journey Inside Tibet, this extraordinary film documents musician Paul Horn's return pilgrimage to one of the most spiritual and remote places in the world. According to four Eastern religions, Mount Kailash is the spiritual center of the universe. This is a beautifully filmed program with a deep message regarding overcoming obstacles, enduring when the odds are against you and getting in touch with a simpler and quieter lifestyle.

On this DVD:
Two complete one-hour documentary films ...
• The original Journey Inside Tibet, hosted and narrated by Kris Kristofferson
• Mt. Kailash: Return to Tibet, recorded in Dolby 5:1 stereo surround sound
• Behind the Music of Mt. Kailash, featurette immediately following Mt. Kailash

Bonus Features:
• Journey Inside Tibet trailer
• Mt. Kailash: Return to Tibet trailer
• Debates and Yarlung Valley
• Potala Palace

Customer Reviews:

Tibet Visited And Revisited.......2006-09-01

There are two documentaries on this DVD. The first, entitled Journey Inside Tibet, was made in 2000 when Grammy Award winning flutist Paul Horn travelled inside Tibet with his friend Lama Tenzin who fled his country 40 years before that.

Paul Horn hoped to play his flute in the Potala Palace. Lama Tenzin wished to reunite with his family. They arrived at Kathmandu and visited the Tibetan refugee "camp" (actually a carpet factory). Here, they were told about how difficult and dangerous their journey was going to be. Then, the next scene shows the duo walking happily across the Friendship Bridge. Those expecting an arduous trek or a sneaky slip will probably be disappointed.

The duo then crossed some high passes (on buses), often on muddy roads that cut through glaciers. There is a lot of beautiful mountain scenery and also a few "opportunistic" shots of incense production and Tibetan school children studying in their own language. The "sensationalists" may be disappointed to know that this is pretty much what goes on in Tibet most of the time. I think this documentary is able to put the political issues in proper perspective.

The duo arrived at Tashilhunpo Monastery where Lama Tenzin met up with his family. At Lhasa, Paul Horn first played his flute at the Jokhang Temple while the monks chanted. Then, he obtained permission to play in the Potala Palace. A monk said that his flute sounded spiritual. Indeed it does. Paul Horn's music really blends quite well with the atmosphere of the Grand Assembly Hall of the Potala Palace.

The duo finally visit Samye Monastery, the oldest temple in Tibet. Lama Tenzin prays inside while Paul Horn plays his flute.

The second part of this DVD is a documentary made 3 years later in 2003. Lama Tenzin had passed away and Paul Horn wants to release his ashes on the Kailash kora. This time, there was political turmoil in Nepal. There was a rumour that Kailash was closed. Paul Horn wrongly attributed it to some Free Tibet movement and is worried that he might not be able to enter Tibet.

Well, there was actually a Maoist (nothing to do with China) insurgency that swept over Western Nepal, taking the overland route from Nepal to Tibet out of the control of the Nepalese government. Entering Kailash from China was never a problem.

Anyway, Paul Horn decides to do the 3-day kora (circumambulation of the sacred mountain) on foot. At 71, he was remarkably strong. Footage includes weary but amazingly pious pilgrims doing their prostrations and of course, stunning views of the sacred peak. With help from a yak, Paul Horn arrives at Dolma La, the highest point on the kora (above 5000m). A ceremony is held here to honour Lama Tenzin. After the trek, Paul Horn visits Lake Manasarovar.

Maybe because of the high altitude, I find that Paul Horn's narration is not very well done. Perhaps there should have been more studio recordings for the narration.

Visually beautiful.......2006-08-12

The visuals in both features (Journey Inside Tibet and Mount Kailash: Return to Tibet, both of which are included on the DVD) are lovely. In many spots, the camera simply lingers on a scene, almost like a photograph-- of a mountain with snow blowing off it or butter lamps burning, but because it is video, the snow moves, the flames flicker; otherwise, the scene simply lingers.

However, the narration is not only apolitical, it is also simply flat and uninspiring. Paul Horn doesn't seem to have much to say about what he sees and feels. And I am not sure that he honors Tibetan culture and religion by super-imposing his flute playing on nuns chanting, workers singing folk-songs, yaks climbing, and so forth. To be honest, I would prefer to hear the authentic music of Tibet.

Good.......2005-10-14

I like it best the second part of the film, the scenary is fantastic. What I didn't like of the first part of the film was when the camera appears in slow motion, and I think there was no reason for that. Other than that I quite like it. If you are interested in Tibetan Buddhism I recommend you to read the books by W.Y. Evans-Wentz.

Awesome Tibet.......2005-08-20

This video is probably one of the best I have seen concerning Tibet. It covers Tibetan culture, geography, history and the beautiful music of Paul Horn. I would reccomend it to anyone who wants to see what Tibet is really like in its pristine condition. The music of Paul Horn in this video is as always a pure musical treasure.

Anything Worthwhile Does Not Come Easily.......2004-07-19

This 2003 DVD release, "Mount Kailash, Return to Tibet", contains two complete documentaries. The title documentary follows 71 year old flutist, Paul Horn, on a pilgrimage to the 32 mile Kora trail, which circles the base of sacred Mount Kailash. Also included on this disc is 1998's PBS feature, "Journey Inside Tibet", which follows Paul Horn and his traveling companion, Lama Tenzin. For "Journey Inside Tibet", Paul Horn's goal was to play his flute inside Tibet's Potala Palace, while Lama Tenzin's goal was to visit his homeland and see his family there.

Despite the title of the DVD, for the best comprehension of both works, the viewer should watch "Journey Inside Tibet" first, then follow it with another session dedicated to the viewing of the title piece.

"Journey Inside Tibet" begins in Kathmandu, Nepal at a Tibetan refugee camp. Here we see work being done at a local carpet making factory. Next, footage of the colorful Ka-Nying Shedrupling Monastery is shown, where the pilgrims make audio and video recordings of it's ceremonies. Documentation of a difficult 520 mile bus trip, along the friendship highway, follows. The travelers stop occasionally while on their way, to observe the life of the rural peoples.

After some 30 minutes into the documentary, the travelers reach their destination, Lhasa. They start their visit at the Tashihunpo Monastery, founded by the first Dalai Lama. It is here that Lama Tenzin meets his family. Then, on to the Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace where Paul Horn plays his flute.

In the years between the making of the two documentaries, Lama Tenzin dies, so with "Mount Kailash, Return to Tibet" there are again two goals. Paul Horn's spiritual pilgrimage to the mountain. Also, the dispersal of Lama Tenzin's ashes at the Kora trail's summit. Again, the difficult traveling conditions of a 1000 mile journey are documented, along with the sights and sounds of the local peoples. The focus, with "Mount Kailash", is primarily on the Tibetan natural world.

Both documentaries are accompanied by engaging soundtracks. These were recorded after each trip was completed, but were based on sounds acquired while in Tibet. These sounds were then supplemented with studio overdubbing and sonic layering techniques.

This DVD can be recommended, with confidence, to those with an interest in Buddhism or spiritually centered music.

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