In the 1997 film Seven years in Tibet, Heinrich Harrer struggles as he is caught in the Buddhist Wheel of Life, but through a relationship with the Dalai Lama, is able to find himself and his purpose.
Heinrich’s Enlightenment
Soon his mindset starts changing. He regrets deceiving his friend Peter by making him sell his father’s watch while Heinrich had three. Another early sign of his transformation comes in one of the letters he writes:
In this place where time stands still it seems like everything is moving. Including me. I can't say I know where I'm going nor if my bad deeds can be purified. There are so many things I have done that I regret. But when I come to a full stop I hope you understand that the distance between us is not as great as it seems.
Heinrich is starting to see that his former ideas were destructive and that the path that one takes in life is the path that is chosen by each person.
Heinrich and the Dalai Lama
This transformation becomes even more complete and apparent when Heinrich develops a relationship with the Dalai Lama (whom he calls Kundun). In their conversations, Kundun asks Heinrich many questions about himself, which causes Heinrich to evaluate himself more intensely than ever before.
At one point, Kundun asks Heinrich why he loves mountain climbing so much. Heinrich replies that he loves it because of “the absolute simplicity. That's what I love. When you're climbing, your mind is clear and free from all confusions. You have focus, and suddenly the light becomes sharper, the sounds are richer and you're filled with the deep, powerful presence of life.”
This could be comparable to mindfulness meditation and the idea that enlightenment is always there and available if a person will reach out and take it. Heinrich also states that the only other time that he has felt that sort of freedom was in the presence of Kundun. Later, Kundun tells Heinrich that “the Buddha said 'Salvation doesn't come from the sight of me. It demands strenuous effort and practice, so work hard and seek your own salvation constantly.'”
This clarifies things for Heinrich, who has almost started living for Kundun in the same manner that he had been living for himself. He finally sees that his path is not in Tibet fighting or dying for Kundun, nor is it living his life the way it was before. What he finally decides to do is to return home to his son and try to fix the mistakes of his past.
Heinrich’s Balance in Seven Years in Tibet
Although Heinrich does not appear to become a Buddhist or abandon all things in life, it is apparent that Buddhism and the people of Tibet who practiced it taught him a lot about letting go of things that were hurting himself and others.
They also taught him to remember himself and realize who he wanted to be, and that life is a journey towards enlightenment. In the end, Heinrich can be seen as a man who took the best from both worlds and landed in the middle somewhere. In this sense, he did end up following the Buddha’s “middle path” philosophy.
Sources:
- Dr. Ronald Green. Classroom Lecture. Coastal Carolina University. 25 Sept 2007.
- Keith Millis. "Tibet." Northern Illinois University.
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