Catalog Search Results
Summary
Continue a look a Buddhist approaches to death, this time focusing on Tibetan Buddhism’s deep, extensive teachings on the actual process of death and rebirth. Central to this lecture: the fascinating Bardo Thodol (or the Tibetan Book of the Dead), whose lessons are applicable both to Buddhists and non-Buddhists.
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First, look at Chinese traditions involving spirits of the dead and other supernatural beings. Then, visit some of the many possibilities for a soul’s destination in Chinese traditions (including a Pure Land, an underworld, and rebirth). Finally, discover how conflicting views of the afterlife accurately capture our ambivalent feelings about death.
Summary
With beautiful sights and sounds, this series provides a rare glimpse into Chinese culture through the introduction of seven representative dance forms. It traces the historical and geographical roots of the dance traditions in China and looks into what inspires people to create dance, how contemporary artists breathe new life into the dance traditions, as well as the distinguishing features and techniques of each dance form.. Featuring internationally...
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NOVA takes the pulse of China's hyperactive economy, the fastest-growing in the history of the world. During the last two decades, China clamped down on its population growth through its controversial one-child policy, but in recent years it has relaxed those rules, moving in the direction of more reproductive freedom. As the sprawling country develops from a poor nation, China's air, land and water are beginning to suffer. The prospect that all Chinese...
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We call them o-rang-u-tans, which literally means "forest persons" in the Malay and Indonesian languages. They are the only great apes native to Asia. Of all the apes, they are the closest to man in genetic makeup. And they face extinction. Two years in the making, The Disenchanted Forest is an intimate portrayal of the world of orangutans, the threats to their survival and the people committed to help them thrive. The film focuses on a recent discovery...
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Find Me is a profoundly moving documentary that tells the stories of three families who adopt children from China as well as the stories of those who loved these children first; The biological parents who feel they can’t keep their children and the orphanage nannies or foster-families who must say goodbye to the children they’ve raised for months…or years..
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Succession is a key challenge for any empire. As Emperor Akbar aged, follow the rise of his son, Jahangir, who, once emperor, ruled with aplomb and introduced many new innovations to the subcontinent. His own son, Shah Jahan, then constructed the Peacock Throne, the Taj Mahal, and other glorious architectural triumphs.
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Explore the ancient foundations of Hinduism, which emerged from a diverse community of people who identified themselves with the Vedas. By studying these sacred poems and hymns, you’ll discover much about this civilization’s culture and cosmology. You’ll also trace the origins and development of the Indo-European language in this fascinating lecture.
Summary
Between 1947 and 1971, Pakistan was a divided state: separated into East and West, and strained along ethnic lines. The early years of the nation saw numerous coups and uprisings, as well as border wars with India, particularly in Kashmir. Consider the role geography and ethnicity played in the distribution of power.
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Brahmin culture was never as strong in southern India as it was in the north, which meant a diverse range of societies were able to flourish on the Deccan plateau. After explaining some of the region’s historical trends, Professor Fisher highlights the distinctive features and interactions of a few prominent southern kingdoms.
12) The Yoga Gurus
Summary
If you had the chance to meet some of the world’s most enlightened yoga masters, what would you want to know? What would you ask them? The Yoga Gurus is your chance to hear from them! Filmed on location in India from the lap of the Himalayas in Rishikesh to the south in Mysore, you will meet the top yoga teachers from both east and west. Go beyond the physical asanas of yoga and deep into the mind and inner being of a yoga guru. Their words will...
13) Tashi's Turbine
Summary
Set in the grassroots of the Himalayan mountains, TASHI'S TURBINE is an uplifting tale of a small village's attempt to harness renewable, sustainable energy with the power of the wind. The story begins with the strong friendship between Tashi Bista and Jeevan, who journey from Kathmandu to Namdok with hopes of building a stronger Nepal, one wind turbine at a time...Their first site, Namdok, is a humble remote village in Upper Mustang, which previously...
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Lee Yi Min stars as a young boy, Ah Pao, who wants to learn kung fu so that he can avenge his father's death at the hands of the Ghost Faced Killer (Mark Long). The Ghost Faced Killer, meanwhile is hunting down a number of clan leaders who all conspired to have him killed. Before attacking, the killer always throws down his "ghost face killing plate," a decorated metal plate with a red face. He then uses his distinctive five elements style. Ah Pao...
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Now turn from the subcontinent inlands to the sea, where European traders began arriving on the Indian coast to establish global companies, including several East India companies. After surveying Portugal’s 200-year dominance of trade, Professor Fisher shows how the English eventually established their own foothold in the market.
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While the regional governments remained fragmented at the turn of the Common Era, the Brahmins worked to rebuild their cultural prominence. They formally developed what is today Hinduism, thanks to a series of written manuals, or shastras, which lay out the principles of an ideal life—including notions of dharma, kama, artha, and moksha.
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Whether as students, soldiers, or servants, South Asians who left the subcontinent contributed significantly to the cultural exchange among China, continental Europe, and Great Britain. And whereas the British Raj relied on segregation for political control, Indian immigrants in Britain found greater freedom. Reflect on the impact of South Asians throughout the world.
18) Life Asked Death
Summary
Life asked Death, "Why do people love me but hate you?" Death responded, "Because you are a beautiful lie and I'm a painful truth." The developing world represents over 80 percent of the world's population. People living in these countries typically die younger, have less education and money. Asia is home to sixty percent of the world's population. Many of these people live in developing economies. That means less physical and human resources for...
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Witness the rise of the British East India Company and find out how it coincided with the rise of British imperialism. Company leaders often sought glory and expansion, which led to greater British influence and control of South Asia via joint-stock corporations. Take an inside look at these radical developments in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Begin your study millions of years ago, when plate tectonics shaped the subcontinent’s mountains, plateaus, and river systems, which in turn have affected the region’s weather, agriculture, and cultural diversity. Review South Asia’s four macro-regions and see how geography has guided the course of life.