Young Jigme
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Release Year:
2014
Story:
There are two roads in the woods. You can only take one of them, and wonder about the other for the rest of your life. Longwu is a temple of no more than 20 monks. When 17-year-old Jime became a junior monk there, he had no idea whether it's better to renounce or to join the secular world. The temple quietly sits in the depths of a mountain. It's far away from the bustles and hustles of about a dozen big and small villages around. But, on all occasions related to people's births and deaths, the monks would be invited by villagers to hold solemn chanting sessions to help the souls enter or leave this world. For a young monk like him, frequent visits to the villages make it much harder to practice Buddhism than just living in solitude. It could even have been easier to practice it in a fully secular environment. In fact, since Jime joined the temple, half of the monks have left for various reasons, and have each found a spot for themselves in the secular world. Hence, from time to time, Jime wonders, “Must I chant sutras day after day? Is there a more meaningful way of life?” During the rainy season of a year, all things grow, and all Buddhist monks stay in their temples to practice Buddhism without going out at all. This year, with only 11 monks left, there are not enough junior monks to officially receive the precepts during summer recluse. The temple seniors decide to have three young monks to do this. Jime is fully aware what this means to him. He has read the 253 precepts. He used to think that monks have the right to take off their Buddhist garments and return to their secular homes. But once they have received the precepts, unless they are expelled by their temples, few of them will ever drop out. But he doesn’t know which path is better. Once he makes a step, there shall be no return. He patiently waits for an answer to dawn on him. On a dark night, Jime takes out the long roll of sutra that he reads every day, and cleans it carefully by a lamp. This summer, someone has come to the crossroad of life. Of the two roads out there, he can only choose one.
There are two roads in the woods. You can only take one of them, and wonder about the other for the rest of your life. Longwu is a temple of no more than 20 monks. When 17-year-old Jime became a junior monk there, he had no idea whether it's better to renounce or to join the secular world. The temple quietly sits in the depths of a mountain. It's far away from the bustles and hustles of about a dozen big and small villages around. But, on all occasions related to people's births and deaths, the monks would be invited by villagers to hold solemn chanting sessions to help the souls enter or leave this world. For a young monk like him, frequent visits to the villages make it much harder to practice Buddhism than just living in solitude. It could even have been easier to practice it in a fully secular environment. In fact, since Jime joined the temple, half of the monks have left for various reasons, and have each found a spot for themselves in the secular world. Hence, from time to time, Jime wonders, “Must I chant sutras day after day? Is there a more meaningful way of life?” During the rainy season of a year, all things grow, and all Buddhist monks stay in their temples to practice Buddhism without going out at all. This year, with only 11 monks left, there are not enough junior monks to officially receive the precepts during summer recluse. The temple seniors decide to have three young monks to do this. Jime is fully aware what this means to him. He has read the 253 precepts. He used to think that monks have the right to take off their Buddhist garments and return to their secular homes. But once they have received the precepts, unless they are expelled by their temples, few of them will ever drop out. But he doesn’t know which path is better. Once he makes a step, there shall be no return. He patiently waits for an answer to dawn on him. On a dark night, Jime takes out the long roll of sutra that he reads every day, and cleans it carefully by a lamp. This summer, someone has come to the crossroad of life. Of the two roads out there, he can only choose one.
Casts & Crews:
Liu Cuilan
Directors
Runtime:
83
minutes
Language:
Director‘s Statement:
Most of the 17-year-olds I know seem to either aspire cities more than the countryside, or are forced to move to cities, from all places and taking all kinds of identities. In summer 2009, while I conducted a field study in the pastoral area of Amdo, Tibet, I bumped into this young boy named Jime. Jime is a special one; he had just dropped out of school to be a monk at the Longwu Temple then. What could happen to this young boy on the path he takes? How long shall he persist? I have personally imagined what my life will be if I shave all my hair and become a nun. It’s just that I’ve never made this idea come true. Since I met this 17-year-old, I started filming his life at Longwu hoping to find answers to my own questions. Through the camera lens, I witnessed all kinds of challenges he has to take—and he is not alone. Quite a few junior monks of his age are faced with the same circumstances. What I didn't expect is that, when I returned to the temple the next summer, half of the monks have left for various reasons. Soon, Jime started to wonder whether he should stay in the temple anymore. This documentary takes us to see the joy, challenges and loss of a young monk living a temple life.
Casts & Crews
Liu Cuilan
Director
