Shown at the Trycicle on-line Buddhist film festival, Crazy Wisdom charts the life and times of Chogyam Trungpa, the rebel Tibetan Buddhist Lama who died of alcohol poisoning and left a legacy that is surprisingly untarnished by his extreme exploits. This is perhaps due to the remarkable nature of this Buddhist maverick who really was the catalyst for Western Buddhism and a great in the history of modern Buddhism. This documentary explores his escape from Tibet after the Chinese invasion and attempt at cultural genocide, his arrival in Scotland, his marriage and subsequent shift to the US. Above all though it explores the man's attempt to transmit something greater than an exotic religion to the hearts and minds of the people he met. It's hard to say of how much interest this film will be for non-Buddhists. Perhaps those curious about Tibet, Religion and spirituality in general would find some reward from exploring Trungpa's ecletic journey from a medieval mountain top kingdom to the 'wild-west' of the 60s and 70s. For those interested in the human condition and original souls, this film may have much to offer. It is well-made, beautifully and professionally shot with a heavy dose of sympathy for the protagonist. I can't complain as I loved and still love Trungpa; his originality and deep dedication to the awakened state clearly visible throughout. From one believer to those who may or may not buy into the myth, enjoy a view of a great man his 'warts and all.'
