"Herzog recognizes the gravity of his material here, and as such conducts a considerably lighter trek." - Ed Gonzalez

Herzog rightly keeps it simple in his glimpse at Buddhist rituals.

For me this was 'lesser' Herzog, but there's still enough magic (one shot here, a sequence over there) to make it a satisfying experience. Buddhism is a strange and interesting religion. Interesting in the way one would look at madmen rambling on a street corner.

The interview with the Dalai Lama is the least interesting aspect of this documentary.

An interesting film even if it lacks a lot of the Herzog touches one is accustomed to, although the scene with the mountain pilgrimage and Popol Vuh music is magic.

Lots of great footage to be seen here, but I was disappointed in Herzog's narration, which is generally a mere recital of facts as opposed to his usually more poetic and interpretive style.

Slightly let down after how long it took me to find this one. Someone else referred to Herzog's narration as unfortunately insipid and uninspired and that's exactly what it is. Unfortunately.

Not his best, but the material at least keeps it somewhat interesting

It is unfortunate that Herzog's insipid, uninspired narration does a good job of robbing these otherwise well-captured images of their underlying significance. In other respects, the documentary is worth watching, particularly for those who don't already know a lot about Buddhism or even about Eastern religions in general.

I thought it was fairly educating and it held my interest, but it wasn't nearly as good as it ought to have been. The narration seemed to force wisdom; the weak visuals made it pretentious. It all seemed somewhat rushed, and I can imagine Herzog being quietly disappointed with the outcome. The whole thing had a faint whiff of budget restraints considering Herzog's previous works.

Intriguing documentary about a big Buddhist event in Asia. An intimate look at a culture very different from American culture that's well worth the time

The film drags at times with the lengthy scenes of masses of Buddhist monks going about their rituals in total silence or in a different language. That being said, there are some remarkable parts to this film. I don't think I'll *ever* forget the section with the Mandala (sand art). I sat there unable to believe my eyes as the Dalai Lama destroyed it. Herzog said that it was to show us a non-attachment to the material world, and the fleeting nature of existence. It had a profound effect on me.

Enlightening and inspiring, it felt like the start of something.

Herzog's trademark long takes have mixed results here -- some scenes are worth lingering on, others try one's patience. Part of the problem is the material. Some of the more devout followers do some semi-bizarre things, but on the whole this stuff isn't nearly as close to the fringe as Herzog's usual work. This might have been an interesting ethnographic study several decades ago, but now it kinda seems old hat.