Top 10 Meditation Movies & Why You Should Watch Them
Finding oneself, a purpose, or simply trying to understand the world around us is one of the most intense things in a person’s life. Meditation, long conversations, and discussions, being a shoulder for someone, or finding one for ourselves is a topic that will never get old, especially nowadays when life is becoming more and more complicated and faster than ever. Movies that deal with these issues are the ones that might help us understand what we still need or give us a new perspective and ideas. This is the list of the 10 best mediations movies of all time.
7 Years in Tibet (1997)
What it’s about: Brad Pitt plays Heinrich Harrer, a climber who, after the death of eleven climbers, decides to honor them by climbing Nanga Parbat in British India. While on his mission, World War II breaks out, and he and the rest of his team are arrested and kept in Dehra Dun’s P.O.W. Camp. After managing to break out, along with Peter Aufschnaiter, they end up in the holy city of Lhasa, where Heinrich befriends the Dalai Lama, which changes his life forever.
Why you should watch it: This is a biographical adventure drama that mixes facts and fiction and gives us an interesting insight into the relationship between an Aryan and a young Kundun, and it shows us how people can change their views and beliefs.
Eat, Pray, Love (2010)
What it’s about: Julia Roberts is Liz Gilbert, a married woman who is faced with the fact that she lives in an unhappy marriage and decides to change her life. After a painful divorce, she embarks on a journey of a lifetime, a round-the-world trip of self-discovery.
Why you should watch it: Based on a biographical book by Elizabeth Gilbert, this movie is a big inspiration for everyone who wants a change in his or her life but is afraid to make it. Liz is a brave character who decided to act and not just talk, ending her life in a completely different turn.
The Fountain (2006)
What it’s about: This movie deals with Tommy, a modern-day scientist, who struggles to find medicine and help for his terminally ill wife Izzi. We follow three stories, in the past, present, and future, and their connections.
Why you should watch it: Darren Aronofsky’s movies are always original and different, and this fantasy drama shows all his talent, together with brilliant performances by Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz.
Walk With Me (2017)
What it’s about: This is a meditative documentary about a community of Zen Buddhist monks and nuns who have decided to spend their lives mastering the art of mindfulness. They follow their world-famous leader Thich Nhat Hanh with great belief and devotion.
Why you should watch it: This beautiful documentary opens our opinion and makes us reflect on the things that revolve around us. It is full of wisdom and wonderful revelations, and it gives us an insight into life in Plum Village.
Peaceful Warrior (2006)
What it’s about: Dan Millman is a man who has it all, but among all the positive aspects of his life, there is a man who is constantly questioning him and his assumptions, thoughts, and actions. And he met him by chance. When Dan’s legs are shattered in a traffic accident, he will have to decide which direction to go.
Why you should watch it: This movie reminds us of what is important in life and that we always have to be present at the moment. It might be more interesting for gymnasts since Dan is a gymnast whose life falls apart after this horrible accident, and he has to deal with this new situation.
I Am (2010)
What it’s about: Tom Shadyac directed this inspirational documentary where he interviews intellectual and spiritual leaders and tries to find out what’s wrong with our world and the people who live in it and how to wake up and improve it.
Why you should watch it: This eye-opening movie depicts how Americans live nowadays, their consumerism and concentration on money, and their distance from spirituality and simple things. The people interviewed were very interesting, and all of them gave a great number of explanations of what is happening around us.
Stringless Puppets (2022)
What it’s about: This movie brings the story of a young man who loses contact with his loved one after escaping all the modern distractions. Determined to find her, he embarks on a journey around the world.
Why you should watch it: This Spanish movie will make you think, reflect and maybe even encourage you to find your inner peace. Not a word is spoken here, but this doesn’t make it difficult to watch. It gives the audience a calm feeling and pushes them to seek the same inside themselves.
Samsara (2001)
What it’s about: This beautiful and spiritual love story takes place in Ladakh, Himalayas. Samsara is a quest, a man’s struggle to find spiritual enlightenment and a woman’s struggle to keep her love in life. But their destinies are not what they think they are, and they will have to face various twists and turns to get the ending they have always wanted.
Why you should watch it: This is a very interesting movie that will give you an insight into Buddhism even if it doesn’t literally represent its tales, and it shouldn’t be taken too literally. It is a wonderful watch with beautiful scenes and an intriguing and memorable story.
My Year of Living Mindfully (2020)
What it’s about: In this documentary, we are introduced to Shannon Harvey, who suffers from an incurable autoimmune disease and is tired of her insomnia and overall medical condition. She decided to skip all the possible solutions to her problems and give a go at meditation, trying to test whether it is possible to completely quiet our minds and get a result that will be a solution to many world’s problems.
Why you should watch it: This remarkable documentary shows us how people can change and rediscover themselves when there is will. Courage and a little faith are sometimes all we need, at least to be at the beginning of our personal getting better.
The Holy Mountain (1973)
What it’s about: In this fantasy adventure-drama, we meet a powerful alchemist who lives in a powerful and greedy world but wants to change it and its people. He decides to lead a messianic character and seven materialistic figures to The Holy Mountain, where all of them hope to find enlightenment.
Why you should watch it: These two hours might change your perspective and thoughts about spirituality. It is a crazy ride full of unusual characters, excellent scenery, wonderful landscape, and a message that should teach many of us a lot.
