As perhaps the chief form of contemporary mythology, film can infuse us with zest while we contemplate unique approaches to life. The anticipation, energy, enthusiasm, and excitement we feel as we watch films move us to think in new ways. We are in the flow of life that Joseph Campbell recommends: “Participate in the play, in the play of life… the Great Delight.”The fifteen feature films shown during this seminar offer unique, zestful, and humorous performances that train our eyes, minds, and hearts to see, understand, and feel the longings of our psyches, and how they may be achieved.

Films shown in this order:

  1. The Thief of Bagdad
  2. The General
  3. The Adventures of Robin Hood
  4. The Life of Pi
  5. Ninotchka
  6. Top Hat
  7. Sherlock, Jr.
  8. The Purple Rose of Cairo
  9. Don Juan deMarco
  10. Shall We Dance?
  11. Babette’s Feast
  12. Tampopo
  13. Zorba the Greek
  14. Harold and Maude
  15. Fiddler on the Roof
  16. Young Girls of Rochefort
  17. Bagdad Cafe

Bonus Films

  1. The Gold Rush
  2. A Hard Day’s Night

See also: Twenty Favorite Films

Photo by Janaya Dasiuk

 


Stop.Look.Go: A Daily Practice to Transform Your Life

Join us May 12 – 16, 2025 for a self-guided series that will offer inspiration and tools to unlock the full benefits of living gratefully through the essential grateful living practice of Stop.Look.Go.

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Francis G. Lu, M.D.

Francis G. Lu, M.D., is the Luke & Grace Kim Endowed Professor Emeritus in Cultural Psychiatry at the University of California, Davis. He co-led more than 20 film seminars at Esalen with Brother David Steindl-Rast from 1990 - 2016.

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Br. David Steindl-Rast
Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB

Brother David Steindl-Rast — author, scholar, and Benedictine monk — is beloved the world over for his enduring message about gratefulness as the true source of lasting happiness. Known to many as the “grandfather of gratitude,” Br. David has been a source of inspiration and spiritual friendship to countless leaders and luminaries around the world including Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Merton, and more. He has been one of the most important figures in the modern interfaith dialogue movement, and has taught with thought-leaders such as Eckhart Tolle, Jack Kornfield, and Roshi Joan Halifax. His wisdom has been featured in recent interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Krista Tippett, and Tami Simon and his TED talk has been viewed almost 10,000,000 times. Learn more about Br. David here.

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Br. David Steindl-Rast Joy
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