In honour of Groundhog Day (the day), we explored the lessons for living that can be found in Groundhog Day (the movie). Let's call it, "How Is This A Dharma Movie?"
The idea was to watch in advance and then discuss, which we did!
Where to Watch It
Here are some places to watch the movie:
How to Watch It
The instructions were simple: watch the movie, and look for themes like the following (as highlighted by quotes from the Dalai Lama):
- Kindness - "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness."
- Compassion - "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."
- Suffering - "The cause of suffering...is the mind that is influenced by negative thoughts such as anger, attachment, jealousy"
- Selfishness - "If in day to day life you lead a good life...with less selfishness, then automatically it will lead to Nirvana"
- Love - "There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to Love."
- Awakening - "Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace."
When we got together, we talked about the way Phil creating suffering for himself and others, how judgemental and unkind he was, and how he lacked any close relationships. Over the course of the movie, he begins to shift, in particular when he gives up all hope of his situation ending or changing. Then he opens up to Rita, making himself open and vulnerable. The result? A generous, happy, connected Phil who benefits the entire community of Punxsutawney - the town he once hated.