I share with you 10 movies or mini-documentaries, some of them are meditative and poetic, others oriented towards the discovery of perspectives...

Without further ado, let's come to the presentations:

1. Waking Life

I already mentioned this film in the old blog (hello if you pass by, reader who has been there since my beginnings). It is an animated film that I can recommend to anyone looking for an introspective, meditative immersion. It focuses on two reflections: what is real? What is dream-like?

I would add a small remark: the proposed ending is not the most interesting and effective perspective to cultivate. I don't want to spoil you so it's difficult to go further in this explanation.

Anyway, it is the best film I would recommend to someone interested in exploring the distinction between reality and dream (concepts used in self exploration-to investigate if they are new to you).

2. Soul

Released this year, it illustrates, in its own way, the concept of soul, infinity, guides, life after death, incarnation, layers of consciousness, the notion of space-time, being dead while being alive on Earth (living in automatic, guidance), its mission of life (they chose a particular moral at the end however it is a perspective among others), being alive on Earth: what does it mean? (Here again I specify that the proposed answer is perhaps not to be taken as a definitive answer, there are other perspectives, the more introspective, the deeper our investigation goes).

The most interesting being the "above ground" parts. The Earth part could be even more developed, and explored in depth however the notion of desire is well illustrated.

This film is poetic and pleasant to watch, it will make you travel as a count would. You may not be interested in the notions mentioned above, but you will still find your own resonances.

3. Yogananda : AWAKE

This is a biography of Yogananda (Yogi), adapted from his famous book (number 1 's Steve Jobs book).

It may be very meditative or of course you can view it through the intellect, but in that case it won't be very interesting unless you'have already read the book.

I don't recommend it to everyone because it asks to be open-minded, so much so that I prefer to advise it to people who are interested in Yoga, its science and its (experiential) knowledge sharing.

4. The architecture of peace

I update this article by sharing with you a last discovery! The documentary The architecture of peace. Great viewing on Yoga. Accessible to everyone.

5. The Sessions Draymond Green

A diary-style documentary about Draymond Green, an NBA basketball athlete, who is searching for a better understanding of inner calm and emotional management. We follow him in his sessions with spiritual teachers like Deepak Chopra. The documentary is an introduction, the suggestion of this question: what if it was inside ourselves that we were to look?

5. Heal

Exciting documentary on the link between disease (cancer and others) and the power of thought, nutrition, energy, etc.

It is an introduction to the reflection on our most popular way of treating ourselves (drugs), the almost blind trust in the authorities (it is all in the term hehe) of health and the possible alternatives (depending on our disease), not sufficiently put forward, studied by lab scientists, and valued.

The documentary does not depict a black and white picture, it is critical of all approaches but shows a strong interest, curiosity towards possible alternatives and thus focuses on the presentation and relevance of some of them. However, at times it could be a little more objective (presenter in particular).

To be completed, therefore, with your own research (if you are interested in this subject), introspection, your critical sense, the study and practice of the science of Yoga etc.

6. Matrix

Yes well, I know, I'm in a laate. It was in 2020 that I first watched this film. It is nice, let's say it is close to Waking Life (recommendation number 1) because of its reflection on what is imaginary and what is real, on conditioning.

However, it differs from the latter in terms of the teachings and questions, the shared yogic teachings and their potential. What they have chosen to illustrate and define as real (vs. unreal) is not waw I admit. They lacked spiritual information on it hahaha. In short, like all the recommended films, they have their limits, they give you tracks of questioning and reflections and let you bring it closer to your own life, your exploration.

Immersed in the character, I advise you to ask yourself the questions at the same time as him, to bring him closer to your present experience (only the time of the film, no worries...or longer if you wish - hello explorer of life).

Anecdote: the ability to modify the notion of time (precise scene in the film. I remain vague so as not to spoil) and effectively achievable through practices, especially yogic ones. This famous scene, where everything is perceived as code, could have been the end of the film, it suggests a lot of things on several levels.

7. Arjuna

Coool series. I saw it a while ago now. It can be meditative, at least in terms of awareness. I had seen it at a particular time when I was fasting and meditating, so I was super receptive to it. I was able to explore at the same time as I watched it. This series is based on the famous Indian yogic text, the Baghavad Gita. It explores our relationship to food, to nature, our connection to nature, notions of right and wrong, etc. (I can't remember what else, it's been too long now haha).

Great series in all cases.

8. Vijji

A video that certainly won't speak to everyone here again. The short biography of a Yogi woman. And yes, they do exist and they are not rare. So here is a little light on one of them.

9. Interstellar

I will recommend this film but not in its entirety. A part of it is really nice but the rest...voila voilou. The part in question are the images in space, the other planets and especially when they cross a black hole (wahouuu), then in terms of perspectives proposed the most interesting corresponds to the notion of time, memory and that of unity (more difficult to detect this one but it is present however).

I watched other films but the educational parts were too minimal or not intense enough.

I have yet to find any achievement that comes close to deep meditation without going through the biography of a Yogi.

Some of those that I have seen in the last few months, state some principles of self-exploration but do not go far enough in their deepening nor in the proposed cinematographic experience.

So, if you work in film, want to make a movie, why not share the experience of a deep self exploration ranging from raw reflections to more subtle layers to ecstatic exploration?

Of course this would require you to investigate all these layers yourself, to make it your own experience and/or to complete your discoveries through those of colleagues. You would then propose an experience transmitted in immersion.

Immersion, the most interesting aspect of a film.

Lifexploratrice project of the month :

Taking time to study (anatomy, alignment, Yoga therapy, Kriya, Yogic science),

Give myself the opportunity to contemplate, to relearn, to start over, to question.

Shares with my students and those who follow the Lifexploratrice contents.

Make "risky" decisions.

Nice movies to you,

With the dear compagny of your friend, the breath,

Marie,

Lifexploratrice.

- Marie Mazeau Yoga teacher in Paris and online internationally. Beyond time and space. Guiding with gentleness, mindfulness and Joy.