This is probably the most exciting thing I have ever written about! I must first share with you that I have been going through some pretty tough times. For most of 2021, I have been asking myself, “how can I find happiness and joy in my life when outside circumstances are dark and difficult?” My sister Karen has been such a source of support, often sending me music and things to watch during these rough times. Recently, she told me about a movie about His Holiness Dalai Lama (HHDL) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu that I just HAD to watch, and right away! I want to share with you this amazing documentary about finding joy during difficult times- Mission:Joy.
What is the movie about?
His Holiness Dalai Lama and Archbiship Tutu met by chance in a museum in Newark, New Jersey years ago and became good friends. The movie reflects upon the hardships they both faced. His Holiness Dalai Lama was exiled from his home country of Tibet to India at age 24. Archbishop Tutu grew up in a South African township in extreme poverty, later becoming a central figure in the fight against apartheid. They discuss how they both find joy in everyday life. It is a meeting of “mischievous friends”, indeed, one of the endearing parts of the film is watching these two venerated holy men poking fun at and joking with each other, giggling and cackling with laughter like a couple of eight-year-olds. If I can endure the hardships of my last year, which pale in comparison to their difficulties, then perhaps I can find that joy, too. I want what they’re having!
Their mission is for people to find joy, to be happy. Happiness comes from our connections with others, with finding the “silver lining” in adversity and lessons in the hardships. It stems from compassion and kindness, serving others. The terms joy and happiness are often used interchangeably in research, but they both come from within. We have to decide to be happy and joyful, whatever our outer circumstances.
Forgiveness is another theme in this film. How do you forgive someone who has wronged you? Forgiveness is not about forgetting; it is about remembering the wrong and releasing ourselves from responsibility for it. I have struggled with how to forgive someone who does the same thing over and over. If they don’t learn, how will they stop? We also have to forgive ourselves. We did the best that we could at the time, too.
His Holiness Dalai Lama talks about a prisoner who spent years in a Chinese prison in Tibet. The prisoner spoke of enduring danger during his incarceration. The Dalai Lama asked him, “what danger?” He replied, the danger that he would lose his compassion for the perpetrators. Forgiveness is compassion. People do the best that they can with what they have at the moment. We all function at the level of our consciousness.
What else does the film address?
The movie describes some of the history of the Dalai Lama’s exodus and the history of Desmond Tutu’s activism during and after apartheid. We see them at a Tibetan school in India with thousands of children singing, and there is a moment where the Dalai Lama participates in receiving the Eucharist given by Archbishop Tutu. Although these men are from different cultures and religious backgrounds, they share a common ground of humanity and love.
Here is a link to the movie’s trailer. Listen to them laugh, see what I mean? Film – Mission Joy (scroll down the page to the trailer link)
Where can I see the film?
In the U.S. the film is currently on Netflix. It is on other platforms in other countries. I placed a link below to a page where you can download a spreadsheet that shows the different platforms by country. It is currently being shown in 158 countries. In addition, you can go to the website to arrange for a community showing of the film. Social justice groups, educators and spiritual communities can request a showing. I contacted a couple of local theaters to let them know of this opportunity; you could, too.
What was the inspiration for this movie?
I spoke with the movie’s director and producer, Peg Callahan about Mission:Joy. In 2015 she was invited by a friend, Doug Abrams, who was writing a book with the Dalai Lama to Dharamsala, India to document a visit with His Holiness Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu. This would be mostly for their archives and some of it could be used to promote the book. Peg realized this was an important event, and she was able to bring film crews that photographed the meeting as if for a movie. It was no small feat arming 5 crews with lots of sensitive equipment in remote India, and then having everything work perfectly.
After a time, Peg was able to obtain film rights, and set up a production company, raising money for the film. She had a year to complete shooting, but then the pandemic showed up. She actually had to direct additional filming remotely. The benefit of that practice was that it saved the production company some money.
Peg was discussing the material with colleagues. One suggested having people practice micro-acts of joy, having a platform where celebrities could pitch the practice of joy and people could share their micro-acts and practices. A place to share kindness. Another colleague suggested a public experiment – why not crowd-source science and have people participate in a study of the practice of Joy? After all, this is done annually in Great Britain with citizens documenting plant and animal life every spring. The Big Joy Project was born, and is now “housed” at the University of California at Berkely. Money saved on film production fueled this public study of joy and you can participate!
There is a link to the Big Joy Project on the Mission:Joy website. For 7 days, you are given a simple task to do and rate how you feel. This project has so far reached over 50,000 people in 201 countries. His Holiness Dalai Lama would like to see over 100,000 people participate. Imagine the ripple effect of over 100,000 people doing small acts of kindness worldwide! The Dalai Lama talks about this concept in the film. It starts within us. Then we share our joy and it expands to others, and others, and others.
Peg would like to see people learn which acts of joy work for them and then use them as a regular practice. Having a rough day? Perform that one small thing that increases your joy, whether it is taking a walk in nature, complimenting a stranger, hugging a friend, petting your dog. See? These acts are small, yet limitless in their effect on you and others in your world.
How can I make some joy right now?
Click on the Take Action link below, where you can download a sheet that you can print with simple ideas on how to create joy this moment. It includes:
- Expressing gratitude – for anything, anyone
- Shift perspective – what is the good in a situation?
- Connect together – with a friend, neighbor, family, pet
- Do kindness – doing something nice for another feels good for us, too!
Please do check out the links below. The Science link takes you to the “citizen science” study I mentioned above. I will be posting again soon about this project, about the science behind joy, and more.
And you know what would bring ME joy? I want you to leave a note in the comments here about something YOU did to bring yourself joy! OK?? Let me see YOUR joy in action! Please share this post with your circle of friends, too. Let’s DO this!
Watch the Film – Mission Joy (click on CLICK HERE for a PDF list of where in the world to find the film)
Film – Mission Joy (Scroll down for a link to watch the trailer, and prepare to laugh!)
Take Action – Mission Joy (the link to the PDF on steps you can take is here)
The Science – Mission Joy (A link at the bottom of the page takes you to the Big Joy Project)