Special journey
I’ve always enjoyed her movies, her style and especially her INTELLIGENCE. Ms. Shirley MacLaine is really intelligent and a great writer. So much talent and used in the right way. I saw this movie as a kid and also read the book. I liked it because Ms. Shirley MacLaine offers an alternative to spirituality instead of only one answer prevalent in USA when I was growing up. She is strong and honest to share what she has learned and what many others dare not talk about:
Please watch these
Part 1
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/OutOnALimb-Part1.mp4
Part 2
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/OutOnALimb-Part2.mp4
What Ms. MacLaine shares may not be the sole truth, or the total truth or everyone’s truth, but she dares to seek the truth and emboldens us to do the same. Her courage is something I admire very much. I admire when people go beyond the mundane to something higher. More than eating, sleeping paying bills, working, getting old and death.
Please don’t be distracted when you watch this because it requires your focus to understand her message…a good message at that.
Part one is necessary for part two although part two is quite exciting. Peru is beautiful.
In part one she visits Bodhi Tree bookstore on Melrose in Hollywood. I use to visit that bookstore often too in the 80’s. One of my favourite places to visit that time. I applied for a job there several times and was rejected several times too! I met one of the owners and really tried for a job. LOL.
I really like it when well known people use their hard earned fame to spread truth, spirituality, helping the earth, saving animals, environment and awareness. The purpose of living and if we have fame is to give back. To help. To bring everyone to a higher plane of consciousness.
Enjoy and learn from this movie by one of my favourite people Ms. MacLaine. I would like to visit Peru also one day. Would like a group of open-minded, inquisitive and intelligent people to join me. People who like to learn, apply, think, explore and go beyond the norms. You can visit on your own, but would anyone like to come with me?
Tsem Rinpoche
P.S. I couldn’t find out but after watching or researching this movie, can anyone tell me:
- What happened to her guide David after they parted in Peru?
- Is David still alive now?
- Was he someone from another dimension according to the movie?
- Did Shirley and David meet up again?
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Interesting and inspiring movie of Ms Sherly MacLaine a beloved movie star, writer and spiritual visionary. She is known for her beliefs, and has an interest in spirituality and reincarnation. She goes against the odds in her pursuing in her spiritual path. She went beyond the mundane to something much higher in her career. For her lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts, she received numerous rewards.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
This was an interesting movie that Shirley Mclaine did and kind of open up herself to the world. I thank her for her courage. One of the things that I took from this was that for the Western people ideas about death, reincarnation is something like a black hole for them and it can make them feel they are ungrounded as these are very new concepts and foreign concepts for them. It takes a lot to help them see the logic of reincarnation and rebirth.
It is brilliant how Ms. MacLaine has successfully portrays her spiritual growth into a movie. The audience can actually see the feelings of love, anger, frustration, fear, happiness etc of the individual. Her courage in exploring something new and not easily accepted, risking her love life and the possibilities of losing her loved one is very admirable. Because she has gone all the way with her spiritual path, she has manage to reach a certain stage in her practice. That itself is a very important reminder for practitioners to not give up and keep going no matter what.
This movie is interesting. I feel that David is written in as a representative of a person or multiple people in Shirley’s life.
I wish I could go to Peru one day hehe
This is a very interesting movie. If Rinpoche didn’t blog about it, I doubt I would have discovered it. The tile itself “Out On A Limb” denote an idea, belief or to take a position that the overwhelming majority in society does not support and is of a different view. Perhaps that idea in this movie is encapsulated with the expression of ” I am God”, which really put Ms MacLaine “Out on a Limb”. For this I admire her.
For most of us, we live a life conforming to the “norms” of family, friends and society at large. We are expected to “do well” i.e., get a good job and be secured financially or make lots of money doing business and make more money doing more business. With money we were taught that we can have happiness. We can buy that happiness through branded goods, good food, big houses, fabulous parties, big cars and for some, fabulous spouses, lovers and friends. If we are not successful at these endeavours we are regarded as a failure.
For me the message is two pronged. First, Ms MacLaine have little regard for the opinion of others about “how the world works”. Through her “inherent” curiosity and instinct on past lives and the open acceptance of “channeling” and her trust of David, she was introduce to something really “Out on a Limb”. Of course she had internal resistances to David’s ideas a few times but eventually she accepted it.
Secondly, she published the book and produced the movie about her experience and about her stand on what she experienced. That again, I am sure have put her “Out on a Limb”. On a side note, her relationship with the “future” Prime Minister of England, Gerry, would also be controversial.
There premise of the movie on karma, reincarnations, “God” and “God Consciousness” are similar to Buddhist concepts. Especially the the idea of “I am God”, “We are God” and “God Consciousness” hints on the Buddhist truths of Buddha Nature and Dharmakaya.
The personal message for me is that, since we are in Dharma, have learned the Dharma and if we have learned well, we should openly practice it, live it and share it with others. This may be “Out on A Limb” for many of us, certainly me but what is there to be afraid of? We should dare to be different from others’ expectations, if to be different is the correct thing to do. And the Dharma is certainly the ultimate “Truth”. It is the Jewel that is most worthy to be “Out on a Limb” for all of us.
Thanks Rinpoche for the Teaching!
Ms Shirley MacLaine put a voice to questions we all must have asked at some point in our lives but couldn’t find the words or didn’t know how – reincarnation, immediate attraction/closeness to some people, karma, cause & effect. What jumped out at me were the 3 jewels, astral travel, and is Maya really who David says she is, outer guru & inner guru. Same facts, but answers subject to interpretation.
I would like to think that I am open-minded but admit to being not very inquisitive or intelligent but I would like to visit Peru with Rinpoche.
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this special movie.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this gem of a movie with us. I’ve just finished watching part one and find this movie very bold and honest. Shirley faces an age old problem that we all share, “lack of contentment”. She is suffering and wishes to find the cause of her suffering, in this case, her relationship with Gerry.
This movie actually reminds me a lot of Rinpoche’s teachings, reincarnation, karma, we reap what we sow. Shirley’s thoughts and narration really help us understand the emotions she is going through, it tells the audience that she is just as shocked and surprised as they are.
Onwards to Part 2!
Thank you Rinpoche.
Folded palms,
Jim
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this movie with us. I finished this movie last night, after we had our Dhrama class in DA Kechara Forest Retreat. Pastor JJ was explaining about Buddha actually met 13 Buddhas before he achieved enlightenment for the last 3 eons. Which means Buddha reborn into many other universe or space before He ended up achieved enlightenment in this universe where we are now to become the 4th Buddha. That make sense to me about the UFO.
Shirley started searching for what she’s missing because her spiritual seed in her mind ripen. Then Shirley found out about karma, pass lives, reincarnations and etc. How she struggle to believe it when she found out the truth. She was frustrated when her best friend and her lover don’t believe her and think that she’s crazy and ignore her. What Shirley had experienced in Peru is amazing. The meditation that she did which made her mind depart from her body, David heard her prayer and went to save her, David drive with free hands, matches what we called tantra and the omniscience mind. I believe UFO and Mayan are the manifestation of Buddha, Boddhisattva and deity from other universe that traveling cross many other universe and space.
It was a very interesting movie with reflection about life in samsara on how people struggling and how people avoid to know the truth.
Rinpoche, I am not the bright one but I definitely would like to come along with Rinpoche to visit Peru, to learn with an open mind. Thank you Rinpoche again for the sharing.
Ms MacLaine is a true star. Not only is she a celebrated personality, Ms MacLaine uses her stardom to bring knowledge and a “new frontier” to others so that they get a chance to live life differently and open the possibility to find peace and joy.
Ms MacLaine is honest and courageous to expose her life story in this manner. This shows that she is confident in who she is and to many levels, accepts herself…the good and the bad. All this is through the wisdom and compassion gained from her discoveries and spiritual journey.
Ms MacLaine is one many starts such a Tina Turner and Keanu Reeves who have a strong spiritual practice that I believe contributed to their ability to maintain a long term successful career in one of the most “poisonous” industry in the world.
I enjoyed the movie very much on the entertainment aspect as well. The movie displays true acting talent and back to fundamental film production skills without computer generated touch ups.
Ms Shirley MacLaine is a super star, she is beautiful, talented and intelligent, i used to go for her movies in cinemas during my school days.I have watched this movies last night and thought wow, Ms Maclaine the rich and famous has become so spiritual, she said at the beginning of the movie that after 40 she wanted to find out more about herself, where she was from, the reincarnation, life after death and karma and UFO as well. May her spiritual journey will fruition soon. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this interesting movies.
This is a very interesting movie especially part 2. The movies’ story revolves very much around reincarnation, karma, oracle channeling and more of the stuff that attract many people who are in search of spirituality regardless of the religion label.
I like the part when she exclaimed “I am god!” It’s like “I am buddha” because I can be.
Dear Lama
Thank you for your blessing so that I can read and watch Ms. Maclaine’s movies with an open mind. Since I know you back in 2005 and actually met you in 2007, I have heard, read, and learned about things that were initially foreign in my mind and some of them I was having a hard time to believe or understanding in the first place (e.g., oracle, yeti, UFO, etc). I was preferring more main stream topics such as “architecture, relationship, business, etc.” Everytime you introduced me to something new, I was reacting like Ms. Maclaine when she learned about Mayan from another planet. It takes some adjusting and I was wondering from time to time, what am I doing following a Lama that I hardly met.
However, I think every person who is on the verge of understanding something have some fear in their mind. Like me, I am scared that the world and ‘reality’ as I know it will be turned over. that fear makes me reacted that way.
Unlike several years ago, I am comfortable with the idea of Oracle and spirits. Ms. Maclaine’s videos has openned my interest to more things like UFO, spirituality and the truth according to one.
I like the statement in the movie that said true friends will accept us the way we are with whatever belief that we have.
Wow, what an amazing journey for Shirley MacLaine and gaining so much in the process. Everything happen for a reason…reason why she felt so close to Jerry, etc. I, especially love the part where David let go of the steering wheel during the drive down the windy road and Shirley scared out of wits. At a point she finally was able to overcome quite completely her boundaries and accept. In doing so, she was able to let go to have the out-of-body experience in the mineral bath house. Just as Rinpoche had taught many times…the silvery line connecting to the body. As she understand better the potential and possibilities, she learns to be more unattached and at peace. Thanks Rinpoche for sharing Shirley MacLaine’s story and I would really love to travel with you to Peru.
Dear Rinpoche,
Is that you as an extra in Part 1 ( 1:00:16 to 1:00:19 ) walking past the Bodhi Tree Bookstore?
Rinpoche walks straight but the passerby didn’t.
Dear Pastor Adeline,
Do look at the pictures in the book “The Promise” pages 72, 87, 89 and compare it with the passerby again. 🙂
Tell me what you think, hehehe.
Dear Choong,
There is no picture on page 72 & 87. Though there are pictures on page 89, I still do not think that’s Rinpoche, hehe!
By the way, I have the 2nd edition of “The Promise”.
Thank you!
I just finished watching this movie. Thank you Rinpoche for introducing it to us, it was brilliant!
It’s always amazing and fascinating to see a Hollywood star, someone who basically has it all, being “rich and famous”, and what others would yearn for, find something more or higher in life – spirituality. It really does make one think if there is really more to it in life then just eat, sleep and defecate? And someone intelligent like Shirley sure was the lucky few who seek for more answers. I am sure it caused a lot of questions and upheavals when she first published her book. But because people in general do want to know but is afraid to ask, this is probably why it became a big hit.
I liked how she presented her experiences on subjects such as reincarnation, karma, life and death and that how she sums her learning to be “everything you put out there, comes back to you and hence you are responsible for everything!” Hence she is GOD, her own creator, and like what we Buddhist fundamentally believe there is a Buddha in each and everyone one of us.
I have finally completed watching the two-part movie and I was very much intrigued by it. I love Shirley courageous endeavour to discover the truth beginning with readings at Bodhi Bookstore and ending it up in Peru. I must say that some parts were exaggerated but I do enjoy and resonate with her struggles of accepting what she had learnt and also meeting with rejection with friends and people she loves. It was quite a struggle. It’s interesting to know that David was really a composite character. Perhaps, he is just Pleideian just like Mayan as well. It was a good watch and if I didn’t meet Buddhism already, this would have been a movie that would spark off my spiritual search.
SILVA v. MacLAINE
NO. 87-4500.
The judgement which establishes many facts about the relationship between Silva and MacLaine.
http://www.leagle.com/decision/19882120697FSupp1423_11912
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful blog!
Hello Rinpoche,
I’ve been to Peru. I went on a spiritual search / journey by myself about 3 yrs ago. It opened my eyes and changed my life. Add me to your list of fellow travelers.
The movie is based on an autobiographical book written by Shirley MacLaine in 1983. Apparently, according to Shirley herself, “David” is a composite character. I looked up “composite character” and it is described as a character composed of two or more real life or fictional individuals, appearing in a fictional or non-fictional work.
So who is David representing?
Her Guru.
The character David is actually a ‘made up character’. Shirley did not specifically met this man David, however she met 3 different people which she merged all the experiences and characteristics she had with these 3 people into this character David. Everything we see in the movie/ if we read the book… is actually real life experience Shirley had. She made the David character to protect the privacy of these 3 persons she encountered.
Apparently, these 3 people are still alive back in 2002… not sure if they are now.
These answers was given by the CEO of Shirley’s official website.
I think one of them is the owner of a very successful global yoga franchise today.
Rinpoche’s Guru Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen also comes to my mind given that Gaden Shartse Thubten Dhargye Ling was started in 1978 in LA and the book was published in 1983 but this is only speculation based on the time and place.
Dear Sarah, thanks for such a clear explanation. I understand now and I thank you for that. Your explanation helped my understanding of her journey. TR
There is also a Charles Silva who claimed to be David in the book/movie.
http://www.anomalies.net/archive/cni-news/CNI.0091.html
Hey Choong,
I checked out Charles Silva and he seemed to have written a book called a Date With the Gods. In it, the girl “Mayan” in the movie or Rama in his book made many predictions of future cataclysms. Many of which were proven false simply because it didn’t happen on the date she said it would.
On top of that, MacLaine agreed that she had met Silva and that David was a composite character which was, in part, based on Silva. Silva sued her to identify him as the sole source of David – and lost. Search wikipedia for Out On A Limb and Billy Meier to find out more about Silva…
Interesting!!!
I would love to visit Peru with you Rinpoche.