In this paper, I discuss the Buddhist themes of change from The Noble Eightfoldpath portrayed in the film Groundhog Day and compare that to Buddhism as discussed in this course. In doing so, I use examples from the film and class readings to make points about my analysis. I chose this film because I this is one of my favorite old films that never fail to make me laugh. I also realized while watching the film that there are some Buddhist themes throughout the movie.
The title of this film is called Groundhog Day directed by Harold Ramis and released February 12, 1993. The movie takes place in a small town called Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This movie is about a weatherman named Phil is out to broadcast the annual arrival of the groundhog …show more content…
In the book, it states “The eight “steps” of the path actually form a program that the Buddha taught will lead us toward liberation from the impermanence and suffering of reality,” (84, Owens). The difference is that Phil was not trying to deliberately follow the Noble Eightfold path. He was only doing what was moraly right to finally move on to the next day. In the textbook, “karma determines how one wil be reborn … good actions produce high birth such as intelligence and wealth, bad actions produce karma that brings the opposite such as rebirth into animal and insect life,” (86, Owens). The movie has a recurring theme of karma shown by Phil deliberately dying trying to get out of the curse. However, it is different because Phil dies and comes back as himself, not an animal or something other than himself. This film also can be an example of Buddha’s Great Going Forth, and how Buddha transformed and became a better person. The difference is with this film is that even though Phil is trying to be a better person, he is doing it to get out of the time warp. Buddha changed because he felt that living life with wealth and not helping others is no life at
The title of this film is called Groundhog Day directed by Harold Ramis and released February 12, 1993. The movie takes place in a small town called Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This movie is about a weatherman named Phil is out to broadcast the annual arrival of the groundhog …show more content…
In the book, it states “The eight “steps” of the path actually form a program that the Buddha taught will lead us toward liberation from the impermanence and suffering of reality,” (84, Owens). The difference is that Phil was not trying to deliberately follow the Noble Eightfold path. He was only doing what was moraly right to finally move on to the next day. In the textbook, “karma determines how one wil be reborn … good actions produce high birth such as intelligence and wealth, bad actions produce karma that brings the opposite such as rebirth into animal and insect life,” (86, Owens). The movie has a recurring theme of karma shown by Phil deliberately dying trying to get out of the curse. However, it is different because Phil dies and comes back as himself, not an animal or something other than himself. This film also can be an example of Buddha’s Great Going Forth, and how Buddha transformed and became a better person. The difference is with this film is that even though Phil is trying to be a better person, he is doing it to get out of the time warp. Buddha changed because he felt that living life with wealth and not helping others is no life at