- Richard Gere has produced a new documentary, Wisdom of Happiness, which exclusively features the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.
- Gere believes the film is “medicine” for a world that has “fallen off a cliff,” offering a message of compassion to counter widespread fear and anger.
- The actor opens up about his 40-year relationship with the spiritual leader, whom he affectionately calls his “favorite uncle.”
- The documentary aims to humanize the Dalai Lama, showing sides of him, including moments of frustration, that reveal his simple and direct nature.
Hollywood icon Richard Gere is leveraging his four-decade-long mentorship with the Dalai Lama to deliver a message he believes the world desperately needs. As the producer of the new documentary Wisdom of Happiness, Gere presents an intimate and unfiltered look at the spiritual leader’s perspective on peace, compassion, and the future of humanity.
A Film for a World on the Brink
The documentary Wisdom of Happiness is unique in its format: for its entire 90-minute runtime, only the Dalai Lama speaks, addressing the camera directly. He shares his life story and, more importantly, his vision for a better world. “This century should be century of compassion. Century of peace. No more bloodshed,” His Holiness states in the film. “We should be ‘we,’ rather than ‘we’ and ‘they.’”
Gere feels the film’s release is profoundly timely. “In the meantime, the world has fallen off a cliff — everywhere,” he stated in a recent interview. He describes the documentary as “medicine” and a “corrective” for a society grappling with dissonance and division, urging a pause to reflect on who we are and who we can become.
A 40-Year Journey of Friendship and Faith
Gere’s path to becoming a student of the Dalai Lama began in his 20s, after he had already started practicing Zen Buddhism. A desire to meet the spiritual leader led him on a difficult monsoon journey to Dharamsala, India. Their first meeting was not about instant enlightenment but a profound discussion connecting the craft of acting—manufacturing emotions—to the way we manufacture emotions in our own lives.
“The profundity of that is still something I’m working on,” Gere admitted, explaining how that conversation shaped his understanding of transforming negative energy into wisdom and joy. This relationship has since blossomed, with Gere becoming one of His Holiness’s most prominent students and friends.
The Human Side of His Holiness
While many see the Dalai Lama as a larger-than-life figure, Gere offers a more grounded perspective. He describes him as being “like talking to a favorite uncle” — simple, direct, and completely without pretense.
To ensure this humanity was captured, Gere insisted on including raw footage in the film that others had initially cut. Scenes showing the 90-year-old leader being helped to his seat or asking for direction were kept in. “I said, ‘No, this is so human,’” Gere explained. He also shared that he has seen His Holiness experience frustration and even flash anger, but unlike most people, “there’s no residue left behind… it’s just a moment, it’s burned and cleaned and he’s right back into, ‘I’m here for everyone, completely.’”
Gere’s Ongoing Path
After 55 years of daily meditation and study, Gere remains humble about his own spiritual progress. “I’m still like a snake crawling on the ground compared to these great llamas and yogis,” he remarked. However, he confirms that the practice has had a profound impact on his life and his ability to interact with the world.
Through Wisdom of Happiness, Gere hopes to share the transformative power of the Dalai Lama’s message, creating a communal experience that leaves audiences feeling more connected and hopeful for a world built on kindness.
Image Referance: https://www.gq.com/story/richard-gere-on-making-a-movie-about-his-longtime-mentor-and-favorite-uncle-the-dalai-lama