Panache Blog

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Inner Peace

Last weekend kids all over the world went to movie theaters to watch a film in which attaining inner peace allows them to harness the power of the universe. Set apart from the normal intake of gore and violence at the theater, this heart-rending story infuses kids with the message that when you become peaceful all things become possible.

Oh – and by the way –this message came neatly gift wrapped in a black and white, furry package of awesomeness… Kung Fu Panda 2. 

This animated story artfully presents 2nd chakra issues with creative flair. Po is an overweight panda who eats when he’s depressed… has to face abandonment issues when he discovers he’s been adopted… and is on a continual quest to find his place in the world while owning his own power.

Spoiler ALERT! If you haven’t seen the movie yet – you may want to stop here! 

We catch up with him as he finds his master Shifu accessing inner peace. In a single moment of presence, Shifu catches a single dewdrop and artistically rolls it in and out of his arms and across his body finally gently lying onto a single leaf of a plant. Shifu charges Po with this task – attain inner peace.

During one of his epic battles Po is confronted by a symbol that triggers a memory that leaves him rocked. This prompts the panda to go to his father, a goose, and finally ask an emotionally charged question. “Where did I really come from?” Shockingly, he discovers that the goose is not his biological Dad.

Meanwhile, Lord Shen, our nemesis has been harnessing the power of gunpowder to develop a weapon that threatens to destroy Kung Fu. From the time he was young, Shen was warned of a prophecy in which “a warrior of black and white” would one-day defeat him. To prevent this, he wiped out every Panda throughout China. Po and the Furious Five are called into action to save Kung Fu and without realizing it, avenge the death of Po’s people. After an epic battle our hero finds himself no match for Shen’s cannon and is blasted into the distance with a single shot. The audience gasps with the thought that the loveable Panda may actually be dead.

To our delight Po survives and is rescued by Shen’s soothsayer, a goat who had been exiled to the ruined village where Po was born. The soothsayer guides Po to embrace his memories.

Fully feeling his trauma, Po is freed of his past and accesses and harnesses the power of the present moment. In becoming peaceful, he achieves with grace an ease, a task that would normally be impossible. He uses his inner peace to redirect the cannon fire back at Shen’s armada and in doing so saves the day.

This film is a must see for children of all ages.

Posted at 11:13 am  |  Send to a Friend