M.J. Rose

The authenticity of the shroud of Turin has been disputed for centuries – and it has confounded science for decades. It’s widely thought to be a fake from medieval times, but no one has been able to figure out how it would have been created. Until now apparently. I’ve often wondered when science would finally claim to have cracked this case…

ROME — An Italian scientist says he has reproduced the Shroud of Turin, a feat that he says proves definitively that the linen some Christians revere as Jesus Christ’s burial cloth is a medieval fake.
The shroud, measuring 14 feet, 4 inches by 3 feet, 7 inches bears the image, eerily reversed like a photographic negative, of a crucified man some believers say is Christ.
“We have shown that is possible to reproduce something which has the same characteristics as the Shroud,” Luigi Garlaschelli, who is due to illustrate the results at a conference on the para-normal this weekend in northern Italy, said on Monday…

For the complete article, click here.

Will a simple disciple find the “unmistaken child”?

We don’t post about films very often here, but this one seems quite compelling as well as visually stunning and with a beautiful soundtrack. It offers a rare glimpse into age-old traditions that Westerners are not usually able to see.

Unmistaken Child
Directed by Nati Baratz. STC. 102 min. Opens Oct 2.
(Jeff Cottrill)

It’s not always easy for outsiders to document the finer details of a culture. Israeli filmmaker Nati Baratz wisely eschews commentary or judgment in Unmistaken Child, his documentary look into the closed world of Tibetan Buddhism. Aside from a few explanatory opening titles, Baratz lets his footage speak for itself from a rare, up-close point of view.

The film follows a young monk, Tenzin Zopa, on his three-year search for the reincarnation of his master, Geshe Lama Konchog, who died in 2001. Grief-stricken but serene, Tenzin travels throughout Nepal’s Tsum Valley, using vague astrological clues as his guide.  It’s Tenzin’s personal journey that makes the Unmistaken Child richly moving. He speaks candidly in English about his close relationship to Geshe, his childhood and his dialogue with nature. Baratz complements Tenzin’s story with beautiful shots of Himalayan landscapes and striking footage of Buddhist ceremonies and family life…

For the complete review click here.

The official film site is here. Watch the trailer below.

“One must be aware that one is continually being tested in what one wishes most in order to make clear whether one’s heart is on earth or in heaven.” – Ustad Vilayat Khan

What do you feel is your great test in this lifetime? What is it that you wish for most? Please share your thoughts in the comments section of this post. We want to hear from you!