Clapping With One Hand: Jodorowsky's Spiritual Journey

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THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY by Alejandro Jodorowsky (2008 Park Street Press / 252 pp / tp)
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Unless you're a BIG fan of the Chilean cult film director, you'll probably get through some of this and wonder what the bid deal is. While fans will see how some ideas for his unusual films came to be, Jodorowsky's intent here is to explain what it takes to understand koans, i.e. metaphysical questions given to practicing Buddhists by their masters.

Much of what happened to Jodorowsky on his spiritual journey was quite amazing, from the way he met his master, Ejo Takata, a Zen monk who left Japan and wound up in Mexico after a string of odd incidents, to his relationship with the famous actress Salgari (a.k.a. The Tigress, who was also the alleged mistress of Mexico's president), to his unusual "awakening" under the hands of Dona Magdalena, a spiritual masseuse who rescued him from an attempted rape by five young male attackers.

We see some of his artistic influence come from a brief relationship with surrealist painter Leonora Carrington, and chapter 9's recollection of Jodorowsky's time with Mexican historist Reyna D'Assia is funny, erotic, and would make an entertaining film on its own.

If any section here would be of interest to film fans, it's the lengthy appendix, titled 'A Collection of Ancedotes,' where we learn how the director became reconciled with producer Allen Klein (a meeting that led to the official DVD releases of Jodorowsky's films). We're also given a lot of information on the production of the failed DUNE adaptation, and learn of an intentionally unfixed technical flaw that has remained unnoticed in one sequence of EL TOPO since its 1970 premiere. Jodorowsky then explains why the heavily rumored EL TOPO sequel has yet to happen, and tells of his talks with the film's proposed star, Marilyn Manson.

Considering the endless hours Jodorowsky spent in intense meditation and other self-depriving Zen practices, it's hard to believe he had time to create some of the most unique films of all time, PLUS pen a series of successful graphic novels as well as books on Zen and the Tarot...not to mention directing theater in his early days.

While Jodorowsky himself might disagree, I believe he--as a student and eventual master of Zen Buddhism--has answered many ancient koans THROUGH his films and other works. And now, knowing some of his deeper mindsets, I'm betting the next time I watch one of his films it'll be in a whole new light.

Must reading for hardcore fans, despite the repetitive nature of some sections dealing with koan contemplation and Zen practicing.