15 Documentaries On Spirituality You Need To Watch
People seeking answers about what’s going on in the world soon realize they must begin by asking, “Who am I?” Although it takes time, people eventually find answers by connecting the dots, which helps them achieve greater heights. As the search involves many questions, people often look for inspiration, unique insights, and other people’s experiences and stories to help them get closer to their goals.
And while many motion pictures claim the tag of “spirituality”, a true spiritual documentary will enthrall the viewer and educate, enlighten, and inspire them. It will help them lead a more fulfilling life. If you are going through an awakening phase in your life where you are questioning everything that comes your way, this article shares 15 documentaries on spirituality that you must watch.
Why Are Documentaries On Spirituality So Popular?
The world today has entered what-can-be-called an “awakening phase”, with more and more people joining the club daily. This mass awakening could be due to many reasons but has resulted in one common consequence — questioning.
People are increasingly questioning what’s happening around them, what happened before them, and what will happen after. There has been a rise in spiritual films and documentaries that attempt to explore and adequately answer these questions.
Although movies on spirituality may not straight up answer your questions, they can help guide you on your quest for answers. And while many people are anxious about doing something to bring a positive change, the world needs spiritual gurus right now. However, in their absence, spiritual documentaries offer a great substitute.
And understanding this need and cashing on that, the popularity of documentaries is at an all-time high.
How Documentaries On Spirituality Promote Spiritual Growth
While spirituality may mean different things to different individuals, it indicates one thing in common — spiritual growth or spiritual awakening.
Documentaries tell stories that are not restricted by languages and boundaries. They open viewers’ eyes to new ideas, perspectives, and conflicts, many of which may be beyond their realm of comprehension. Actually, hooking the audience is important no matter if we are talking about documentaries or any other writing.
Even college papers have to be hooking to make listeners interested in the point. Thus, most college students turn to an online essay writer at CustomWritings to get help and write a masterpiece that catches attention. Here are some other ways that documentaries on spirituality help promote spiritual growth:
• It introduces the viewers to new beliefs, lifestyles, and cultures. Documentaries offer the second-best way of knowing something — of course, the first being firsthand experience. It strengthens a person’s belief and broadens their acceptance of various cultures and faiths.
• It introduces the viewers to new spiritual role models. These role models inspire them and help them achieve greater heights. It narrates to them their stories and how they overcame barriers to attain their goal.
• It helps viewers expand their knowledge and influences their spiritual decisions.
• It helps them achieve a higher sense of hope, peace, meaning, and purpose.
• It helps them realize their inner strength.
• Allows them to belong to a spiritual community and, thereby, offers greater support.
• It helps them have a better relationship with themselves and their surroundings.
• It helps them make sense of any spiritual experience in life through which they grow spiritually.
15 Best Documentaries On Spirituality To Watch For Spiritual Growth
1. Awake: The Life of Yogananda (2014)
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The documentary tells the story of Paramahansa Yogananda, who authored the book Autobiography of a Yogi. The spiritual documentary narrates how the yogi introduced spiritual living and yoga to millions of Americans in the 1920s. It is an enlightening story and an inspiring example of how to live a life with authenticity and purpose.
2. Cloud Atlas (2012)
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This star-cast movie has unexpected plot twists and revolves around the concept of how individual actions affect the past, present, and future. It addresses the spiritual topics of reincarnation, previous life, and soulmates.
3. Finding Joe (2011)
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The documentary explores the study of the famed mythologist Joseph Campbell. It talks about the human journey and the paths we choose to find our purpose.
4. Happy (2011)
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In this documentary, director Roko Belic explores the world, including the slums of Kolkata and the swamps of Louisiana. He interviews people (including the Dalai Lama) in search of an answer to the question, “What is Happiness?”
5. Headspace: Guide To Meditation (2021)
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In this documentary series, a former Buddhist monk, Andy Puddicombe, helps viewers understand the benefits of meditation and the science behind it. The series highlights many mindfulness techniques, and each episode ends with guided meditations.
The documentary helps us realize that no matter how busy we are, we must always make time for self-love and practice meditation, de-stress, and relaxation.
6. I Am (2010)
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I am is a documentary on Tom Shadyac, a famous successful director and comedian who had it all. It talks about the life-changing accident that helped Tom look at the world differently and helped him achieve spiritual awakening.
This documentary takes you through self-realization, enlightenment, and the innate goodness in every human being.
7. I Am Not Your Guru (2016)
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Tony Robbins is a great life coach, and in this documentary, he shares insights on various life situations that can waver even the strongest. It talks about finding the purpose of life, managing money, making tough decisions, and much more. This documentary is great for inspiration and will offer you a new look for empowerment, clarity, and self-love.
8. Inner Worlds, Outer Worlds (2012)
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The four-part documentary explores the significance of the Akasha, the spiral, the serpent and the lotus. Created by Canadian meditation teacher and filmmaker Daniel Schmidt, the documentary can be considered Daniel’s reflection on his meditation adventures.
The documentary beautifully presents the world’s past and present cultures. It delves into the science and insights of spirituality and physics. The documentary is wonderfully crafted with acoustics and visuals, and the commentary on culture, science, mythology, nature, world religion, philosophy, and quantum physics is done in an enlightening and educational manner that gets the audience hooked.
9. Kumare (2011)
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In this documentary, an ordinary man impersonates a spiritual guru and explores the power they have over people. The documentary has a hilarious take on the following events, which also delivers the message that people must not blindly trust any self-acclaimed spiritual person.
Along with spirituality, the documentary also explores religion, meditation, and living one’s truth. The documentary also helps the viewers realize that what works and does not work depends on a person’s inner belief system.
10. Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2015)
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In today’s materialistic world, this documentary must be on everyone’s must-watch list. The documentary helps us realize that it is easy to be swayed by the glitz and glamor of the world. It shows us that we must look within ourselves and determine what we really need. It also helps us realize that minimalist living is all we need, and the rest are just distractions.
11. Samsara (2011)
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This non-verbal spiritual documentary takes you to more than 25 countries so you can explore the cathedrals, Himalayas, spiritual traditions, sacred grounds, and other beautiful sites to appreciate and respect the wonders of nature. The documentary explores life’s journey from birth to death and does not miss anything.
12. Surviving Death (2001)
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The documentary addresses one of the biggest aspects of spirituality—the afterlife. It talks about spiritual realms and that there is more beyond life on earth. However, the documentary is quite controversial as many oppose the idea of an afterlife.
13. The Celestine Prophecy (2006)
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An adaptation of James Redfield’s novel, the mysterious movie revolves around an accountant who is called “the wanderer”. The accountant wanders in the wilderness of Peru, seeking spiritual experiences. He stumbles upon a manuscript with nine insights into spiritual living and life.
The wanderer’s journey proves that pain can make way for better things in life, but you need to believe and be consistent. Watch this movie to align with your higher self.
14. The Secret (2006)
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The movie is based on Rhonda Byrne’s book of the same name. It is a very well-known documentary that made a huge impact when it was released in 2006, igniting global movements and changing millions of lives.
In this documentary, authors, philosophers, and scientists come together to propose a secret that will help anyone achieve a successful and happy life.
The documentary explains that the secret is a simple law of attraction and that what we think and feel is what we attract. So, positive energy attracts positivity, and negative thoughts will attract bad things. The documentary also explores other spiritual concepts like mindfulness, spirituality, visualization techniques, and mindfulness meditation.
15. What The Bleep Do We Know? (2004)
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This is a fascinating documentary that revolves around a scientist named Amanda who gains unexpected spiritual abilities.
Apart from the interesting events that spiral out in Amanda’s life, the documentary also gives a considerable deal of insight into several scientific phenomena like frequency and energy. This is a treat for anyone who believes there is a connection between spirituality and consciousness.
