| A vocal reaction by people from around the world that | | | | the framed act, she is excluded from the training that |
| the movie "Memoirs of A Geisha" may glorify the | | | | will enable her to elevate her position and eventually |
| exploitation of women causes an author to give 'the | | | | become a Geisha. |
| real reason' to see this stunning movie. | | | | Chiyo, just around ten years old, has lost all hope. |
| How can a simple recommendation to see a beautiful | | | | Her world entirely dark, she is on her knees on a |
| movie stir up so much controversy?I write an online | | | | walking bridge, when a well-dressed man |
| newsletter and had suggested to my subscribers that | | | | accompanied by two Geisha stops, leans over to her |
| they see the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha." | | | | and says: "It is too pretty a day to be so unhappy. Did |
| I received a barrage of emails from around the world | | | | you fall down?"It is a stunning moment in the movie. |
| inquiring why I was encouraging people to see a movie | | | | It is almost too unbelievable. |
| that is about a child sold into a cruel and forbidding | | | | Is someone actually showing kindness?It's to the point |
| world to be trained her entire life to serve men. | | | | where you, yourself, are unsure at this moment, |
| Though the geisha are not prostitutes, the many | | | | thinking, "Now, what is this man going to try to get from |
| people who questioned my recommendation didn't | | | | her?"In fact, his kind words continue. |
| want to see a movie that had to do with the | | | | He tells the silent child, "We all stumble sometimes." |
| exploitation of women. | | | | Pointing to one of the elegant geisha accompanying |
| I sympathize with this viewpoint. | | | | him, he smiles, "She once fell clean off her wooden |
| My response was to see the movie for the same | | | | shoes. Now look at her." |
| reason you would see Roots and Gone with the Wind | | | | He takes it a step further. He asks Chiyo her name. |
| . . . Schindler's List and Exodus . . . and Dances with | | | | He buys her a succulent treat from a stand. |
| Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans. | | | | And the cloud the child has been so long under |
| Each is extraordinarily beautiful and powerful in its | | | | suddenly lifts as her eyes brighten and she exclaims, |
| portrayal of humans acting far less than perfect to | | | | "Now I'm a geisha too!"The gentleman disappears. But |
| other humans. | | | | like a true Wealthy Soul, his one act of grace has |
| Why you and I relate so deeply to these classics is | | | | profound impact. |
| that most of us lead less than perfect lives ourselves. | | | | The narrated voice of Chiyo as an adult telling the |
| Most of us face difficult situations and difficult people | | | | story says, "In that moment I changed from a girl |
| at different points in our own lives. | | | | facing nothing but emptiness to someone with a |
| What extraordinary movies like Memoirs of a Geisha | | | | purpose." |
| can do for you is to show you how it is possible to rise | | | | And her entire life does indeed change at that |
| above the most difficult of circumstances . . . how in | | | | moment. |
| even the worst of conditions, a few Wealthy Souls will | | | | She is still enslaved. But she makes the decision right |
| sometimes appear to touch your heart. | | | | then to flow with her fate, to embrace her destiny, and |
| And most importantly . . . how YOU yourself can | | | | to use the path she has been given to rise above all. |
| become such a Wealthy Soul to touch others. | | | | And it is with decisions such as these, my friend . . . no |
| When I recommended Memoirs of a Geisha, I had one | | | | matter what your own circumstances may be . . . that |
| particular scene in mind. This one scene was what | | | | your life changes too. |
| made it such an extraordinary movie for me. | | | | Have you ever had such a moment?Have you ever |
| If you have not seen the movie yet, I won't give the | | | | had someone say similar words to lift you up and give |
| story away for you by telling you too much here. In | | | | you the strength to carry on to a brighter |
| fact, the reason I bring this scene up at all is that it | | | | tomorrow?Or even more importantly, have YOU ever |
| would be easy to pass over the extraordinary lessons | | | | said those words for another, completing a circle, |
| and beauty it contained. | | | | embracing your highest destiny to eventually be a light |
| It occurred in the movie after the child Chiyo has been | | | | for others, as well?Facing your own challenges, you at |
| torn from her family and sold to a Geisha house. Not | | | | times - like me - have desperately wished to find such |
| long after, she is manipulated by the most prominent | | | | people. |
| Geisha in the house into committing an unforgivable | | | | The true Wealthy Souls, indeed, can be rare. |
| violation. | | | | Do you want to know where to find them?Do you |
| Then, after a severe fall during a failed attempt at | | | | want to know HOW to find them?It all starts by you |
| escaping her ever-worsening fate, Chiyo is consigned | | | | opening your heart to someone else in need and |
| to a life of slavery by the house mother. Because of | | | | becoming one yourself. |