Seven Wonders of the Buddhist World

In this documentary, historian Bettany Hughes explores the seven wonders of the Buddhist world. Her journey begins at the Mahabodhi Temple in India, where Buddhism originated; there, Hughes examines the foundations of the belief system—the three jewels. At Nepal's Boudhanath Stupa, she delves into the concept of dharma—the teachings of the Buddha—and at the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka, Bettany explores karma, the idea that intentional acts will be mirrored in the future. At Wat Pho Temple in Thailand, Hughes investigates samsara, the endless cycle of birth and death that Buddhists seek to end through enlightenment, before traveling to Angkor Wat in Cambodia to learn more about meditation. In Hong Kong, Hughes visits the Giant Buddha to examine Zen, before arriving at the final wonder, the Hsi Lai Temple in Los Angeles, where she discovers more about the ultimate goal for all Buddhists—nirvana.