The Razor’s Edge is based on a 1944 novel by W. Somerset Maugham that tells the story of a young American veteran of World War I who, disturbed by what he had seen in the trenches, turns his back on sophisticated society and searches for meaning.
The movie’s title comes from a translation of a verse in the Katha Upanishad: “The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard.”
The main character, Larry Darrell, is given this same bit of advice after becoming a student in a Tibetan monastery. During a long retreat by himself in the mountains, Larry comes close to enlightenment. He tells his lama: “It is easy to be a holy man on the top of a mountain.” His teacher believes Larry is ready to return to the world but advises him: “The path to salvation is narrow and as difficult to walk as a razor’s edge.”
The remainder of the movie demonstrates Larry’s application of the spiritual practices of equanimity, attention, and compassion as he returns to the world.
Join us for a discussion of this movie on January 24th at 8 pm ET/6 pm MT facilitated by Rev. Kelly Barber.
You can find this movie on YouTube, Vudu, iTunes, Amazon, and Crackle.
