Jiddu Krishnamurti: The Reluctant Messiah

He was plucked from poverty and illness in India and was declared to be the new messiah, groomed to bring salvation to the world. As a boy, he became the symbol of a new spiritual movement and spoke to those weary of social strife, religious dogma and materialism. As a man, he came to reject his position and instead discovered his own path. In front of throngs of followers, Jiddu Krishnamurti defied the expectations of those around him, and did not offer salvation. Instead, he called for an abandonment of religious dogma, and encouraged those who could hear him to discover their own answers. Produced and written by Adam Sternberg and Lisa Clark.

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Annie Besant: An Unlikely Rebel

Annie Besant was strong-willed woman in an authoritarian era. Journeying from vicar's wife to spiritual leader, Besant lived courageously and passionately. She brought attention to the working conditions of the poor, she spoke out on such radical issues as women's rights, birth control, Indian nationalism and the brotherhood of man. The common thread was her compulsion to end the world's suffering and to seek spiritual enlightenment. Produced by Adam Sternberg. Written by Adam Sternberg and Lisa Clark.

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Medicine in the Middle Kingdom

One of the world's oldest civilizations, China created a complex and sophisticated culture emphasizing on order and harmony. Part of that culture was a system of health care radically different than that of the West. Today, traditional Chinese medicine is practiced well beyond China's borders. How did that happen? What is Chinese medicine? Does it really work? And if it does, how? Produced and Written by Sharon Wood.

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Eastern Spirituality: The Road to Enlightenment

The world's religious beliefs as determined by compass points group the major faiths into Western spirituality (Christians, Jews and Muslims) and Eastern spirituality (Buddhist or Hindu). These faiths have much in common in the questions they ask, yet their differences in tradition are quite pronounced. In the West, death is the end of the human experience while in the East, it is on step in a continuing cycle. In the West, happiness can be achieved by the ultimate fulfillment of all desires, while in the East, fulfillment is achieved by the abolishment of all desires. In the West, there is no brook for ambiguity, while the Eastern path to enlightenment requires relinquishing the need for certainty. Produced and Written by Adam Sternberg and Lisa Clark.

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