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Topic: Global

A Portrait of Prophet Muhammad  (pbuh) – is part of our ‘Portrait’ series, which brings big names from history and faith to life in just a few short minutes. In this episode, we explore the story of Muhammad (pbuh) – the last Prophet of Islam, whose teachings and message continue to inspire billions of people around the world, more than fourteen hundred years after he lived. The film follows key moments in his life, from his early years in Makkah to the revelations he receives and the challenges he faces while spreading his message of belief in one God. Through themes of perseverance, mercy, community and spiritual devotion, the film offers a fresh perspective on a life that continues to shape religious and cultural history across the world.

A Portrait of Prophet Muhammad Transcript

Narrator: Down through history, there have been special people who stand out because they were inspiring. They challenged beliefs, had new ideas, and sometimes even changed the world. One of those people is the Prophet Muhammad. Peace be upon him. And here is a portrait of his life.

Instead of a picture this is his name in Arabic. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was chosen by God, who they call Allah, to spread the religion of Islam. No pictures of Muhammad are allowed to make it clear that Muslims only worship Allah who is unseen and not people or idols. In 570 CE, Muhammad was born in the Arabian city of Makkah. His father died before the birth and his mother died when he was only six. So Muhammad was brought up by his grandfather and then by his uncle. Muhammad started out as a shepherd, then became a businessman and eventually married his boss, a widow called Kadija. In the centre of Makkah there was a cube shaped building called the Kaaba, filled with 360 idols.

Every year during the month of Ramadan, there was a party when people made sacrifices to gods and goddesses. So Muhammad would leave town, climb a nearby mountain to a cave he'd found, and pray to Allah, the one unseen God he believed in. Muslims believe that when Muhammad was 40, the angel Jibreel appeared to him in the cave, bringing a message from Allah. These messages continued for the rest of Muhammad's life. They were memorised and written down by his friends and eventually put together to become the Muslim holy book called the Quran. Muslims were given a hard time in Makkah. Some were even tortured and killed. But the people of another city, Yathrib, invited the Muslims to join them, and it became known as Madinat ul-Nabi, the city of the prophet, but Makkah's rulers wouldn't leave them alone. And there were three big battles before a peace treaty was signed.

When the people of Makkah broke the treaty, Muhammad led a huge army against them, and the rulers of the city surrendered without a fight. Muhammad roared into Makkah and went straight to the Kaaba. He circled it seven times and smashed the idols, restoring the building as a place of worship for Allah. Today, Muslims still follow in Muhammad's footsteps and circle the Kaaba like he did. Prophet Muhammad died in Makkah in 632 CE. By then, Islam had spread throughout Arabia and soon it would reach out into the rest of the world. Muhammad was the final prophet of Islam and his job was done.

A Portrait of Prophet Muhammad

Video length - 02.58
Published date - Sep 2026
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4
Downloadable resources

As part of our ongoing “Portrait” series which brings big names from history and faith to life. In this film, we explore the story of Siddhartha Gautama—the man who became known as the Buddha, whose teachings have inspired millions of people around the world for two and half thousand years. The film follows the key moments in the Buddha’s life, from his sheltered upbringing as a prince, to the moment he left his royal life behind in search of answers about suffering and human existence, and on to his journey through meditation, self-discovery, and enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree. It’s an animated snapshot of a life that shaped spiritual thought across the world, packed with themes of compassion, wisdom, inner peace, and the search for meaning.

 


A Portrait of The Buddha

Video length - 03.00
Published date - May 2026
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Meet Angus, a young man using social media to challenge expectations around male body image. Angus is a body positive content creator working in the fashion industry. This film, made with the BFI Film Academy, follows his personal journey through confidence, identity, and self-acceptance, as he opens up honest conversations about body positivity for boys and young men. Through candid reflection, Angus explores the pressures surrounding appearance and the impact they can have on mental health and self-worth. Intimate and direct, the film highlights why these conversations matter and how shifting them can create meaningful change.

Body Positive Transcript

Angus:    I think there's a very outdated body image standard for men. Me posting what I do and the content that I make actively challenges that standard. What you see online isn't what you see every day. There shouldn't. There shouldn't be this idealised body type that is this muscly man. A lot of what I do is fashion, and a lot of the fashion content creators that I was seeing weren't inclusive, and I thought it might be nice if I start making content around bigger people in fashion.

Producer: Would you be able to just introduce yourself?

Angus:    Um, hi, I'm Angus and I'm a body positive content creator. A lot of what I do is fashion. Um, and I was on TikTok, Instagram, um, and a lot of the fashion content creators that I was seeing weren't inclusive. And I sort of thought, hmm, it might be nice if I start making content around bigger people in fashion and plus size fashion. I just try and stay true to who I am as a person. Put that out on the internet and then try and hope that people who may feel like they're being shut down by traditional masculine views, that they can express themselves and they can have emotion and they can be vulnerable. As I was growing up, I was bullied for the way I looked. I've always been a heavy set guy.

Um, I've always been bigger. It's sort of shaped the way that I view my body now. Um, in the fact that I've sort of gone past that feeling of being bullied and feeling that I'm not accepted for the way I look to now, knowing that that's just completely not true. And just realising that when you are in the real world and not online or next sat next to your bully at school, that realistically, nobody does actually care what you look like. This is my favourite thing ever. This is a late 1960s German/French chore jacket, which sounds confusing. I try and be like really authentic and I don't try and hide anything about myself. Like I think a lot of people, if they had my body, might try and hide their body behind the clothes they wear. Um, and with the content they make, I feel like I make people feel comfortable in themselves. Um, or at least that's what I try and do. And I get a lot of lovely messages from people that have messaged me saying that my content has helped them feel more comfortable in themselves.

It's taken me quite a while to get to where I am. Um, I think even when I started off posting, there was part of me that wasn't confident. And it is difficult when you do get hate comments from people, it's difficult not to let them affect you. And there was a point where I was letting them affect my confidence. My body positivity message is mainly to men, is to make men feel comfortable in their bodies. Like not everyone has a six pack and abs and has massive biceps. Like that's just not real. Like not everyone looks like that. And it should be widely accepted that. People with bodies like mine are just the standard body for men. From an outside perspective. And what traditional masculinity is, it's someone who or a man that thinks that they can't show emotion, and they have to be this sort of permanently, mentally and physically stable rock. I think it's important to take a step back off social media and actually just get out in the real world, experience real people, talk to real people and just try and stay off social media as much as possible. I've certainly tried doing that in the last few months, and I think it just gives you a better perspective on who you are and who you can shape yourself into being.

Body Positive

Video length - 04.46
Published date - Apr 2026
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Every year, people across the UK switch on the fairy lights, wrap up presents, and gather with friends and family — filling living rooms, high streets, and school halls with the familiar sights and sounds of the festive season. But for all the mince pies eaten and Christmas jumpers worn, how much do we really know about where Christmas comes from, how its traditions began, and why we celebrate it the way we do today?

To find out, we head onto the streets and ask people of all ages and backgrounds what they think about the origins, rituals, and deeper meaning behind this time of year. From long-standing customs to modern-day habits, from religious reflections to festive fun, their answers reveal a whole range of ideas about what Christmas truly represents.

Christmas Transcript

S1           Happy Christmas. Christmas is a Christian festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. You probably know the story how Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem but couldn't find anywhere to stay, so they ended up in a stable where Jesus was born and laid in a manger. They were visited by shepherds and wise men from the east, who brought presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And giving presents is something we still do today. But Christmas isn't just for Christians. It happens just after the winter solstice, when the nights are at their longest, and it's always been a time for families to gather together for warmth, to enjoy good food, and to hope for the return of light and life to the world.

S2           Christmas is like a celebration of love and warmth, you know? It's a time where even when it's cold, you still feel a lot of warmth from those closest to you.

S3           Christmas isn't just the one day. As such, it's a period over sort of across December, up leading up to Christmas Day, where you have decorations and a tree that you place presents under for your loved ones, and the actual day is then marked by the unwrapping of the presents and the sharing of gifts and love. And then you kind of finish it off, I guess, with eating a nice meal together.

S4           It's a time that you're kind, jolly, I'd say even.

S5           I would say it's the most magical time of the year. It's very festive and it's a time when you just feel belonging.

S6           I think it's a time where people reflect on the people who need help the most. And I think it's a time where people really need support and help, the sense of belonging as well, because it's when families come together. It's when people kind of have this sense of catching up with the people that mean the most to them at that time.

S2           It's obviously a time of celebration. I'm a Christian. I also feel like it's a time to really connect with your family. You know, obviously, because the day that Jesus was born, I believe that, you know, Christmas is all about togetherness. Looking after others, especially those that are less fortunate, you know, giving back to charity, making sure that we're all looking out for each other in this time of need.

S7           I think it means like a hell of a lot of time, like family time when everyone comes together. I think it's a lot of connection for everyone to get together.

S8           Spending time with friends and family, literally. That's like the main thing.

S5           Christmas to me is all about family. I feel like we're always busy going to school, going to work. It's the only time of year that we can spend with our family. So that's what's sentimental to me.

S4           I believe it was the birth of Jesus Christ. So that's still the original meaning for me. And, uh, people just think it's Santa Clause riding around on the sleigh, bringing them presents.

S9           The best Christmas present. When I was with my family.

S2           We tried to assemble the tree together. we like to delegate certain parts of building the tree to each other. Just so it's like us as a family. We're all building the tree, decorating the house, getting the house and the decorations ready for Christmas.

S7           We all just get together and just have a big wild bash and just enjoy it. Get the mistletoe out.

S3           We do unwrapping of presents in the morning. We will play Christmas music while we're doing it.

S4           Yeah, we have a Christmas dinner. Like a turkey or a family gathering. We'd go out and see my grandparents and just all spend the time together.

S5           We all get together and we all bring a dish and we all just celebrate at one of our houses.

S8           We do like, have a nice dinner. I'm not Christian. I don't celebrate Christmas religiously, but we still keep the warm tradition going.

S6           I grew up a Catholic in Ireland, so I think it is always seen as traditionally a religious event. Even if you don't go to church regularly.

S2           It's quite interlinked. So I'm obviously constantly reminded that Christmas is a joyous time. I'm able to give thanks that, you know, I've seen another year. I'm able to give rather than receive. And that's me trying to be Christ like and give back the same way that Jesus did as well.

S7           No, I believe everyone should just stick together. Don't believe in anything like that. No, I think everyone should stick together. The love is the love and that's that.

S8           As part of my religion, I do a charity. So we go around for around December. Every Saturday weekend we do, um, soup kitchen. I like Christmas very much. I have nothing against it. It's like it's probably the favourite times of year for me.

S6           If I could give a gift to anyone at Christmas, it would be peace of mind and a self, a belonging for everyone.

S7           My love, my love and my heart and my happiness.

S8           I'd say especially right now. Peace. Definitely. Like everyone needs a bit of peace. Everyone needs to be a bit more calm now.

S2           The world is missing a lot of love, a lot of kindness right now. So I think it's imperative that we just love each other to the greatest extent, no matter what.

S5           To the world I would give love. There's some people who just don't have a special Christmas, so I would give love to everybody.

Christmas

Video length - 05.47
Published date - Dec 2025
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Meet Kaia, activism isn’t just something she does — it’s a part of who she is. Growing up, she saw inequality in everyday life: in the classroom, in the streets, and in the way people’s voices were silenced. But instead of turning away, she decided to speak up.

Her journey into activism started with small steps — attending local marches, sharing posts online, and joining community groups. Over time, those steps became a movement of her own. Through protests, campaigns, and honest conversations, Kaia found the power of her voice — and the strength of the people standing beside her.

In this film, we hear Kaia’s story in her own words. She talks about the moment she realised silence wasn’t an option, the challenges she’s faced as a young Black woman, and the hope that keeps her going.

An Activist Tale Transcript

Kaia:       My name is Kaia. I'm a racial justice activist, and I'm passionate around inviting people to be a part of the discussion to change the world. I would say that activism found me at a time of which I couldn't put into words what I was doing. I just started to question the education system and wanted to find out why the gaps were there, especially around minoritised communities.

And from seeing those gaps, I naturally started to learn about myself and my history and my lineage, and wanted to invite others to be a part of that journey. So I started to create infographics, which basically is informative posts which are short bite size information to share in a digital realm. Due to the death of George Floyd during 2020, it really platformed the work that I was doing. And naturally from that point on, I really was passionate around sharing not just the trauma and the realities of people's lived experiences, but also the joy of which we can embody, which is a fundamental part of activism. I found it important to share what I was learning, because it's something of which the education system won't tell you.

Organising a Black Lives Matter protest in Brighton comes with conflict. Because yes, it is you being framed as somebody who is organising and doing great things and a champion for the community, and they're here to bring change, which is especialy what I'm trying to do. But with that came with the realities and the epiphany of sitting with what I would be dealing with in terms of the legal system, what it meant in terms of my relationship with the police and how they would see me and perceive me, but also the necessity of showing up and doing it regardless. Because who will bring change otherwise.

A year and a half later, marching through the streets in Brighton, it's a trend that's no longer socially convenient because it feels too uncomfortable. And that's what we can call performative allyship. Performative activism is an activism that anyone can fall into. It often is an emotionally driven response, so it is often short term. It is often affected by what you see in that moment. And rather than it being a sustained action, it actually is a that's so shocking. Let me do something now. But when we think about maybe a week later, you've forgotten about it. When we think of grassroots activism, it is often the most strongest forms of driving social change, as long as you make it a sustainable effort and an ongoing, consistent journey. And it may not be in my lifetime. It may not be the lifetime of which generations are to come. It may be in distant futures, but I know that I've done my part in driving that social change, just like my ancestors have done.

What empowers me to keep going is, I think, sitting with the weight of it all. It is a challenging thing to sit with. There's so much more I still need to learn. A big humbling thing around allyship is that it's a continuous learning journey and also understanding. It's about the joy and the more of which I do it, the closer we are to revolution. The closer that we are to social change, the closer we are to a world of which we all can coexist in. Black girl we may never meet. But I hope you know that you have a family. By blood and through melanin. A collection of black souls present and gone. Knighting you in gold, but proud nonetheless. No matter what society reflects, look in the mirror and digest? Does the vision of yourself reject the power of colonialists and supremacists? Because black girl, you are a queen and made so stunningly black girl past, black girl present and black girl forever? You are a sacred shadow, one that persists through light and flows through darkness.

An Activist’s Tale

Video length - 05.00
Published date - Oct 2025
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

In this film, we explore Sikh perspectives on climate change through the lens of religious teachings and ethics. Sikhism teaches that the Earth is sacred, a divine creation of Waheguru, and must be treated with reverence and care. The principle of ‘Sarbat da Bhala’—working for the well-being of all—extends to protecting the environment and all forms of life. The Sikh faith emphasises humility, selfless service (seva), and living in harmony with nature as core spiritual values.

Sikh commitment to sustainability is deeply rooted in practices like communal kitchens (langar), which promote plant-based diets and reduce waste, and the use of renewable energy in gurdwaras around the world. Through these teachings and practices, the Sikh tradition calls for urgent and compassionate action to address climate change, highlighting both personal responsibility and collective effort to safeguard the Earth for future generations.

By linking spiritual values with environmental activism, Climate Change: Sikhism shows how faith can inspire a more just, green, and sustainable future for all.

Climate Change: Sikhism

Prubhjyot: My name is Prubhjyot Singh and I am a co-founder of Eco-Sikh UK. Eco-Sikh UK are here to inspire the youth of the Sikhs here in the UK to come out and look after their environment and realise that we need to change ourselves, change our lifestyles to make a change for the environment and look after our well-being and our future generations well-being. Sikhs come from an area in India called Punjab, which is in the north west bordering Pakistan. A lot of Sikhs back in the days were farmers who would grow their own food and feed their families and live sustainably. Land of Punjab is very rich in agricultural land in terms of farming. Making our own food, growing our own food and feeding our families. Traditionally, we would pass down the knowledge of good farming and living sustainably and being stewards, good stewards of the land, down generation by generation. A lot of these values have now been lost when our families have moved into the Western world. As Sikhs, we believe in Guru Granth Sahib ji and Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Whereas most people will see it as a book where it has all of our messages written within it, we as Sikhs don't describe it as a book. Guru Granth Sahib Ji for us is a living guru which has all the knowledge contained within it. The Guru Granth Sahib Ji actually begins not with a word but with a number, and the number is one, and the number one symbolises oneness of everything. As Sikhs, we believe there is there is one God. But however, that one actually has a deeper meaning to it, which we believe it to be is there is nothing but God. So if you see that as everything is created by that oneness, we are part of that oneness. As human beings, as the animals that are out there, the environment, the trees, the water, this planet, the whole universe is part of that oneness. There's a line in Guru Granth Sahib Ji which says Pavan guru pani pita Mata tata mehat, which basically translates to that pavan. The air is our guru, the water is our father and the planet Earth. The mother is our Mata. So we need to look after the three elements.

We need to look after the Mother Earth for it to provide us with a living environment, a fresh air environment where we can go and have fresh water. We need to be able to live in balance, in sustainable balance within the creation and the environment around us. When it comes to looking after the environment, it's important for us to have a sustainable view. We need to be able to live within our means. We need to be able to look after the environment that we live in. So rather than destroying the trees or cutting them down or building on agricultural land, we need to have a balance where we're provided with the elements that we require. We require fresh air, we require water, we need all these elements to survive. And one of the biggest facts we need to remember is that Mother Earth will thrive without human beings. Whereas human beings cannot live without the natural environment and the fresh air and the oxygen that the environment provides us.

So two really important concepts in Sikhism is a seva. And sever is all about selfless giving. You might have seen Sikhs go out there and feed the poor. You might have seen Sikhs donate a lot of money to a good cause. However, we're not very good at when it comes to the environmental things. And now I think that's where sarbat da bhala is very important. So sarbat da bhala basically means. Good for all. While feeding the poor is feeding the poor. And obviously you're providing food and you're providing money for good causes. But when it comes to the environment, by planting a tree that will give oxygen to anyone that walks past that tree, and it brings that sarbat da bhala concept into a whole new vision. As eco Sikhs have been planting trees alongside Canal and River trust, we've been part of the longest orchard in the world. We've helped clean up canals, we've helped pick up litter. We've helped communities live in a better environment. Eco-Sikh is not just an organisation in UK, it's a worldwide organisation and one of our biggest teams is currently in India working on a project called Guru Nanak Dev Ji Sacred Forest. This was to celebrate Guru Nanak's 550th birthday. The concept of this project is to bring back biodiversity back into the areas where we had lost it over the last 40 to 50 years. For every tree we plant, it acts like a home or a habitat for insects, birds and animals. It's great to bring that wildlife back to the local community there. It also helps in carbon capture and bring down the pollution within those areas. So in 2019, it was Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550th birth anniversary. This is a really important celebration for the Sikh's all around the world. While planting the 550 trees involved, we were approached by the Holy Trinity Church vicar and he wanted to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550th alongside the Sikh community. This was a great idea. The whole community got together, and we decided that the 550th tree would be planted in the courtyard of the Holy Trinity Church.

 At this event, we had various different faiths, including the Sikhs, the Hindus, Muslims, Christians, the Jews and all the local community. This event really encompassed the message that Sikhi really brings out and Guru Nanak's message of oneness, that everything is one. The whole universe is created in that one's form. There is nothing but God. God is in all. And this event really showed that if the communities can get together and work together, we can really make a positive change in saving our environment. While a lot of the skills that we required in Punjab are not required here in the Western world, here at Ecosikh, we want to make sure that we're still keeping the values of being good stewards and sustainability, and we're passing them down to our younger generations. We can do that by reducing our plastic usage within our houses, eating local food rather than getting food from across the world, eating seasonal food, maybe reducing our water usage, maybe walking to the local supermarket. There is so much you can do at home. Start at home and then take it to the local communities. Take it to your local groups. Take it to the local gurdwaras. It's important for us all to push together and make a positive impact for the environment. Eco-Sikh hold regular talks with gurdwaras our place of worship, where we talk about how to make Gurdwaras environmentally friendly. There's many ways of doing this. This could be from looking at solar panels, using electric usage, reducing our water usage, or how we recycle our food waste from our langar, which is our community kitchen. There's so many ways of getting the community involved in helping out with all of this, but the most important part is it's not just the Sikhs, it's all the communities together. Whether you're a muslim, whether you're a Hindu, whether you're Sikh, Christian, it doesn't matter who you are. It's going to take not just one community. It will take all the communities to work together. It will take all the religions to work together. It will take the whole planet to work together. It's about everyone saving the environment for the future generations.

Climate Change: Sikhism

Video length - 07.47
Published date - Sep 2025
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

From the critically acclaimed BBC Two and iPlayer series Pilgrimage follows well known personalities of differing faiths and beliefs on a personal journey of discovery as they tackle some of the most famous walking routes across the UK and Europe. In this series the Pilgrims go to Wales in Pilgrimage The Road Through North Wales.

Eryl the Pioneer Priest talks about Celtic Spirituality to the Pilgrims. Tom, Christine and Eshaan respond especially well to being in a “thin place”.

See the whole episode on on iPlayer here.

Pilgrimage Moments: A Thin Place

Narrator: The church belongs to the Anglican Church in Wales. It's run by Eryl Parry, who has an interest in Celtic Christianity, and she is what's known as a pioneer priest.

 

Eryl:        So as a pioneer priest, what we do is we create worshiping communities, faith communities for people who wouldn't necessarily find themselves sitting on a pew that might be on a mountainside. For me, there's a deeply authentic expression here, which is Celtic spirituality, and there are so many people who seek to make some kind of sense of their lives out in landscape.

 

Eshaan:   And what is Celtic spirituality? It's not something I've heard before.

 

Eryl:        So it's the Christian faith dating right back to the Saints in the sixth century. So here, Saint Callanan. So if you're here at the top of the hill, the lens of Celtic spirituality would be saying God is in the landscape. We're not worshiping nature. We're worshiping the creator.

 

Tom:       Yeah, we've seen a lot of that today. The sun coming through the clouds. God is speaking to us and God speaking to us through each other, I think. So, yeah.

 

Narrator: Eryl has her own way of leading community worship up here in the hills.

 

Eryl:        So where are we going? Is just a lovely little viewing spot. What we call a ponder spot.

 

Amanda: Yeah. Let's ponder.

 

Eshaan:   A nice bit of pondering.

 

Sonali:     This is crazy.

 

Eshaan:   Amazing.

 

Sonali:     Absolutely stunning.

 

Eryl:        So as we look across the mountains, I would ask you just to let your eyes settle on something that's speaking to you. It might be the meandering river. It might be the mountains. I'm just going to give you a little bit of time on your own to imagine what it is to be in a thin place. A thin place, we would say, is somewhere where you have a sense of the barrier between earth and heaven being thinner. You get a sense of the awesome nature of God or the awesome nature of the universe. So guys, just take a few minutes to ponder. Do you mind if I share your ponder spot?

 

Tom:       Hi. I've been looking at the Mountains where it literally just disappears into nothingness. Yeah, and it struck me. That's the thin place. That's essentially as close as you get to heaven on earth. It made me have a feeling of prayer, that hoping when I actually see heaven after I die, I recognise it for what it is. And it seems like this is a glimpse of what it might be like. It's, uh. No. It's awesome.

 

Eryl:        And that insight and this moment is a gift.

 

Tom:       Mm. I do get pilgrimage now. There's not many places in the world where you're supposed to sort of stop and look and consider yourself. And the thin barrier between heaven and earth. Oh, thank you for taking us here. I appreciate it.

 

Eryl:        Thank you.

 

Christine: I just wanted to come back and look at the church again and really appreciate it, because I don't enjoy the feeling of death. As a mum it absolutely petrifies me. It's my biggest fear is leaving my children one day. My children are considered different because they're all autistic and so am I. And I have often had comments like, I bet you wish there was a cure or something to fix your children. And and I really don't. I think every single child is a miracle. But it just makes me want to be around forever because they're so magical.

 

Eryl:        I think we're called to people and place. And you've been called as a mum.

 

Christine: It is my purpose in life, and I know I wouldn't be here if I didn't have my children.

 

Eryl:        It's a high calling.

 

Christine: I just don't know what I'd do without the kids. I don't know what I'd do without my babies. I also don't know what they'd do without me. It scares me. Really scares me.

 

Eryl:        Would a hug help or hinder?

Christine: Yeah. Thank you.

Eshaan:   Um, I could associate this breeze with praying at my mum's grave when I go there. And. The breeze has made me think of her really. And. I just kind of found myself saying some of the prayers I'd say when I go to her grave. I think the tears are just kind of the love that I wish, I wish I could still give her. I think that's part of the reason why I don't take time to ponder, because I don't want to go into what's in my heart, really. The moment I think I'm going close to that bit of me. I think I don't want to. So, uh, it's nice to be able to just to ponder. That's the whole point, right? I guess it works. I guess it works.

Pilgrimage Moments: A Thin Place

Video length - 06.42
Published date - Jun 2025
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4
Downloadable resources

From the critically acclaimed BBC Two and iPlayer series Pilgrimage follows well known personalities of differing faiths and beliefs on a personal journey of discovery as they tackle some of the most famous walking routes across the UK and Europe. In this series the Pilgrims go to Wales in Pilgrimage The Road Through North Wales.

The Pilgrims talk about the Buddhist view of life after death with Lama Shenpen at a Buddhist hermitage. Christine, Sonali and Eshaan reflect on her words.

See the whole episode on on iPlayer here.

Pilgrimage Moments: Buddhist Teachings

Narrator:   Once back at the Hermitage, the pilgrims meet Lama Shenpen, its founder and spiritual leader at the stupa.

 

Lama Shenpen:          So you could say that the stupa represents the center of the universe and the center of the universe could be anywhere or everywhere. So this is, if you like, a representation of it that actually contains the essence of it. So when we walk towards the stupa, we're walking to the center of the universe, which lies beyond all our thinking and opinions. It's considered to be radiating love and compassion, so it's considered to be very powerful. And the center of it is called a tree of life. Because really, in a way, Buddhism is about finding, well, what is the significance? What is life? What is birth? What is death? You could say, well, our life is a pilgrimage. We start with birth. You have this vision of a journey and the significance of your life. And then life ends. Your body dies. Yeah?

 

Spencer:    Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. I just have. I have a question. Yeah. I've always just felt that energy and people's energy. Because I believe you can feel the people's energy. Like it's a physical thing that you can feel. Why would the energy die with the body? So I've always assumed that, you know, when I take my last breath in this body that something will happen to my energy.

 

Lama Shenpen:          Yeah. Other cultures would find it. Mad to think that actually, that's all that happened. It lasted one lifetime and then it disappeared. What are you talking about? You die, and then you just manifest again in another body, in another place, in another time.

 

Michaela   Do you believe that you go from one body into another body, or is it just an energy that comes out and and circulates?

 

Lama Shenpen:          I think one way you can think of it is it's more like the world we create collapses, and then we've got to start again with a another situation, which is our new life.

 

Eshaan:     I sometimes feel like some of these ideas exist to give solace to the people that are left behind in a sense, like. But actually, we don't really know. Like, I don't know where my mum has gone. I have no idea. When I pray to her, I have no idea if she is in an afterlife. I'm just praying into the ether and hoping that she receives some of my energy or whatever it might be.

 

Lama Shenpen:          It's beautiful, isn't it? There's an intuitive sense that there's a meaning to that. A lot of people do seem to find those ideas helpful.

 

Narrator:   Lama Shenpen invites the pilgrims to take part in a ritual at the stupa.

 

Lama Shenpen:          As we live our life, we actually are creating a story. That's our life. And then we're holding on to things that we think are us.

 

Narrator:   The ritual helps nurture the path to spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

 

Lama Shenpen:          In some ways. When we walk around the stupa, go on our pilgrimage around the stupa, we come back to where we started, but maybe with a different perspective.

 

Christine:  As a mum. Of course. I don't ever want to leave this earth. I want to be around forever. To be with my children. Everything Lama explained made perfect sense. It was very much that. You know, your energy lives on. Okay your body might leave, but your soul and your energy is there. And that's amazing. That, for me is something that I want to believe in. That means we get to live on forever, doesn't it? I'm not scared of death anymore. I'm not scared of death.

 

Sonali:       Lama Shenpen said that life is a pilgrimage and that no one has ever said to me. I've learnt that today and it's so right. I always say I'm of Jain origin. I'm not practicing. That term practicing kind of always, it's difficult for me because then I feel like I've got to prove I'm doing something concrete. And maybe today has just confirmed. Maybe I should just say I am Jain. And then whatever I do, my intention of living a good life with as much non-violence as possible is probably all right.

 

Eshaan:     My mum felt like the centre of my universe, so I felt a real connection to this physical manifestation of centring of the universe. Every time I went round, I could feel my brain and my heart going. This is a new thing. So this was the first time where I got a sense that my stupa is missing, which is why I feel this way. I feel like I'm floating through the universe without anything to anchor me.

 

Lama Shenpen:          Thank you.

 

All Pilgrims:  Thank you so much.

 

Michaela:  That was beautiful.

 

Pilgrimage Moments: Buddhist Teachings

Video length - 05.45
Published date - Jun 2025
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

From the critically acclaimed BBC Two and iPlayer series Pilgrimage follows well known personalities of differing faiths and beliefs on a personal journey of discovery as they tackle some of the most famous walking routes across the UK and Europe. In this series the Pilgrims go to Austria in Pilgrimage The Road Through the Alps.

Nelufar and Steph chat with a refugee from Afghanistan, which has a special resonance for Nelufar because she was also a refugee from Afghanistan. 

See the whole episode on on iPlayer here.

Narrator:  Nelufar and Stef have gone to the town of Bludesch. On the outskirts is a refugee centre run by Caritas, an international Catholic charity. Nelufar came into the UK as a refugee from Afghanistan at the age of seven.

Nelufar:   It's one of the invisible things that make me who I am. But I am nervous.

Stef:         I feel like this is quite a personal story for you.

Nelufar:   Yeah.

Narrator:  They're meeting Faisal Karim. He's lived at the centre for a year with other international refugees from a range of backgrounds and situations.

Faisal:      Hey.

Nelufar:   Hi. Good to meet you. I'm Nelufar. Salaam alaikum.

Stef:         Stephanie.

Narrator:  Faisal Kareem was brought from Afghanistan by people traffickers and spent a difficult year moving through various countries before finally arriving in Austria.

Nelufar:   With his own eyes.

Nelufar:   How important was your faith in your journey?

Nelufar:   He says when you're a muslim, you're a muslim. His deen, his belief was always the same.

Nelufar:   Wow. Here. He's free to pray or not pray. But in Afghanistan, he had to pray. So then. Which is faith, which is real? You know,

Stef:       May I ask, what is your hope for the future? What is your dream now?

Nelufar:   Just normal things really ordinary things that we all have.

Narrator:  For now Faisal Karim has a job locally, studies German and spends time with the other refugees.

Stef:        Thank you so, so much.

Nelufar:  Bye!

Pilgrimage Moments: A Refugee Story

Video length - 04.18
Published date - Jun 2025
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4
Downloadable resources

From the critically acclaimed BBC Two and iPlayer series Pilgrimage follows well known personalities of differing faiths and beliefs on a personal journey of discovery as they tackle some of the most famous walking routes across the UK and Europe. In this series the Pilgrims go to Austria in Pilgrimage The Road Through the Alps.

Helen engages in a thoughtful and emotional conversation with Daliso, delving into her Jewish heritage and exploring the layered, often conflicting emotions she feels about the tragic fate of her father’s family, many of whom perished in the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Theresienstadt. As she reflects on this painful history, she grapples with the question of whether she has the right or even the responsibility to claim and “own” that legacy as part of her personal and cultural identity, especially given the generational distance and the complexity of inherited trauma.

See the whole episode on on iPlayer here.

Pilgrimage Moments: Jewish Roots

Daliso:     On this pilgrimage. When we are going through these places, the memories like, how do you feel?

Helen:      It's triggering so much of, you know, obviously my father loved Austria so much because as a boy he would come to Austria. But then the more you know about the actual role that the Austrians purportedly played in the war, the two things are in conflict because a lot of Austrians were part of the Final Solution. I mean, this is the thing about numbers. The thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of people who died, including my father's family in Auschwitz. I mean, it's just beggars belief, doesn't it?

Daliso:     Yes. So it was your father's family. How did your father get get away?

Helen:      Well, I think what was usual in 39 is you had to have a sponsor in England. They sent my father to school in Margate early, and then his parents followed and his sister followed.

Daliso:     And when you were growing up, was it spoken of or never spoken of.

Helen:      It wasn't largely spoken of because of the need and the gratitude to be English and wanting to put. The past you know, behind you and celebrate like we are just celebrating now, but move forward.

Daliso:     Yeah, do you feel your Jewishness plays a big part in your life?

Helen:      The Jewishness is complicated because I wasn't brought up in a Jewish home. We didn't. My mother was English, not Jewish. But when I think about my grandmother and the way she spoke and her sadness because there was obviously sadness, um, it's a conflict because you you've inherited this, like, paranoia that there's something you can't talk about, you can't overclaim it, because that would be a disservice to those people who are central to it. But it's really coming. It's kind of I'm feeling it now.

Daliso:     I'm feeling it here.

Helen:      So pick up your sticks. Let's go and catch up with the others.

Daliso:     I enjoyed a brief rest.

Helen:      A little rest.

Daliso:     Let's do it.

Helen:      More pilgrimage now.

 

Pilgrimage Moments: Jewish Roots

Video length - 02.41
Published date - Jun 2025
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4
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