Boeddhistische Omroep Stichting
REAL MEN DON'T CRYMindful at work
Broadcast date: Zondag 4-9-2011 14:00 - 14:30 ned. 2
Repeat: Zaterdag 10-9-2011 10:00 - 10:30 ned. 2
This film follows garbage collectors that meditate: A garbage man with heart complaints, a driver from Iraq who suffers from war trauma and an overworked manager during their mindfulness training. They don’t feel in control over their own life happiness. They hope to change through meditation. The men learn to pay attention to their heavy emotions and to accept them.
Mindfulness is based on the Buddhist practice of Vipassana meditation. This method that focuses on accepting ‘what is going on right now’ turns out to be very appropriate for people with stress complaints. It is often employed by businesses for employees who are on sick leave. 
Before he set out on the path of mindfulness, garbage collector Fred had never even heard of meditation. ‘I had an extreme fear of dying. This made me unbearable at home. At work I got upset about everything so I thought: it can’t do any harm and it may do some good. But I was quite surprised when we had to lie down on a yoga mat for the body scan.’ His wife Dienie jokes about it. Fred: ‘I don’t care. I feel that it’s useful to me. I have much more control over those fears now. ‘
Driver Azad explains that his name means ‘free’. ‘But I have never been free. When I was young, my parents used to beat me. I fled to the army when I was 16 but I was even less free there. After I deserted I was tortured in Abu Ghraib prison for months and sentenced to death. In the Netherlands I’m safe, but I’m trapped in my memories. I ache everywhere as a result of the torture. I’m 54 now. I meditate because I hope that I can be more free of those memories, the fear, anger and pain for the rest of my life.’