Mandala is a 1981 South Korean film about Buddhist monks in Korea based on the novel of the same name by Kim Seong-dong, who spent 10 years as a Buddhist monk. The film is considered by many critics to be director Im Kwon-taek's breakthrough as a cinematic artist.

Plot

A bus stops in front of a checkpoint and soldiers begin to check the passengers. Monk Ji-san is caught without proper ID, and the young monk Beop-woon follows him. Ji-san is released after chanting Buddha's name as ordered by the soldiers.