Documentary Film on Buddhism in America

[seekingheartwood]

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to share a link to with you to a website for my documentary project.

www.seekingheartwood.com

Bascially, I've been on a 21 month road trip exploring Buddhism in America. I've been filming interviews pretty much every Buddhist teacher I come across, no matter what their views or traditions. I'm trying to take a snapshop of this moment in the history of Buddhism coming to our country, with the hope that this film will actually help make this country a better place.

I'm mentioning this because have about 5 more months of filming, so if there's an teacher here in America that you really think excels at explaining the dharma to Americans, please let me know!

Thanks so much.

[David N. Snyder]

Looks great!

I wish you every success in this documentary!

[Mr. G]

so if there's an teacher here in America that you really think excels at explaining the dharma to Americans, please let me know!

Malcolm
Jim Valby
Alfred Bloom
Jacqueline Stone

[seekingheartwood]

Excellent, thanks Mr. G.

Do you have last, or first, name for malcom?

[SSJ3Gogeta]

That would be Malcolm Smith.

He is on the forum.

[Yudron]

Lama Yeshe Wangmo
Lama Tharchin RInpoche
Anne Klein
Lama Tsultrim Allione
Chagdud Khandro
Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche
Anam Thubten Rinpoche

[Indrajala]

I'm mentioning this because have about 5 more months of filming, so if there's an teacher here in America that you really think excels at explaining the dharma to Americans, please let me know!

Thanks so much.

Robert Thurman is at Columbia University in New York. He's pretty groovy and knows his material very well.

[Konchog1]

Garchen Rinpoche
Bardor Rinpoche
Zopa Rinpoche

[Indrajala]

You might want to balance it out and not have exclusively Tibetan Buddhist teachers.

Venerable Changwen is an American Chan monk.

Bhikkhu Bodhi is a Theravadin monk, likewise American, who translates Pali texts.

Venerable Dharmamitra is also a senior monk who translates texts (Chinese to English).

Ideally you could find some nuns to speak to as well to include women. If you look up Dharma Drum Mountain or Foguangshan in America you can find numerous Chinese Buddhist temples, and there will be many that have lovely nuns who speak English who you could interview I'm sure.

[chokyi lodro]

I've heard about this before, and wish you every success in this.

I notice you share lots of images: would you consider sharing any footage on your website, like a teaser? It might help to drum up even more support.

[Jikan]

Monshin Paul Naamon, who is the Abbot at Tendai Buddhist Insitute. contact here: www.tendai.org phone works best

[seekingheartwood]

thanks for all of the great suggestions guys, especially the tibetan teachers. you know, i've found it pretty difficult to actually get into contact with english speaking tibetan teachers. there's a wall of people around them that other buddhist teachers simply don't have. if anyone knows any of these teachers personally, or can help me get into contact with them, i'd really appreciate it because i'd really like to include them in the film. i'll definitely be including teachers from every major tradition, because American buddhism is made up of Buddhist traditions from every part of the world, but this hasn't really been reflected in film yet.

[Sara H]

Have you talked to Rev. Master Haryo Young, the head of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives? Or been to Shasta Abbey?
Shasta is a very unique Monastery, in that they are a celibate Soto Zen Order and are a bit different from some of the other Soto Zen orders in America.
Rev. Master Haryo would be a wonderful person to interview there if you have not already. So would be Rev. Master Meian, the Current abbess of the Monastery, or Rev. Master Daishin the abbot of Throssel Hole Buddhist Monastery, in England, (also Order of Buddhist contemplatives) if he happened to be in Shasta. But Rev. Master Haryo would be a particularly great person to talk to. He can be reached through the prior's office at Shasta Abbey, or if you google "whereisharyo" all one word, you will get redirected to his page. The OBC is founded by Jiyu-Kennett, so it would be good to have them in the Movie to finish up a well rounded documentary. If you have any questions, feel free to email me or call me. whichever works fine for me.

This is a great project. I look forward to seeing your results.

Smiles, and in Gassho,
Sara H

[Sara H]

I should also note that Shasta Abbey does alms rounds in the City of Mt. Shasta which would be particularly interesting footage I would think.

In Gassho,
Sara H

[greentara]

Any monk from the Thai forest tradition is very interesting, there maybe a few in the USA. Of course there's Ajhan Sumedho but he doesn't reside in America.