I’m so pleased to share that my Fulbright documentary series is now part of the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives where it may be viewed through their Multimedia Library, and also Columbia University East Asian Library, one of the most extensive collections of Tibetan texts and archival material in the U.S.A.
The documentaries are:
Yamantaka, a new feature-length documentary. See a candid view of this esoteric and complex Tibetan Buddhist highest yoga tantra held at Namgyal Monastery in Dharamsala, India. Monks create an elaborate sand mandala, ritual cakes and other sacred arts, offer prayers, chant, play ritual instruments, and meditate over the course of ten days. On the last day, the sand mandala is swept into a vase and released into the world as a blessing for all.
With gratitude to the Office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Namgyal Monastery for the opportunity to document this event. Made possible in part by the support of Fulbright-Nehru Research Program, Council for the International Exchange of Scholars, and United States-India Education Foundation.
Release of this film coincided with last year’s Yamantaka ritual, Oct. 30th – Nov. 8, 2015.
Tabo Monastery – Tsug Lhakhang (Main Assembly Hall)
See the interior of this rare, Buddhist temple located in Spiti region of Western Himalayas, India. Famed Tabo Monastery is known as the oldest continually functioning Tibetan Buddhist monastery, the art of which the Dalai Lama said “delightfully expresses the vigor of the transmission of Buddhism from India to Tibet and the dynamic mingling of cultures.” Established in 996 C.E. by the Buddhist king of Guge in Western Tibet, Yeshe O’d, and the The Great Translator Rinchen Zangpo, it flourished in a golden epoch of Indo-Tibetan collaboration in spreading Buddhist culture.
Lamayuru Monastery Senge Lhakhang (Lion Temple) See the interior of this rare, medieval Buddhist temple founded by The Great Translator Rinchen Zangpo and King Yeshe O’d of Guge, Western Tibet, circa late 11th century. Located in Ladakh region of Western Himalayas, India.
Mangyu Monastery Nangbarnangzad See the interior of this rare, medieval Buddhist temple founded by The Great Translator Rinchen Zangpo and King Yeshe O’d of Guge, Western Tibet, circa late 11th century. Located in Ladakh region of Western Himalayas, India.
Lhalung Monastery Serkhang (Golden Hall) See the interior of this rare, medieval Buddhist temple founded by The Great Translator Rinchen Zangpo and King Yeshe O’d of Guge, Western Tibet, circa late 10th century. Located in Spiti region of Western Himalayas, India.