The Dalai Lama's Gift
In 1981, a Buddhist monk teaching at the University of Madison, Wisconsin, made a bold request of the Dalai Lama; to come and perform a rare ritual, never before done outside of India or Tibet. That ritual was the Kalachakra, among the highest of the Buddhist tantric teachings.
In just a few months, with a team of dedicated students, and cameras rolling, they constructed a temple and organised an event for over a thousand spiritual seekers, in a cornfield outside Madison.
The incredible footage was tucked away in the Smithsonian vaults, until now. What unfolds is the story of a powerful ritual, its impact on the people that made it happen, and the meaning behind this ancient initiation.
Our Buddhist Films strand is curated by Chris McKenna, who leads a short meditation and introduction to each film.