The magnificent 1400-year-old Buddhist wood-carving tradition is hanging on, barely, in a rapidly changing Japan. Struggling to preserve the craft are its practitioners, among them Master Koun Seki. Carving the Divine offers a close look at the artistry, intention, and dedication that goes into the craft, and follows Seki as he strives to preserve the craft for future generations. (Read a Tricycle interview with the director here.)

This film will be available to stream until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, December 29, 2023.

Learn more about the film here.

Photographs courtesy of Yujiro Seki

Yamada Butsuzo

 

Director Yujiro Seki

Yonezawa

Bisyamontenzou work by Koun Seki

Kikuchi

Jizo Carving

Konno

Goma

Director Yujiro Seki

Seki and Saito

Syakanyoraizou Work by Koun Seki

Yoshikawa

Yamabushi walking

Seki Senior and Aoki

Saito

Monks praying

Monk walking

Koun Bussho

The post Carving the Divine appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

21 days after the death of his mother, Jin and his father navigate loss, grief, and their new lives without her.

This film will continue to be available to the Tricycle audience, thanks to director Mun Chee Yong. Learn more about her here.

If you’re not yet a subscriber and would like to access more monthly films, sign up for a 4-week free trial today!

Photos courtesy of Mun Chee

Photos courtesy of Mun Chee

Photos courtesy of Mun Chee

Photos courtesy of Mun Chee

Photos courtesy of Mun Chee

The post 21 Days 二十一天 appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

Wandering . . . But Not Lost is an intimate account of beloved meditation teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche’s 4-1/2-year retreat as a homeless yogi. Renouncing the comforts of monastery life, he begs for food, seeks shelter, and even survives a near-death experience—challenges that ultimately offer a unique opportunity for insight into the nature of mind. (Read a review of the film from our Winter 2021 issue here.)

This film will be available to stream until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, December 1, 2023. 

Photographs courtesy of Lama Tashi, Paul MacGowan and James Hopkins.

Mingyur Rinpoche at a Padmasambhava cave in Langtang, Nepal where he spent several months during his wandering retreat.

One of the few photos of Rinpoche on retreat, taken by Lama Tashi.

Mingyur Rinpoche clearly enjoyed revisiting some of the places he had been on retreat during the filming of the documentary.

Rinpoche talking to some villagers in the Himalayas.

Mingyur Rinpoche revisiting a cave in the Himalayas.

Rinpoche walking in the mountains at 13,000ft. in Langtang, Nepal

Mingyur Rinpoche looks on while Director Paul MacGowan flies a drone.

The post Wandering … But Not Lost appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

Dreams of Birds Flying in the Sky explores the complex realities of persons living with disabilities in the Himalayan country of Bhutan. The experiences of those featured in the film show the impact that living with a disability has on education, work, culture, religion, and more. Despite the challenges they face, the participants in the film explore what it means to live a life of purpose and joy.

This film will be available to stream until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, October 27, 2023. 

 

A young man in rural southern Bhutan contemplates his dreams and aspirations.

Two young women with limited vision discuss their hopes and dreams.

A young man with cerebral palsy rides his bike down a steep Himalayan mountain road in Thimphu.

A young man in a wheelchair offers prayers at his family’s Buddhist altar.

The post Dreams of Birds Flying in the Sky appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

This intimate cinematic journey into the world of the late Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh takes us to his Plum Village community in rural France. Filmed over three years there and on the road in the US, the movie explores the everyday routine of monastic life and the community’s shared purpose to transform suffering.

This film will be available to stream until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, September 29, 2023. 

The post Walk with Me appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

This mystical drama follows an entrepreneur’s frantic journey to be spared his death. After a series of visions and a visit with a Buddhist monk reveal that he is due to die in seven days, he begins a search to find an elusive lady with fangs—the only way to save his life.

This film will be available to stream until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, September 1, 2023. 

The post Looking for a Lady With Fangs and a Moustache appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

A legendary jazz bassist, Charles Anthony “Buster” Williams has played with many of the all-time greats and become one himself. Featuring stunning improvisations, heartwarming interviews, and a look at Williams’s Nichiren Buddhist practice, the documentary celebrates the brilliant musician and his singular career.

This film will be available to stream until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, August 4, 2023. 

The post Buster Williams: Bass to Infinity appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

In this documentary we follow 12-year-old Padma, living with her family in the small Himalayan village of Gya, as she goes about her daily routine and weighs joining GOTCHA, a traditional procession to bring peace to all sentient beings.

This film will be available to stream until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, June 30, 2023. 

The post Growing Up in Ladakh appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

An immersive, meditative experience, Worship features the diverse rituals, ceremonies, and spiritual practices of a wide range of faiths in Thailand, including Buddhism, shamanism, and far more.

This film will be available to stream until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, June 2, 2023. 

The post Worship appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

Through dance, documentary, and narrative, Faraway My Shadow Wandered tells the story of Junya, a young man who vowed to his late grandfather that he would take over his family’s Shinto shrine. When Junya meets a foreign dancer, the two new friends travel back to his hometown on Japan’s Noto Peninsula to reckon with a promise he has yet to keep.

This film will be available to stream until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, April 28, 2023. 

Images courtesy of Cinemovement

The post Faraway My Shadow Wandered appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.