The Meditative Life 2018: Meaning, Happiness, and Connection

Feb. 7–27, 2018

Our annual series explores not only meditation and mindfulness, but also the many ways in which we investigate the different realms of the human experience. This year’s films draw us closer to Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama, steep us in music and silence, and bring us into the worlds of tai chi and the monastic life—and even to Folsom State Prison, where inmates participate in a powerful form of personal growth and exploration. Join us for an immersion into different and provocative ideas, starting with an unforgettable evening that will glow with the radiant wisdom of Ram Dass and a live conversation with Krishna Das.

Programmed by Brian Ackerman, Karen Sloe Goodman, and Sharon AvRutick

Ram Dass: Going Home Feb. 7, 2018 Ram Dass, one of the most important spiritual teachers of our time, is approaching the end of life with fearless…
The Last Dalai Lama? Feb. 8, 2018 Q&A filmmaker Mickey Lemle “The thing you want from a documentary about his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is the chance to get right…
One Mind: A Zen Pilgrimage Feb. 12, 2018 “A deeply moving glimpse into classical but contemporary Chan meditative life. Highly recommended.” (Journal of Buddhist Ethics) A markedly quiet…
Novitiate Feb. 13, 2018 “A deeply respectful and serious meditation on what it meant, back in the day, to utterly and forever give one’s…
The Professor: Tai Chi’s Journey West Feb. 15, 2018 “In his documentary debut, director Barry Strugatz, a screenwriter best known for 1988’s Married to the Mob, has crafted a…
In Pursuit of Silence Feb. 20, 2018 “Replete with imagery that shimmers with the kind of almost otherworldly wonder one might associate with a Terrence Malick movie……
The Work Feb. 21, 2018 Reel Talk with JBFC Programming Director Brian Ackerman and Programmer Karen Sloe Goodman “The movie valuably demonstrates how, for some, when it comes to rehabilitation, it’s never too late.” (Los Angeles Times) Set…
Walk with Me Feb. 22, 2018 Q&A with members of the Order of Interbeing, established by Thich Nhat Hanh in 1966 “A moving and wonderful film that captures the essence, depth, and the poetry of Thich Nhat Hanh… a great work…
Orange Sunshine Feb. 25, 2018 “Orange Sunshine reveals the heretofore underexplored role of smart, young people fighting a noble—albeit mind-altering— cause against an increasingly polarized…
Summer in the Forest Feb. 27, 2018 “The sheer humanity absolutely shines through. Viewing should be compulsory.” (Daily Mail) As a member of the British Royal Navy,…

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