Tibetan Buddhism Turns Global: Books, Monks, and Remarkable Journeys

Tibetan Buddhism Turns Global explores the arrival of Buddhism in the West, the factors that shaped its adaptation, and how it begun to gain influence in public discourse on religion and beyond.

In particular, it focuses on the journeys of two extraordinary individuals who crossed multiple borders and constructed extended networks of people and knowledge, leaving behind a much-treasured legacy. Their achievements are recorded in two films:

“Akong: A Remarkable Life” is an award winning documentary about how Akong Rinpoche’s dramatic escape from Tibet changed the course of his life, and the lives of many thousands of people around the world.

“Digital Dharma: One Man's Mission to Save a Culture” chronicles the achievements of Eugene Gene Smith in the rescue of rare Buddhist books, in the preservation of the Tibetan religious heritage, and in its diffusion to the West.

The directors of these two films, together with invited speakers, attend the screening to participate in a round-table discussion. Here, they recall their experiences in producing the film, and explore the wider themes that spring from the events portrayed therein.