The New Kadampa Tradition is an international association of Mahayana Buddhist meditation centers that follow the Kadampa Buddhist tradition founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Tricycle Film Club | Buddhist films and discussion for the Tricycle Community |
Old Plum Mountain
The Story of the Berkeley Zen Center
Welcome to the Tricycle Film Club!
Each month, Tricycle Supporting and Sustaining Members will be treated to a select feature-length film, presented in partnership with Alive Mind Cinema and BuddhaFest 2012. The benefits of membership continue to grow, so if you're not already a Supporting or Sustaining Member, upgrade now and watch Old Plum Mountain: The Berkeley Zen Center—Life Inside the Gate as soon as you're ready! And to celebrate our launch, we're screening a second film this month, Being in the World: A Celebration of Being Human in a Technological Age.
Old Plum Mountain (January 3-15) is director Ed Herzog's up-close look at one of the oldest centers of lay Buddhist practice in the country. Established in 1967 by the legendary Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, Berkeley Zen Center is now headed by Sojun Mel Weitsman. This 65-minute documentary takes us inside the workings of BZC, both in times of intense practice during retreats, and during the everyday business that keeps the center up and running. Told through the voices of BZC's members, Old Plum Mountain is the next best thing to spending time at Berkeley Zen Center yourself!
Being in the World (January 16-29) Director Tao Ruspoli raises the question of whether we have forgotten what it means to be truly human in today's technological age, and proceeds to answer this question by taking a journey around the world to meet a whole host of remarkable individuals, all standouts in the their fields. By showing how these modern-day masters—a cook, a carpenter and a poet/flamenco dancer—approach life from within their chosen fields, Ruspoli's film celebrates the ability of human beings to find meaning in the world through the mastery of physical, intellectual, and creative skills.
Each Film Club screening includes an online discussion with the film’s director. Listen to a Tricycle Talks audio interview with Ed Herzog here.
If you'd like to support the work of independent filmmaker Ed Herzog, you can order Old Plum Mountain on DVD here.
As an old BZC member (practiced 15 years or so ago for about 6 years--- ) and a new again member-- for over a year -- I loved the old familiar faces; seeing and hearing their clear, sweet voices, messages and ways.I had never heard Suzuki Roshi speak or see a video of him before and I was awed. Finally, I plan to sew a Rakasu and take the precepts. I am so lucky to live near Old Plum Mountain and be a member of the sangha.
Thank you, Ed, for this great experience!
Thankyou , Ed, for an excellent experience of BZC.