lights in the sky
a passion for filmmaking
New series of films
An earlier series, History of the FWBO, told the story of a Buddhist movement set up in the 60s by Urgyen Sangharakshita to extend the legacy of the Buddha westwards.
EARTH RISING HEAVEN DESCENDING
continues the search for a meaningful way of life and tracks the evolution of the spirit of Sangha or spiritual community.
The idea
was to collect stories from around the world of people who have some connection to the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order and, with some reflection, to come to appreciate this hard to describe ‘spirit’. A five part series has evolved, with Part 5 becoming that original film with four preceding films setting the scene. So the series, after a statement of the ideals and principles goes, in the middle films, fairly deeply into messy worldly existence and, it is predicted, ends calmly and contemplatively.
Method
People were chosen for variety of lifestyle and environment and only secondarily for level of ‘practice’. In parts 2 to 4 the social context of their lives is explored, including the balance between personal and public concerns. As Dh. Vishvapani has observed the series maintains a ‘sideways look’ by ‘sitting in’ on conversations rather than employ an authoritarian narrator-interviewer approach.
1 BACKGROUND 42 mins. - recalls an earlier era of the Buddhist transmission to the west when some bodhisattvas befriended and taught FWBO founder Sangharakshita. Now three of the latter’s disciples
undertake a pilgrimage to the Himalayas to connect with spiritual roots. August 07 release. Trailer
2 ONCE FREE 63 mins. - Ironic, tender portrait set in a place (USA) where the ratio of the personal
persona to the public persona is perhaps 9:1. And where bounty or impoverishment are seen as just
rewards for an individual’s effort, a handful of Buddhists find ways of ameliorating institutional harshness through work in health, education and prisons: an example of quiet, hopeful lives within a pervasive culture. August 07 release.
3 RECURRING DREAM 64 mins. - Set in the east (India) where the ratio of personal persona to public concerns is perhaps 1:9. The iconic Dr Ambedkar ensured the Constitution outlawed caste-based discrimination and he dreamt further changes would come through the adoption of Buddhism.
50 years after he and millions of his caste-based followers converted, Hindus still see the Old Untouchables rather than see New Buddhists! Why are they unconvinced? The gains in social welfare and self confidence are indisputable. But prejudice and distrust reign on all sides, amongst even Buddhists. Caste-based marriage, so Subhuti argues, ensures the lid is kept on the Dhamma Revolution. Amongst the many stories, dreams come true at one wedding. June 08 release
4 UNTITLED - Set in the middle, in societies with a social contract. The FWBO is involved in many aspects of mundane life across a range of folk. How well does it combine going outwards to work with
5 UNTITLED - an open-minded focus on the stories to capture a quality of spiritual communication.
For slideshows and the making of the series go Earth Rising… Blog Trailers page
The first two films are available together on a double DVD for £20 (or £44 for public license) Buy now
Funding for the series 
+ £6,950 from the Windhorse Trust, 2005
+ £1,500 raised during WBO Convention, 2007 (mainly sales)
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-Costs so far run to £16,000
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-Leaving a shortfall of about £6,000
Comments about the series and suggestions are welcome
The series logo is Kingship which, according to the late Chögyam Trungpa Rimpoche, represents an agency mediating between higher and lower forces
* “Once Free is a refreshingly off-beat, sideways look at the FWBO in North America in a time of flux and uncertainty. It's candid, unvarnished approach makes for a brave exploration of the inspiring, messy, enthralling and frustrating lives of modern American Buddhists.” - Vishvapani
