Sunday October 1st
Cinema 2
16:15
56 min
2014/17
English
Screening with The Sacred Art of Tibet
Rager Ossel, Babeth VanLoo and Mariet Bakker
‘Nurturing Compassion’ portrays the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, leader of the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and his tour of Germany in 2014, his first ever visit to Europe. Following in the footsteps of his previous incarnation, genuinely regarded as one of the twentieth centuries great Buddhist saints, the Karmapa faces major challenges. Still a young man he must live up to the legacy of his predecessor and guide his lineage through challenging times. Illustrated by archival footage the film, and the Karmapa himself, give an account of his happy early childhood in Tibet, before his recognition and subsequent daring midwinter escape into exile in India.
The Karmapa wishes to engage in the modern world and explore the ways in which he and his lineage can understand and contribute, dealing with the seemingly intractable environmental, social and political difficulties. Besides initiating projects for a sustainable environment he advocates equal rights for women in Buddhism. His message is clear, ‘we all have to change if future generations are to survive and flourish’.
The documentary presents an intimate, candid and sometimes humorous picture of this charismatic and deeply compassionate young lama. His unconditional commitment to the welfare of all beings shines through.
A film by Mark Elliott, Babeth M. VanLoo & Douglas Beechwood. Director: Mark Elliott – Co-director: Babeth M. VanLoo – With: the special participation of HH the 17th Karmapa, Urgyen Trinley Dorje – Starring: Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Chamsing Ngodup Pelzom, Dekila Chungyalpa, Horst Rauprich, Stephan Kulle, Ani Damcho, Rosi Findeisen and Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorim – Advisory guidance: Ringu Tulku Rinpoche – Producers: Mark Elliott, Babeth M. VanLoo – Executive producer for Karmapa Foundation Europe: Rager Ossel – Cinematography: Mark Elliott, Douglas Beechwood – Sound/Additional Camera: Babeth M. VanLoo – Editor/ Online/Mastering: Douglas Beechwood – Interviews: Mark Elliott, Babeth VanLoo – Additional Material: Bernd Ulrich, Auditorium Netzwerk – Music: Kesang Marstrand, Don Cherry, Jan Blumenroth – Archival Footage: ‘Living Buddha’, Clemens Kuby; ‘Lion’s Roar’, James Hooghan – Production Management: David Elliott, Crestone Films – Still Photographer: James Gritz – Production Commissioned by: Karmapa Foundation Europe – Visit of HH 17th Karmapa under the auspices of Karma Kagyu Community Germany & Bodhicharya, Berlin – With gratitude to: Karma Kagyu Community, Kamalashila Institute, Cologne University.