World Peace Buddhists  

     Stanford University                           SGI-USA

 

* Introduction to Buddhism - the religion of life and humanity

 

Back to the days of 500BC in India, thousands and thousands of discussion on humanity were held among people of all walks of life. This was the beginning of Buddhism, the movement to return to value of human being and the realization of the mysterious and profoundness of life. Now we'll continue the spirit by holding dialogues and discussions here on the campus.

 

We will talk about basic principle of Buddhism, with brief introduction to the origin and history, the practice, and relate the ancient teaching to modern day values of science and humanity.

 

Date : June 3, 2004  Thursday 

Time : 7:30-9:00pm

Venue : Room (TBA), 2nd floor Tresidder Union <- click for map

 

 

Featuring :

 

- Presentation on introductory Buddhism
- Discussion and Dialogue
- One of the following Documentary film presentation

   Another Way of Seeing Things
   A Quiet Revolution.
   Embattled Buddhists - Under the Rising Sun

 

contact : worldpeacebuddhists@lists.stanford.edu

back to World Peace Buddhists main page

 

 

Abstract for the film documentaries

 

"A Quiet Revolution"

"A Quiet Revolution" proves the potential of one individual to spark a positive chain reaction. It features case studies where ordinary people are having a global impact by taking action at the local level.

There are interviews of individuals who initiated grass roots movements in India, Slovakia and Kenya. Their example create a jumping-off point for viewers to become engaged in improving their own communities.

The first is in Rajasthan in northern India, where village "rainwater harvesters" are stemming the tide of poverty and hunger ...

 

Here you can find more about the film : http://www.sgi-usa.org/thesgiusa/community/programs/earthcharter/AQRbrochure.pdf

 

" Another Way of Seeing Things"

A film written by Buddhist author and peace-builder Daisaku Ikeda won the Golden Reel Award for Best Short Film at the third annual Tiburon International Film Festival on Friday, March 19th. Another Way of Seeing Things is a short film produced by Arden Entertainment about the dangers of stereotyping and the need to "hear the other side."

Filmed in Turkey in 2003 and narrated by Academy Award-winning actor F.Murray Abraham, Another Way of Seeing Things tells the story of British historian Arnold Toynbee's experiences as a journalist covering the Greco-Turkish war in the 1920s. He listened to both sides and attempted to counteract the prevailing bias against Turks - and Muslims in general.

 

"Embattled Buddhists: Under the rising sun"

The film "Embattled Buddhists" would be shown, followed by a introduction and disussion of principle of Buddhism

This documentary film features the development of Buddhism in Japan, to illustrate the spirit of Buddhism as the practice of humanity. It covered from the strive for religious freedom during the Kamakura Shogunate in the 13th century, and the oppression to the military government during World War II, to the grass-root movement for humanity in modern day Japan.