Event is open to everyone, registration in advance is welcome, but not required
(有中文字幕, Chinese Subtitle is available)
Special Movie Screening
Date: 11/7/2015 (Saturday) 2 – 4 pm
Place: Woo Ju Memorial Library @ Chuang Yen Monastery
Presenters: Upāsaka Kamil Ghoshal & Emma Cobb
Please join us for a screening of Animals and the Buddha, a documentary focused on the relationship of humans to other living species from the Buddhist perspective. The film discusses the fundamental teachings related to non-human animals found in the historical Buddha’s Dharma, as well as later developed traditions. Using scriptural and commentary sources, the movie examines the impact of our daily choices on the suffering of others and the resulting influence on our own Dharma practice. The film features interviews with world-renowned monastics and lay teachers including Bhikkhu Bodhi, BhanteGunaratana, Jetsuma Tenzin Palmo, Christopher Titmuss, GeshePhelgye, teachers from Spirit Rock Meditation Center and many others. The screening includes a meditation session, and will be followed by an opportunity for discussion.
Fee: Free, Donation is welcome
Contact: (845) 225 – 1819, library@baus.org, 2020 Route 301, Carmel, NY 10512
Dharma Voices for Animals
Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA) is a collaborative effort of those practicing the Dharma to speak-out when animal suffering is supported by the actions of Buddhist communities and by the policies of local centers. Through our programs we aim to represent the voice of ones who cannot speak for themselves. While DVA recognizes the challenges of living in a complex, modern society, we promote choices that are based on the Buddha’s doctrine and result in the greatest reduction of animal suffering. We believe that considering these choices is a prerequisite to the development of wisdom and Right View, the Buddha’s gateway into the Noble Eightfold Path. As a nondenominational body, it is our intention to be inclusive in honoring the different perspectives of those who through their actions sincerely intend to minimize suffering for all living beings.
Presenters:
Upāsaka Kamil Ghoshal: Kamil Ghoshal is an Eight-Precept disciple, dedicated to the study and practice of the historical Buddha’s Dhammā. After studying Buddhismindependently, Kamil became a close student and disciple at a monastic Theravādin community. He has since led numerous meditation sessions and conducted lectures at venues including Pace and Columbia Universities, and local Buddhist monasteries.In addition to increasing the awareness of Buddhists to issues of non-human suffering, Kamil’s lifelong mission is to assist in studies of the Buddha’s historical teachings, as found in the comparison of Pāli Nikāyas and Chinese Āgamas. In his personal life Kamil practices traditional Chinese martial arts, and enjoys mountaineering and Western Philosophy.
Emma Cobb: Emma Cobb is a practitioner in the Sakya Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and a seniorstudent of Khenpo Pema Wangdak in New York City. She has been involved with animal causes for many years, drawing strong inspiration for this work from the Buddha’s teachings. An experienced trapper and rescuer as well as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, she has a particular affinity for the species who share our urban world, especially feral cats and pigeons. Before beginning formal Buddhist studies, she did graduate work in philosophy of religion and continues to follow contemporary philosophical discussion about animals.