Khashyar | October 31, 2010

Here is a written account, by author Gayle Gregory, of her experience of Producer-Director Khashyar Darvich and the ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ crew filming in a prison in Oregon, and sharing the ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ film (www.DalaiLamaFilm.com) with inmates:

*****

Standing in the middle of the yard, the guard towers looming overhead and inmates wherever my eyes scanned, I was taken with the knowledge that I knew so few of the men. In the moments preceding our entrance to the yard we had been told to drop to the ground and remain motionless if anything went wrong. The guards, corrections officers (CO) as they prefer to be called, were nervous about the five of us filming the general population. Their nerves set mine on edge and it added to the discomfort as we pass through the locked gate.

For the past three years I had traveled the distance to the Oregon State Corrections Institution on every other Sunday. The men who participated in the Sunday meditation program had become my friends. I knew, that despite the fact the State didn’t negotiate for hostages, I was safe. It wasn’t a naïve trust. It was trust that came from meeting the hearts and souls of the inmates, of shared truth and common humanity.

When I entered the prison for the first time I was more than a bit anxious. I was supposed to be joining another volunteer. He had called at the last minute and I was going in alone. I don’t know what I expected but when I doors clanged shut behind me I was standing in the corridor with several inmates. It was a few minutes before the door to academics was opened and I stepped inside. The Chaplain opened the door to my meeting room and explained that he would be down the hall … and then left. A few minutes later the men began to trail into the room.

My anxiety dropped away, dissipating with the newness of each man’s presence. We sat in a circle and began talking about life – our fears, our failings, our hopes, our deepest heartfelt desires. The three hours melted away quickly. As I walked out of the prison that afternoon the sun was shining and the air smelled fresh. Nothing seemed amiss until I reached for the door handle of my car and the bottom fell out of my world. I stood there free, able to go anywhere I wanted. The preciousness of freedom rang through every cell in my body. My hands shook and it felt as if the earth quaked. If the men I had just met were wearing suits, sitting around a board room table no one would have known they were inmates. There was no way to tell. My reaction was due to more than mere appearances. The men were open and raw, honest in ways I had never experienced before. They were truly interested in breaking through their fears, in doing the hard work to awaken to their true nature.

Over the years, as I grew to know the men’s hearts, I had a reoccurring vision of taking them into the hi-schools, neighborhoods and workplaces to share their stories of heartbreaking pain and suffering – that of their victim’s, their families’, their society’s and their own – and the rich and inspiring stories of the power of meditation and compassion to redeem lives. I didn’t know how that would come to pass. Standing in the yard I saw the vision unfold. Khashyar’s film, the story of these men at OSCI that we filmed that day, would make that possible. The men’s stories are vital to the evolutionary leap necessary for human consciousness. Their honesty and candidness can teach us much if we are willing to listen. Khashyar’s film will tell their story to the world.

Gayle Gregory is the author of award-winning business management and leadership book, Workplace Evolution: Common Sense for Uncommon Times, and co-author of The Grand Experiment, an Expedition of Self Discovery.  She is a former senior manager with two Fortune 500 companies and the co-founder of Workplace Evolution (WE). Workplace Evolution’s speakers, as well as their coaching and facilitation services, create a shift from ‘me to we’ in the workplace that allows businesses to thrive in any climate. Ms. Gregory founded Pure Possibility, a coaching and mentoring program that works with individuals and with men in Oregon State’s medium security prison. She is also a co-founder of The Institute of Bully-Free Living. All avenues of her work bring more compassion into the world.

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Khashyar | October 27, 2010

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Khashyar | October 27, 2010

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Khashyar | October 22, 2010

Dalai Lama Renaissance Film Update: Hollywood Director uses DLR clips, Red Carpet Premiere in Miami, Australia-bound, New York, Toronto and reaching audiences around the world

Dear Friends,

This is Khashyar Darvich, the Producer-Director of the ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ Documentary Film (narrated by Harrison Ford).

With your help and support, ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ continues to reach and positively impact audiences around the world.

Within the next 2 months, the film will screen over 30 times in the United States and Australia, and I will be accompanying each screening to participate in a Q&A with audiences. I hope to meet you at one of the screenings (There will be a schedule of screenings at the bottom of this email).

Thus far, ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ has screened in hundreds of cities around the world, as well as in over 100 cities in the U.S.

There is a lot of exciting news about ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’:

1) Hollywood Director Tom Shadyac uses portions of ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ in his new documentary Film called “I am”:

I first met Tom Shadyac (Director of Hollwood Blockbuster films such as ‘Ace Ventura,’ ‘The Nutty Professor,’ ‘Liar Liar,’ ‘Patch Adams,’ Bruce Almighty,’ and ‘Evan Almighty,’ at the Telluride Film Festival, where he first saw ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance.’

After my Q&A with the audience, he came up to me and said that he really liked the film, and told me that “This film [DLR] has ‘it’.”

And then several months later, I was approached by Tom Shadyac’s company asking if they can use parts of ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ in Tom’s new theatrical documentary film, entitled “I am.”

I am told that they are using 36 seconds of ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ in “I am,” which opened in New York and San Francisco in october, and should be widely screened, probably around the

2) Red Carpet VIP Premiere in Miami, Florida on Oct 28:

In honor of the Dalai Lama’s visit to Miami, there will be a red carpet VIP premiere of ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ (and a Q&A afterwards), in Miami, Florida, on Oct 28 at 6 p.m.

About two weeks ago, I was contacted by one of the groups helping to organize the Dalai Lama’s October visit to Miami, asking if ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ could open a red carpet VIP event, and if I could travel to Miami for a Q&A.

Fortunately, I had a few days free on my U.S. tour schedule, so I agreed, and I will be in Miami from the evening of Oct 25 through Oct 29. (Then I travel to New York for my first of many New York City screenings before I leave for Australia on Nov 22).

More information about the Miami Red Carpet Premiere can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=477112164663

I look forward to meeting everyone from Miami, at the screening.

3) National TV in Spain:

The Spanish National Tv station (TVE) will be broadcasting ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ on TV, in Spanish, to millions of Spanish-speaking audiences members in Spain.

I’m grateful that ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance,’ and the wisdom of the Dalai Lama, continues to reach out into the world and impact more and more people.

4) U.S. and Canada Screenings and Director Q&As: ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’Film and I are appearing at several screenings in the U.S. and Canada from now through Nov 20 (until the film and  I leave for Australia):

Complete schedule and details at: www.DalaiLamaFilm.com/events

10/24/10       Bloomington, Indiana, US      Buskirk-Chumley Theater

10/28/10 – 6:00pm     Miami, Florida, US     Paragon Grove 13

10/30/10 – 4:30pm     New York, NY, US     American Buddhist Study Center

11/03/10 – 7:00pm     Staten Island, NY, US     Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art

11/06/10 – 7:00pm     Toronto, Canada, CA     Canadian Tibetan Cultural Centre

11/07/10 – 7:00pm     Toronto, Canada, CA     Canadian Tibetan Cultural Centre

11/09/10 – 6:30pm     Cumberland, RI, US     Providence Zen Center

11/11/10 – 7:00pm     New York, NY, US     Tibet House US

11/12/10 – 7:00pm     New York, NY, US     New York Insight

11/14/10 – 6:00pm     New York, NY, US     Unity Center of Practical Christianity

11/20/10       Santa Barbara, CA, US      Center of the Heart

11/21/10       Santa Barbara, CA, US      Center of the Heart

I look forward to meeting and speaking with you at one of these screenings… Thank you for forwarding these dates to your friends in these areas.

4) Australian 5 week tour – Nov 26 – Dec 23

After my last Santa Barbara, CA screening on Nov 21, I travel to Australia for the beginning of my 5 week Australian screening and Q&A tour of the ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ Film.

I look forward to meeting and speaking with my Aussie friends there during these dates:

(more dates to be added soon)

11/26/10 7:00pm     Bowral, NSW, Australia, AU     Empire Cinema

11/27/10       Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia, AU      YHA

11/29/10 8:30pm     Manly, Sydney, NSW, Australia, AU     Manly Cinema

12/02/10 6:30pm     Sydney, Australia, AU     Chauvel Cinema

12/03/10       Annandale, Sydney, NSW, Australia, AU      Yoga In Daily Life

12/05/10 3:00pm     Ashfield, Sydney, NSW, Australia, AU     Vajrayana Institute

12/08/10 6:30am     Melbourne, Australia, AU     Palace Kino Cinemas

12/11/10       Richmond, Melbourne, AU      Yoga in Daily Life

12/14/10 6:30pm     Fortitude Valley; Brisbane, Australia, AU     Palace Centro

12/17/10       Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, AU      Chenrezig

12/18/10       Fortitude Valley QLD, 4006, Australia, AU      Yoga In Daily Life

12/20/10 5:00pm     Albany, Western Australia, AU     PCYC

12/21/10 5:00pm     Albany, Western Australia, AU     PCYC

A full list of screenings and details can be found on the Dalai Lama Renaissance Film website events page: DalaiLamaFilm.com/events

I believe that we may be able to accomodate a few more screening dates on the schedule, so if you or your organization in interested in hosting a film screening and Director Q&A, please contact us at: Bookings (att) DalaiLamaFilm (dott) com.

5) UK and Ireland Tour (May and June 2011).

We are planning a UK and Ireland tour of ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ in May and June 2011, and I will be traveling to accompany the film and participate in Q&A’s with audiences afterwards.

Any organization that wants to host a screening and Director Q&A of ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ in May or June, please email us at: Bookings (att) DalaiLamaFilm (dott) com.

Here are the preliminary dates of the tour:

May 1-10 – London

May 10-25 – rest of England

May 26-31 – Scotland

June 1-15 – Ireland

6) DLR to be released widely in Latin America:

I have just finalized and signed the deal for the Latin American and Brazilian release of ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance.’ It should be released in Latin America in early 2011 in both Spanish and Brazilian, so that Spanish and Portuguese speakers will be able to experience the film and the journey or personal transformation that the film portrays. I have been asked to travel to Mexico City for the Latin American premiere of ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance,’ and also possibly to Brazil. I will keep you updated as to dates.

7) DLR and Italy:

Our Italian distributor should be releasing ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ in Italy soon… I will keep you updated.

‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ has been progressing to audiences around the world:

Countries where ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ has already been released or has screened, include:

-Germany, Austria and Switzerland (released widely in cinemas)

-Holland (in the Dutch language)

-Taiwan (in Madarin chinese – it received an overwhelmingly positive reception)

-U.S. and Canada (screened in over 100 cities)

-South Africa

-Paris, France

-Australia (Nov-Dec 2010)

-England (an additional wider screening and Director Q&A tour is planned for May-June 2011)

-Monaco

-Italy (had a sold out 500-seat screening near Venice Italy, and now an Italian distributor is releasing DLR at the end of 2010)

-Czech Republic

-Hungary

-Bahamas

-other countries

Please join Facebook and Twitter pages:

For the very latest information and updates about ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’film (as well as our other new projects including the Dalai Lama prison film, please visit our ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ pages on:

-Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dalai-Lama-Renaissance/34770593391

-Twitter: http://twitter.com/dalailamafilm

-Official Film website: www.DalaiLamaFilm.com

9) New Projects in India and Thailand:

Shhhh… Don’t tell anyone… But I will be traveling to India in January to begin filming a new documentary film on the “Heart Sutra,” which are the core teachings of Buddha…  We also are probably to be filming in Thailand in February for another project about the Meaning of Life. I will of course let you know more.

10) Christmas is coming… Share a ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ DVD swith your friends and family for Christmas… You may receive a Special (unpublished) 20% discount off of the DLR DVDs, here: http://www.dalailamafilm.com/dvd/friend/

I look forward to meeting and speaking with you in person in the near future, whether at a screening of ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ around the world, or whether our lives mysteriously cross paths in this small world, or perhaps in cyberspace.

Thank you for sharing this information about ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ with your friends and family.

Peace and Blessings,

Khashyar Darvich
Producer-Director
‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’
www.DalaiLamaFilm.com

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Khashyar | October 21, 2010

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Khashyar | October 21, 2010

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