A Film Festival for Heart & Mind: June 14-17 at BuddhaFest

Mindfulness Revolution in the Spotlight

by Eric Forbis and Gabriel Riera

One of the best things about BuddhaFest is the feeling of community that arises over the four days of the festival. There’s a special spirit in the air, a feeling of connection amongst folks who are traveling together along the path of awakening.

The only film festival in the country that also features spiritual talks, meditation and live music returns to Arlington, VA on June 14-17. This year’s BuddhaFest looks at how we are all interdependent, and explores the profound effects that mindfulness and meditation are having on society. Tickets and passes are now on sale.

Speakers this year include Rick Hanson, author of Buddha’s Brain, and one of the world’s leading authorities on the neuroscience of mindfulness, and Congressman Tim Ryan, whose new book, A Mindful Nation, explores the growing presence of mindfulness in many areas of American life -- including education, health care and the military. Some people have begun referring to these changes in our culture as the mindfulness revolution. 

The only film festival in the country that also features spiritual talks, meditation and live music returns to Arlington, VA on June 14-17.

BuddhaFest teachers include Tara Brach, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Sharon Salzberg, Jonathan Foust and Venerable Pannavati Bhikkhuni. Krishna Das, the best-selling kirtan artist of all time, performs in concert on Saturday, June 16. He returns for the festival’s closing session on Sunday, where he teaches prior to a screening of the film, Ram Dass: Fierce Grace, and afterwards he closes out the festival with a special musical performance.

BuddhaFest is presenting six films, along with four of the directors who will share their experiences and take questions from the audience. Films include the world premiere of When the Iron Bird Flies, which traces the astounding path of one of the world’s great spiritual traditions -- from the caves of Tibet to the mainstream of western culture. The film asks the question: In these modern, increasingly chaotic times, can these age-old Buddhist teachings help us find genuine happiness and help create a saner, more compassionate 21st century world?

The third annual BuddhaFest is held at the Spectrum Theatre at Artisphere in the Rosslyn section of Arlington, VA. The venue is minutes from DC and Maryland, near the Key Bridge and Route 66. There is free parking, and the Rosslyn Metro is two blocks away.

BuddhaFest is sponsored by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington and Tricycle.com.

You can check out the schedule and purchase tickets and passes at the BuddhaFest website.

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