Rev. Danny Fisher

(L-R) Buddhist cinéastes Gary Gach and the author at University of the West, Rosemead, CA, fall 2009. Photo by Ven. Hyun Gak.

My good buddy Gary Gach and I enjoy many of the same things, but we could talk forever about Buddhism and film. So when we saw each other recently at this past year’s American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting in San Francisco, we decided to channel that into something productive. So here it is at last: “Seeing in the Dark” — our new article series for elephantjournal.com about Buddhism and film. Every so often, we’ll consider a theme, and each select a film of our own to discuss that we feel captures that theme. Hopefully, by doing this, we’ll end up adding something interesting to the larger discussion about Buddhism and film. At the very least, readers will come away with two good films to add to their rental list!

Our first entry is now live at elephantjournal.com. You can read it here. We hope you’ll take a look!

After reading the book that inspired this sermon, I have no doubt that it’s the most important subject I’ve ever addressed in a dharma talk.

During our recent spring break at University of the West, I spent the week doing some much-needed recreational reading. To tell you just how far behind I am on that recreational reading, the short stack of books I worked through included the 2010 Pulitzer Prize winner and a collection of writing by Bill Moyers (no, not the new one, but the one from 2004).

The one that I’ll never forget, though — the one that shook me and changed me — was Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.

As a great appreciator of Nick Kristof’s New York Times columns and blog work — I named my own Patheos blog Off the Cushion in a nod to the title of his blog “On the Ground” — I knew I would probably be a great appreciator of the book. What I wasn’t quite prepared for was to finish it so broken-hearted, moved, reflective, and (most of all) incredibly inspired. In addition, I believe it’s one of the two or three most important books I’ve ever read (or will read) in my life.

Needless to say, I started writing a dharma talk based on my experience of reading it almost immediately after finishing it. I delivered the final version of the talk at the Rosemead Buddhist Monastery last week, and recorded it recently for this blog. I hope you’ll listen to it. Most of all, though, I hope you will read the book…and watch the PBS miniseries based on it that’s scheduled for airing this fall (watch the trailer here).

UPDATE: I was really thrilled and touched that my talk got mentioned on the official Facebook page of Half the Sky. Here’s what they said: “After reading Half the Sky, Rev. Danny Fisher was inspired to deliver a dharma talk at the Rosemead Buddhist Monastery based on his experience reading it. Has Half the Sky or the issues it touches upon been discussed at your place of worship?” In addition, the talk got mentioned on the official Twitter streams of both the book and Mr. Kristof himself. Color me humbled!

Here is the talk itself…

Last night, Patheos underwent a design overhaul that included my blog for the site, Off the Cushion. I hope you’ll take a gander over there, and check out at the new and improved look/interface!

In addition, I’ve updated all the various pages of this blog, and, in some cases, redone them completely. I also added one new page: “Schedule”. Explore around and let me know what you think.

(L-R) The author and Charles S. Prebish at Moscone Center West, San Francisco, CA, for the 2011 American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, November 21st, 2011. Photo by Bill Aiken of SGI-USA.

I’ve blogged before in the past about my friend and inspiration Charles S. Prebish, with whom I am pictured above. A great scholar and man, I can honestly say that he’s been as important to me personally as intellectually. Quite a guy, my friend Chuck.

I’m pleased to bring you more news of Chuck today. Our mutual friend Justin Whitaker already mentioned these pieces at his wonderful Patheos blog American Buddhist Perspective, but I wanted to make sure to hype them here as well.

First, Chuck was interviewed by the American Academy of Religion for the new “Member Spotlight” section of their website. Second, he was also interviewed by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review for their latest issue. Both are terrific reads, brimming with the usual Chuck insights that suggest what might be helpfully investigated in future turnings of the study of the Buddhism in America. Do check them both out.

Finally, Chuck also has a guest blog post (the first of three) at Tricycle‘s Awake in the World blog that is, if I may say, awesome. Awesome in that it challenges us as Buddhist Americans to do some important work that we, frankly, have been putting off for far too long. Here’s a snippet:

If the American Buddhist tradition is to affirm the suggestion that precepts are an integral aspect of Buddhist practice, and of a Buddhist lifestyle that nourishes awareness of and respect for all living beings, then a new and modern ethical literature must necessarily be created.

Don’t miss the post — and keep your eyes peeled for more from Chuck. As always, I’ll do my part to help keep you hip to the work of a friend and important mentor.

UPDATE: Chuck’s second post for Trike, about scholar-practitioners, can be found here. Like the first post, it’s essential reading.

UPDATE, part two: The third and final post for Trike is now up, and can be found here. Again, great stuff.

Please check out my brand new interview with Alex Co, team leader of the documentary film Daughters of Dolma: The Spiritual Journey of Tibetan Buddhist Nuns in Nepal, over at my Patheos blog Off the Cushion. In it, we discuss the project, its progress, and what Alex and the other filmmakers are learning about Buddhism and women as a result of their experiences. Read the full text of our interview here.