The Dalai Lama's Gift

Description: In 1981, a Buddhist monk teaching at the University of Madison, Wisconsin, made the bold request of the Dalai Lama to come and perform a rare ritual, never before done outside of India or Tibet: the Kalachakra, among the highest of the Buddhist tantric teachings. In just a few months, with a team of dedicated students, and cameras rolling, they constructed a temple and organized an event for over a thousand spiritual seekers, in a cornfield outside Madison. The incredible footage was tucked away in the Smithsonian vaults, until now. What unfolds is the story of a powerful ritual, its impact on the people that made it happen, and the meaning behind this ancient initiation. Director: Ed Winslow Bastian Screenwriter: Producer: Catherine Wyler Executive Producer: Co-Producer: Cast: Cinematographer: Editor: Jennifer Beman Animator: Production Design: Composer: Sound Design: Music: