Related Events

October 5

Film Screening:

“The Fire Inside: Place, Passion and the Primacy of Nature”

7:00-7:45 p.m.

Axinn 232

The film is a documentary that focuses on contemplative practice and asks provocative questions about our relationship to the natural world and the ecological crises that we face today. What is nature? And what is the human experience of that world? In the everyday push of our modern lives what connections have been lost and what remain? How do we cultivate wisdom, hope and compassion in the face of environmental degradation?

This film follows a small, diverse group of writers, activists and clergy on a contemplative retreat as they explore the wildness about them and the passion for place within them.

A  question and answer session with Director Phil Walker and Professor Gould immediately follows the screening.

September 30

“Buddha Prince Backstage”

Film Screening, Discussion, and Workshops with Markell Kiefer ’96.5, Tyson Lien ’98, and Tenzin Ngawang

Sunday, Sept. 30

7:30 p.m.

Dana Auditorium

 

Join director Markell Kiefer ’96.5 and performer Tyson Lien ’98 in a screening of the film, “Buddha Prince Backstage,” a documentary of the creation and staging of their outdoor walking play “The Buddha Prince.”  The play celebrates the extraordinary life and teachings of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and tells the story of his early life in a free Tibet and his subsequent escape into India.  First performed on the occasion of the His Holiness’s visit to Minneapolis in 2001 and again in California (2004) and New York City (2005/2009), it draws from both eastern and western artistic traditions and a diverse cast of physical actors, dancers and musicians tell the story with song, dance, mask, puppetry, clown, and traditional Tibetan musical instruments.

 

Master of Tibetan music and dance Tenzin Ngawang will present  workshops in traditional Tibetan music (1:00-3:00) and dance (3:30-5:30) on Sunday afternoon prior to the film screening. 

On Monday, join Join Markell Kiefer (‘96.5) and Tyson Lien (‘98), creators of The Buddha Prince, as they share their process of Original Theatre Creation and Collaboration in a workshop from 10:15 a.m. -12:00 noon.  Markell and Tyson have been involved in developing over thirty new plays over the last decade and have collaborated with a diverse assembly of individuals and organizations from around the world. Together they run TigerLion Arts, their production company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more info visit www.tigerlion.org.

Pre-registration is required for the three workshops, and space is limited.  Priority will be given to current Middlebury students.  Please contact Cheryl Burnham at burnham@middlebury.edu for more information and to pre-register.

Supported by generous contributions by The Academic Enrichment Fund, The Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, the Office of the Dean of the College, The Rohatyn Center for International Affairs, the Program in Women’s and Gender Studies, and the Departments of Dance, Theater, and Religion.

November 2

For God’s sake, Let’s Focus on the Earth!

by Richard Cizik, President of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good

Friday, November 2, 2012

12:15 p.m.

Robert A. Jones ‘59 House conference room



Richard Cizik has been recognized as a leader in bringing evangelical Christians together with scholars and policy-makers in the search for common ground on a host of national and international challenges, including climate change, civil liberties, economic justice, and national security. He served for ten years as Vice President for Governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, the top staff position of the organization, a post he left in 2008 after enduring years of political opposition from the Religious Right. An interview with NPR’s “Fresh Air” in which he expressed support for civil unions, climate change, and political collaboration with the newly-elected Obama Administration, led to a national uproar within the movement and over one-hundred top evangelical leaders defecting to a “New Evangelical” agenda.



    In 2007, Cizik formed a group of scientists, including nobel laureate Eric Chivian and Harvard Professor Emeritus Edward O. Wilson, along with leading evangelical pastors and professors, to together release a groundbreaking document entitled the “Scientist and Evangelical Call to Action.”  In 2008 he was named to TIME Magazine’s list of “TIME 100” most influential people.



Sponsored by the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, with generous help from the Rohatyn Center for Global Studies, the Academic Enrichment Fund, the Department of Religion, the Franklin Environmental Center, the Program in Environmental Studies, Newman Club, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

September 20

Slide Lecture: “Portraits of Compassion: Images of Lamas in Tibetan Art”

Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012

12:00-1:15 p.m.

McCardell Bicentennial Hall 220

Join Christian A. Johnson Professor of Art History Cynthia Packert in a slide lecture on Tibetan Art. 

Light vegetarian lunch will be available.

March 13, 2013

Water, Trees, Life: A Global Perspective on Healing Our Hurting Planet

Roger Hoesterey, Director of Strategic Development, The Eden Projects

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

7:00 p.m., Robert A. Jones House

Powerful solutions lie at the nexus of conservation, faith, and social justice.



Roger Hoesterey will discuss current work by the Eden Reforestation Projects to reduce poverty in Ethiopia and Madagascar by employing indigenous people to replant degraded watersheds, and the moral calling from all the world’s major religions to care for the planet.



The Eden Projects is dedicated to the pursuit of solutions to the problems behind environmental destruction that are major contributing causes to extreme poverty and oppression in impoverished nations.



As Senior Vice President and Division Director West, Roger also oversees The Trust for Public Land’s conservation programs in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii and Alaska. During Roger’s time at TPL, the states he directs have conserved over a half million acres of forest, watersheds, ranches, and park land.

An affiliated program of “The Politics of Freshwater: Access and Identity in a Changing Environment,” presented by the Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs, March 14-16, 2013.

September 12

Film Screening: “Kundun”

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012

8:00 p.m.

Dana Auditorium

Tibetans refer to the Dalai Lama as “Kundun,” or “The Presence.”  Join us in a screening of the epic 1997 biographical film written by Melissa Mathison and directed by Martin Scorsese. It is based on the life and writings of the 14th Dalai Lama, the exiled political and spiritual leader of Tibet. Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, a grand nephew of the Dalai Lama, stars as the adult Dalai Lama.  Nominated for four Academy Awards.

October 5

What is a Dalai Lama and Who is the 14th Dalai Lama?

The Buddhist Historical Context

Friday, October 5, 2012

12:15-1:30 p.m.

Dana Auditorium

Professor of Religion William Waldron explains the uniquely Tibetan Buddhist institution of the Dalai Lamas—what a Dalai Lama is and what makes the current one so remarkable—in the context of Indian and Tibetan Buddhist history.

Tibetan Peace Flag-Making at Middlebury College Library

October 1-14

Students and the whole Middlebury community are invited to the Davis Family Library to make Tibetan Peace Flags that will decorate the building for the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  This is a chance to share your message of peace, thanksgiving and good will with the Dalai Lama and our whole community.  Come and write your wishes, thoughts and prayers, or express your feelings by drawing or decorating your flag.  

Tables with flag-making supplies will be set up in the library lobby from Oct. 1-14.   Flags will be on display in the library throughout October.