Shooting the Film
Fearless Mountain is filmed on location at the Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Redwood Valley, California, a serene community situated on the slopes of Fearless Mountain.
I wanted an answer to the question: “what makes someone want to become a monk who lives in the forest on alms alone?” Fearless Mountain explores the lifestyle of the forest-dwelling Theravada Buddhist monks who have chosen to live as alms mendicants, living only on gifts offered by the community.
As the sun rises over Abhayagiri, we experience the
sweet sounds of nature—the breeze rustling the
leaves on the trees and the chirping of birds just awakening.
With the sounding of an ancient gong the film begins
a day at the remote Theravada Buddhist monastery. We
begin to feel the serenity of the forest and the simple,
natural serenity of the monk’s daily existence.
We become part of the monks’ simple routine—eating, meditating, repairing fences, sweeping paths and chopping wood. We are invited to share in their lives as they do their sitting and walking meditation outside their kutis, the tiny huts where they spend most of their day.
Seeing the peace on the faces of the monks, their easy good humor and welcoming nature, makes us want to know them more—what the monks at Abhayaghiri have at that we might use in our own lives.
Ajahn Pasanno, a Canadian born monk explains his role of Co-abbot of the monastery and the teachings underlying everything the monks do. Throughout the film he answers the questions many have about Buddhism in a clear and accessible way. We learn about the connection of the monks with the lay people who cook for them and take care of their simple worldly needs. We ask the lay people what they receive in turn for offering time and gifts to the monastery.
On a rare trip out of the monastery several monks attend a daylong event at the Museum of Asian Art in San Francisco where we follow the monks through the streets of San Francisco on their alms rounds, which end at a ceremonial lunch at the Lalita Thai restaurant.
We were given access to film the ceremonies that date back more than 2,500 years, from the time of Buddha. An unusual ceremony takes place at the monastery when a nine-year-old Thai boy suffering from a rare blood disease is ordained under special circumstances by the Ajahn Pasanno. Todd’s head is shaved before his ordination ceremony and when he takes on the robes of a monk for the first time we witness the transformation of the young boy Todd Tansuhaj into a young monk named Piyasilo, which in the ancient Pali language means "one of endearing virtue".
A wonderfully accessible monk named Sudanto offers a sparklingly clear description of the Buddha’s practical path to enlightenment—something, he assures us, is attainable for anyone.
Co-abbot Ajahn Amaro talks with us about the relevancy of living the timeless life of a Buddhist monastic in the modern world. The eldest Western disciple of the Theravada Tradition, Luang Por Sumedho visits the monastery from England and gives a once-in-a-lifetime Dhamma Talk that captivates the audience. His presence is so powerful and his words so clear that the viewer experiences Mindfulness itself.
The film culminates on the night of the full moon celebrating Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death in a ceremony held atop of Fearless Mountain. With the moon rising over the mountains the night ends with the monks chanting beneath a bronze statue of Buddha. Ajahn Sumedho offers the final words about the path to enlightenment.
Throughout the film we get to know the monks as human
beings, real people whose lives may differ from our
own, but who experience the same emotions and desires
as the rest of us. Through their openness, they reveal
their simple means for dealing with life, allowing us
an unprecedented look into a world that has remained
hidden to most of us for centuries.
—Tony Anthony, Director
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© 2008
ukifilm, Ukiah, CA. All rights reserved.