PITCH

In a post-modern world, can western culture find a place for eastern philosophy? Americans are said to be consumed by the fast and easy life driven by money and fleeting pleasure—so much so that perhaps we have no room for the reflective ideas of Buddhism. Through the perspective of our own western eyes and the case study of Wat Carolina located in Bolivia, North Carolina, this documentary seeks to break down the most stereotypical notions of what it is to be an American and a spiritual human being as well as what it is to be Buddhist. The United States being predominately a God-based country, it would seem to follow that Buddhism is too far away in location and religious mentality; however, that may not be the case. In fact, there is a Buddhist monastery alive and functioning in the midst of the South’s Bible Belt. But more importantly, Buddhism doesn’t have to infringe on American religious culture to find commonalities with it. What we call relaxing or clearing our heads, Buddhism calls meditating. We think that monks isolate themselves from society, but the monk at Wat Carolina has a computer in his office through which he sends and receives emails. Also, food offerings of pizza and chocolate chip cookies can be found regularly at ceremonies. If the goal of life is to find meaning and share love, then the recognition of common ground can only help the human race down that path. This documentary is a small step towards that, but it is a step nonetheless.