HIDDEN BUDDHA
The life and teachings of Tulku Thondup
-- Executive Produced by The Buddhayana Foundation
-- Tulku thondup --
Born into a sacred lineage
Torn from it by history.
Devoted to passing its heart to a fractured world.
-- The Story --
Journey Of a MaSter
The CALLING
Born into a sacred lineage
Recognized as the reincarnation of a renowned Khenpo, Tulku Thondup entered the monastery at five and received the full transmission of Tibetan Buddhist wisdom.
THE EXILE
A refugee, then a scholar
Forced to flee the Chinese invasion, Tulku journeyed to India as a refugee. After losing his closest teacher, he rose to become a respected university scholar.
THE TEACHER
The hidden Buddha of Cambridge
An invitation to Harvard brought him to a quiet life in Cambridge, MA, where he counseled seekers of their true nature and wrote over 20 books on Tibetan Buddhism.
Hidden Buddha follows the extraordinary life of one of the last Tibetan teachers to carry ancient wisdom into the modern West
WHY NOW?
An urgent message, told through a timeless story
Tulku preserved and restored essential teachings that could have been lost forever, his ability to translate the nuances of Tibetan philosophy to the Western mind was extraordinary.
Over decades of work, he distilled the teachings down into the essence of loving kindness, offering relatable insight and practices to embody compassion from within.
Global demand for contemplative practice and the trend toward mindfulness is expanding rapidly in response to a volatile world. This film fuels the movement toward collective evolution.
-- The HEART OF THE Story --
Magnifying Love Through Connection
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AN UNCONVENTIONAL LIFE
A true love story
This film offers a deep exploration of Tibetan Buddhism through the tale of an unconventional life of a true master. At the heart of the film is the love story between Tulku and his wife, Lydia, woven through cinematic encounters with his teachings.
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Revered By Thousands
The quiet hidden buddha
Revered by thousands when he returned to Tibet to offer blessings, Tulku chose to spend most of his life as the quiet hidden Buddha of Cambridge. He never called those who gathered around him students, only spiritual friends.
-- Interviews & Narration --
A chorus of voices
Original animation, archival photography and intimate interviews bring Tulku’s story to life. Narrated by Tulku's wife, Lydia Segal.
Daniel Goleman
Author, Emotional Intelligence
Susan Piver
Author, Buddhist Teacher
Sam Bercholz
Founder, Shambhala Publications
Erric Solomon
Author, Meditation Teacher
Matthieu Ricard
Monk, Photographer, Author
Anam Thubten
Founder, Dharmata Foundation
Patrick Gaffney
Author & Translator
Michael Baldwin
Founder, Buddhayana Foundation
Executive Produced by: The Buddhayana FoundatioN
Dedicated to preserving and promoting the wisdom and traditions of Tibetan Buddhism for over 40 years.
Directed & Produced By
Gabe Golden
of Soul Stream Media
Gabe's work explores environmental challenges, alternative healing, and spiritual teachings. This film expanded his own inner journey and discovery of our true nature.
"The deeper I came to know Tulku through the production of this film, the more I understood the power of his presence and how so many were transformed by the subtle way he could share his heart with others. Creating Hidden Buddha became an exploration of the possibility that within each of us exists the same quiet capacity for compassion that Tulku embodied so naturally."
