The documentary, Never Give Up - Karmapa 17 explores the inspiration and activities of the His Holiness the 17th Karmapa as he leads the annual prayer festival in Bodhgaya, India and the Anniversary Celebration of 900 years of continual rebirths for the benefit of beings.

He is a dynamic and charismatic leader who speaks frequently about the environment, womens rights, animal suffering, vegetarianism and taking action to ease the suffering of all beings. In his teachings in Bodhgaya he emphasized that spiritual practice on our meditation cushions in our shrine rooms with all the ritual objects of Tibetan Buddhism surrounding us is not enough. He said that in these troubled times we also need to be active in the world, manifesting our compassionate activity every day. Even though we may have small bodies and minds, because limitless sentient beings are suffering, we need to have limitless compassion.

Directors James Gritz and Fernanda Rivero use footage from the 28th Kagyu Monlam prayer festival and images of the activities of the 17th Karmapa to illustrate his teachings on wisdom and compassion. The film includes interviews with great contemporary spiritual teachers like Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Ponlop Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche and Matthieu Ricard. In this film they also follow the stories of people, inspired by the Buddhas teachings on compassion to work for the benefit benefit of beings in Bodhgaya.  Dominique founded a tutorial school for the children of Bodhgaya and works as a nurse to ease the suffering of the handicapped and sick. Joy is dedicated to helping the puppies and dogs of Bodhgaya survive in a difficult and dangerous environment. Buddhist monks begin working to improve the environment of one of the more polluted areas in India.

Never Give Up tells the poignant story of The Karmapa and the bravery of those who have sacrificed personal comfort to work in immense poverty found in Bodhgaya. The documentary raises awareness of this sacred place where the Buddha attained his enlightenment.

About the author: Born into a renown family of yogic practitioners, Khenpo Sherap Phuntsok has authored several books in Tibetan on philosophy and history. For many years he has taught in the institute for higher Buddhist studies at Thrangu Tashi Yangtse in Nepal.

 

About the translator: A long-time student of Buddhism and translator, Michele Martin has published many books, including Music in the Sky: The Life, Art, and Teachings of the Seventeenth Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje.