SARANAM GACCHÂMI
Logline: A visionary Buddhist Monk, hailing from the Himalayan foothills of Nepal, embarked on an extraordinary journey to California, defying all odds to establish one of the Bay Area's largest Tibetan Monasteries—an invaluable sanctuary preserving the endangered Tibetan culture, traditions, and language. Having realized his dreams, now, he must find a worthy successor to carry the Monastery's legacy.
Project Stage: Post-production
Expected Finish Date: November, 2023
Synopsis: At the tender age of 12, he embraced a monastic life and was bestowed with a new name, Thupten Donyo, signifying "Buddha's teachings" and "meaningful." Reflecting on his childhood and the inspiration that propelled his exceptional odyssey, Donyo shares, "If my name means 'meaningful,' I should be a person of meaning." Born in the Himalayan foothills and raised as a Tibetan refugee, he bore witness to the struggles of his community, igniting a desire to make a difference beyond his spiritual path.
As Tibetan refugees found new homes in the United States, particularly in East Bay cities, Donyo recognized the need for a secure haven for his fellow Tibetans—a place to gather, uphold their cultural heritage and traditions, and safeguard their way of life. In response, he founded the Gyuto Monastery, which grew to become the Bay Area's largest Tibetan Monastery. Serving as a second home, the establishment offered solace and nurtured the community's collective heritage.
Yet, overseeing a Monastery comes with formidable challenges. Heavily reliant on donations, Donyo's frugal approach ensures that every contribution goes to the Monastery's upkeep. Now, at 63 years old, his foremost concern is locating a worthy successor to perpetuate this cherished legacy.
Background: Through the story of Thupten Donyo, the head monk at Gyuto Foundation, the short documentary "Saranam Gacchami" highlights the existence, growth, and strong presence of the Tibetan population in the East Bay. It shows the need to preserve this displaced population's cultural heritage and how they've built a home away from home and are thriving in this foreign land.
Since 1959, Tibet has been under Chinese occupation, leading to the forced migration and exile of a significant portion of the Tibetan diaspora. Following the 1990 U.S. Immigration Act, which allocated 1,000 special visas to Tibetans living in exile in Nepal and India, this micro-minority has grown significantly in the greater East Bay area, including Richmond, El Cerrito, Albany, and Berkeley.
To understand the implications of this documentary, it's crucial to delve into the historical context of the Gyuto Foundation, which is at the heart of this narrative and plays a pivotal role in preserving Tibetan culture and heritage in the face of adversity.
The history of the Gyuto Monastery dates back to 1474 AD in Tibet. In 1959, after the Chinese occupation, about eighty-three monks of the GyutoTantric Monastery escaped from Tibet to India. They endured many hardships and were forced to take up manual labor jobs. Through it all, they kept their practice intact. In 1975, they were relocated to Tenzin Gang, in north-eastern India, where a monastery was built to preserve and promote the Gyuto tantric traditions. Thupten Donyo was initiated as a 12-year-old monk into this monastery around the time it re-opened. Years later, when he fulfilled his vision of establishing a spiritual center in the Bay Area, he named the Richmond Gyuto Foundation in honor of the parent monastery back in India.
Tibet, situated in South Asia, often finds itself grouped with other South Asian communities in the United States. Consequently, discussions about South Asians tend to center on the majority-minority population, primarily Indians. Unfortunately, this has led to minimal representation of Tibetans in the mainstream media, news outlets, and the arts scene in the East Bay.
Despite sharing some cultural similarities, Tibet boasts a distinct culture that sets it apart, even from neighboring Buddhist countries such as Bhutan or Myanmar.
While the Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader of Tibet, remains a widely recognized figure, many have either forgotten or remain unaware of the significant 1959 Tibetan occupation, which resulted in the large-scale displacement, including that of the Dalai Lama himself.
This short documentary represents a modest step toward providing better visibility to East Bay's micro-minorities. It contributes to a broader discourse on preserving cultures and the resilience displayed by marginalized communities when faced with adversity.