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Special Movie Night – “Carving The Divine”
May 10 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Carving the Divine is a documentary film that offers a rare look into a 1400-year-old Buddhist woodcarving tradition and the practitioners struggling to preserve its legacy in a rapidly changing Japan.
Determined to pass his craft down to future generations, Master Koun Seki, the former apprentice of renowned Busshi, Kourin Saito, interviews a candidate applying to be his new apprentice. Quickly though, we discover this apprenticeship and the Busshi’s life to be far less glamorous, and much more austere, than we (or the Candidate) would’ve likely imagined.
Once Master Seki makes his selection, we’re taken on a trip through a guild culture unlike anything existing today in The West: From the growing pains of a novice apprentice, to the entire guild working together as one body to create breathtaking works of art, to the monkish practice of the famed, Grand Master Saito himself, alone on his quest to “leave nothing but great works behind.”
Join us for a special event featuring an award-winning documentary about Japan’s most significant spiritual art tradition. Following the screening, Director Yujiro Seki and Philosopher Peter Bolland will lead a discussion and Q&A exploring the inner spiritual realization within us all.
What the audience get out of this event
On the surface, the film appears to be a cultural exploration of Buddhist statues created by modern Japanese sculptors working in an ancient millennium-old tradition. At a deeper level, however, it offers a rare opportunity for self-reflection. As we navigate life, we often focus on the external world while neglecting our inner world—where true peace and happiness reside. One of the vital purposes of Buddhist statues is to challenge us to ask life’s most fundamental questions: “Who are you? What is the purpose of your life?” These questions help us connect with our true selves. While viewers typically watch the film and internalize the experience on their own, this special event goes further with an intimate discussion and Q&A session featuring director Yujiro Seki and philosophical teacher Peter Bolland. Together, we will explore profound existential questions about our human existence and our connection to the universal self.
Tushar Gandhi, author and great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi, viewed Carving the Divine and was deeply impressed, offering a heartfelt endorsement. As a prominent peace advocate who speaks worldwide, Gandhi maintains a careful reputation and only endorses work he truly believes in. His sincere appreciation for the film’s merit led to his thoughtful statement. We welcome you to share his endorsement, as spiritually conscious people will recognize the value of the endorsement of the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.
“Saw ‘Carving the Divine’, a beautifully-made documentary by Yujiro Seki. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful documentary. My compliments to the director. He has beautifully portrayed the spiritual aspect of Buddhism through the learning of the sculptures and the evolution of both Master and apprentice in the art of sculpting as well as in the realization of the deep spirituality inherent in that art form and the deep understanding of Buddhism both Indian as well as Japanese. It is a feast for the eyes, mind and soul. My compliments to all who are associated with creating such a beautiful work of art.” Tushar Gandhi, author and the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi & Kasturba Gandhi
Carving the Divine’s impressive achievements deserve recognition. This is no ordinary documentary – its consistent selection by prestigious institutions demonstrates the film’s exceptional quality and impact. The widespread acclaim and continued recognition speak to something truly remarkable about this work.
Carving the Divine has been selected for 33 film festivals across 22 countries and has won 13 awards worldwide, including the Best Director Award for Foreign Language Documentary at World Cinema Milan. The film premiered at the prestigious Raindance Film Festival in London.
It has been screened at major institutions including Yale University, University of Chicago, National University of Singapore, San Antonio Museum of Art, Morikami Museums in Florida, Japan House London, Master Carver Association London, Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, Terasaki Nibei Foundation, and San Francisco Zen Center. Additional screenings have occurred at Miami University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Leiden University, University of Hawaii Hilo, Seattle University, Tel Aviv University, Pacific Film Archive Berkeley, University of Oregon, Willamette University, Saint Joseph’s University, University of Virginia, Union College, North Carolina State University, University of Southern California, Colgate College, University of Florida, University of South Florida, Vassar College, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and University of Tennessee.
The film was also featured at the 2024 American Academy of Religion Conference in San Diego and the 2025 Association of Asian Studies Conference in Columbus, Ohio.
The film has also been selected for presentation at the 2025 International Association of Buddhist Studies Conference—Europe’s largest academic conference on Buddhism.
