An Enlightened Bhutanese Lama?

From the World Cup to the mythical mountain kingdom of Bhutan, "Words of My Perfect Teacher" follows three students on a quest they hope will lead to wisdom. The catch is their teacher, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Football-obsessed, charismatic filmmaker, and citizen of the world, Khyentse may be one of the world's most eminent Buddhist teachers. But it's a job description he slyly rejects at every turn. "Words of My Perfect Teacher" is for those who wish they'd met Yoda or Merlin or long for the opportunity to engage with a teacher who defies convention.

Bhutanese filmmaker Khyentse Norbu is one of the most important incarnate lamas in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition today. Known more widely by his ecclesiastical title, His Eminence Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, he was recognized at the age of seven as the incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892), a great religious reformer and saint who played a pivotal role in the revitalization and preservation of Buddhism in Tibet in the 19th century.

As the living heir to the Khyentse lineage, Khyentse Norbu exemplifies a non-sectarian spirit. His rigorous training in the Buddhist classical tradition mixed with a deep interest in film making makes him one of the most provocative interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism today. In keeping with his lineage, he has sought to bridge both old and new, East and West.

Authenticity in his breakthrough film "The Cup" was paramount. So he chose Chokling Monastery, situated in a Tibetan refugee settlement nestled in the Himalayan foothills, as the main location for the film. The cast was mainly drawn from members of the monastery. None had any acting experience whatsoever, and most did not understand English. As Khyentse Norbu's script was written in English, no scripts were passed out in advance of the day's shoot. All actors were briefed scene-to-scene. Dialogue was prompted and memorized on the spot, and most scenes were completed within three takes — a testament to the actors' monastic discipline and concentration.

Khyentse Norbu continues to serve as throne-holder of the Dzongsar Monastery in Derge, Eastern Tibet, and as spiritual director of two meditation centers, in East Bhutan and in Sikkim, and two Buddhist philosophy colleges in India and in East Bhutan. In recent years, with the increase of his teaching activities, Khyentse Norbu has set up several Buddhist centers around the world, including retreat centers in Canada and Australia and numerous practice communities in Southeast Asia and Europe. His second feature film is "Travellers & Magicians."