Nordic: "My Brother, Buddhist Monk" (doc)

Anja Ahola 2011 via Tapio Haaja, 10/14/12; Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

My Brother, Buddhist Monk | multiple subtitles

(Tapio Haaja) My brother, Santeri, 26, decides to become a Theravada Buddhist monk in Thailand. He'll give up everything he has in Finland.

Where and what is the Nordic country of Finland? Monty Python explains in song.

Maybe I should become a nun

I'm his sister, Anja Ahola, the director of this documentary. I want to understand my brother's great decision to leave behind all his possessions, family members, and friends to become a wandering ascetic in mysterious Asia, a Buddhist monastic for the rest of his life.

• Director and photography: Anja Ahola
• Editing: Anja Ahola and Suvi West
• Editing, color correction, graphics: Tapio Haaja
• Sound mixing: Pekka Kumpulainen and Tapio Haaja
• Music: Taylor Hayward and Arahang, traditional Buddhist chants with contemporary music
• Translators: Tiina Kinnunen, Phra Colin Jotipañño, Tomek Roksela (sasana.pl/saddha.it)
• Camera at ordination: Taylor Sundheim
• Production support: Timo Korhonen/AVEK
• Producer/YLE: Pentti Väliahdet
• Production coordinator: Maria Ahola
• Production: Ima Filbma- ja Sátneduodji and Anja Ahola

Special thanks to Wat Marp Jan Forest Monastery and its abbot Venerable Ajahn Anan Akiñcano.