May 17 | Tuesday | 5:30 p.m. | Światowid cinema
Screening of the film DESCENDING THE MOUNTAIN preceded by an introduction to zazen meditation led by the Sangha Dogen Zenji practitioners
What happens when monks, experienced meditators, are given psilocybin? This has been examined by psychiatrist Franz Vollenweider and Zen master Vanja Palmers. Descending the Mountain is a mesmerising testimony of inner climate change that shows us how psychedelics could create a revolution in improving mental health and strengthen our connection with the environment.
Before the screening, practitioners of Sangha Dogen Zenji will offer a brief introduction to zazen meditation. The historical Buddha called his practice Dhjana, in ancient China it was called Chan, and when Japanese monks introduced the science of awakening in their country, they called it Zen. Nowadays in Europe, we still call this style of practice zazen, although it is becoming more and more common to simply refer to it as sitting – the sitting of the Buddha.
