| From the World Cup to the mythical
mountain kingdom of Bhutan, Words of My Perfect Teacher follows
three students on a quest for wisdom. The only catch is the teacher.
Soccer obsessed, charismatic filmmaker and citizen of the world,
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche may be one of the world’s most
eminent Buddhist teachers, but it’s a job description he slyly
rejects at every turn.
Featuring appearances by Bernardo Bertolucci and Steven Seagal.
Filmed in the UK, Bhutan, Canada, the US, and the World Cup playoffs
in Germany. Set to a world beat with music by Sting, Tara Slone
& Joy Drop, Steve Tibbets, U.Man.Tek, Kunga 19, and others.
Words of My Perfect Teacher is for those who wish they’d
met Yoda or Merlin, and long for the opportunity to engage with
a teacher who defies convention.
Words of My Perfect Teacher was made during the course
of a year that included attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon, months of tension as India and Pakistan went to the brink
of nuclear war, a stock market drop that plunged the world to new
depths of economic uncertainty, and the US war on Iraq.
If ever there was a time to inspire students to "wake up"
and learn the wisdom necessary to engage in compassionate activity,
this was that year. The film’s point of view is inspired by
Buddhist philosophy — which says that we can’t really
change human behavior until we learn to deal with our mind. The
mind is the starting point of all suffering and the source of closed
hearts and entrenched views. Buddhist philosophy also says that
to study the mind and walk a path toward enlightenment, you need
a teacher.
Though filmmaker Lesley Ann Patten sets out to make a film about
her teacher, Khyentse Norbu, he soon turns the tables, and the film
becomes part of the filmmaker’s own quest for spiritual growth.
Words of My Perfect Teacher lets us share this quest as we
accompany Patten on a delightful and intimate adventure.
"Delightful. An adventure lovingly captured.
Gosh-awful fun." – Toronto Star
"Truly charming." – Toronto
Globe and Mail
"Lively and funny. You have to love a filmmaker
who gets Bernardo Bertolucci and Steven Seagal in the same movie."
– Vancouver Sun
"Funny, brave, illuminating, adventurous
and beautifully photographed." – The Chronicle
Herald
"Warm and funny. Impressive."
– Halifax Daily News
"I’m surprised how I still need to
dent the bumper of vanity."
– Khyentse Norbu quoted in Tricycle after seeing Words
of My Perfect Teacher.
 Rhode
Island Int’l Film Festival – Best
Foreign Film
Houston
Int’l Film Festival – Silver Award
Best Feature Doc
Amsterdam
Film Festival
Hot Docs
Vancouver Film Festival
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