From the Himalayas to American prisons,

the conversation between ancient and modern unfolds in surprising ways as we explore Buddhism's impact on the West.

The story follows the journeys of Fleet Maull, an ex-convict turned Buddhist activist, Joan Halifax Roshi, a Zen master and pioneer in the field of end of life care, and Phillipe Goldin, a longtime practitioner and leading neuroscientist researching the affects of meditation. 

Along the way we see modern Buddhism unfold in such unlikely places as the death camps at Auschwitz and at a "street retreat" among Denver's homeless.  Interwoven throughout is stunning footage from India, Nepal, the isolated Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, the austere Zen monasteries of Japan and the forests of Thailand. 

We also hear interviews from some of the foremost contemporary Asian teachers as they envision how Buddhism might unfold in the West, reflect on their own training and experience, and explore the profound questions raised by the Buddhist teachings.