Spiritual Stronghold

Maybe you know all about Buddhism, but for those who don’t know karma from Dharma, author and filmmaker Rebecca McClen Novick has written “Fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism,” (Crossing Press, $12.95).

She will be at Borders on Wednesday to discuss and sign the book, written as a primer on Buddhism for the uninformed but useful as a reference guide for students and practitioners.

Novick will also present a portion of her documentary, “Strange Spirit: One Country’s Occupation,” co-produced with her husband, Ronny Novick. The award-winning documentary, told through Tibetan survivors of Chinese-run prisons, has been shown on PBS and around the country.

“We just did it on a wing and a prayer--kind of like a labor of love, really,” Novick said. Without filmmaking experience, Novick and her husband found surprising help from Hollywood studios, which offered free services for some post-production work on the film. The Novicks paid all other expenses.

The couple’s journey began in 1993, when they decided they wanted to get married on the Tibetan New Year but had no clue when that took place. They phoned a Los Angeles-based temple and discovered that the timing was wrong, for a variety of reasons, but found that the temple taught Buddhism. They were invited to attend a demonstration against the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

“We knew nothing about it--Tibet wasn’t the household word it is now--so we went to the demonstration,” Novick said. “We started meeting more Tibetans and found great admiration for them and the way they could maintain their compassion through what happened to them.”

They also met the lama who would become their teacher and marry them later that year, she said.

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Affected by the situation in Tibet, the Novicks decided to make a documentary. They spent five weeks in Dharamsala, in northern India, where the main Tibetan settlement was located, interviewing survivors of torture, she said.

The tales of suffering were difficult to fathom, and they were amazed that the victims managed to survive with their dignity, self-confidence and compassion intact, she said.

“It struck me that if this had happened to me or any of the people I know, we would be in therapy for years, and yet their [religious] practice was their therapy,” she said.

The Novicks’ documentary took several years to complete, followed by the book. Novick said she approached the writing project as a journalist, trying to present Buddhist teachings in a succinct and clear manner for the beginner. While always interested in comparative religions, Buddhism crept up on her and she didn’t realize she was a practitioner until a couple of years ago, she said.

“The thing with Buddhism is that it gives you actual tools. Instead of saying, ‘Just do it,’ it is saying, ‘You do it, and here’s how,’ ” she said.

The event at Borders also celebrates the Los Angeles visit of the Dalai Lama, who will be at the Los Angeles Sports Arena from June 25 to 30. For more information, visit https://www.tdling.com or call (526) 402-1321. To reach the Novicks, e-mail bexie@aol.com or twobat@aol.com or call 310-457-4693.

HAPPENINGS

* Monday: 11 a.m. A child’s eye view of the masters and their famous works. Discuss color and patterns, then create your own masterpieces. Today’s artist is Pablo Picasso. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Monday: 7 p.m. Psychologist Marilyn Barrick will discuss and sign “Sacred Psychology of Change” and “Sacred Psychology of Love.” Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., 446-2820.

* Tuesday: 4:30 p.m. Story time for grades 1-3 featuring Mary Pope Osborne’s “Magic Tree House” series. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Tuesday: 7 p.m. Discussion of John Steinbeck’s “The Winter of Our Discontent.” Borders, 497-8159.

* Tuesday: 7 p.m. Pepperdine professor Michael Collings conducts a poetry workshop. Borders, 497-8159.

* Wednesday: 7 p.m. Rebecca McClen Novick will sign and discuss “Fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism.” She will also present a portion of a documentary she co-produced, “Strange Spirit: One Country’s Occupation.” Borders, 497-8159.

* Wednesday: 7 p.m. Monthly meeting of Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network will feature Patricia Fry, author of eight books, speaking on the basics of writing articles for profit and book promotion. For more information, call Carol Doering at 493-1081 or e-mail her at cdoering@gte.net. Borders, 497-8159.

* Thursday: 4:30 p.m. Harry Potter Fan Club for Kids. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Friday: 7 p.m. Meet superhero Sailor Moon and enter drawing and coloring contests. Borders, 497-8159.

* Friday: 7 p.m. Group on “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci.” Borders, 497-8159.

* Saturday: 10:30 a.m. Story time in honor of dad. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Saturday: 11 a.m. Three activities from the Klutz books. Borders, 497-7159.

* Saturday: 2 p.m. Robin Westmiller will sign “Red Wine for Breakfast” and discuss electronic publishing and iuniverse.com. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Saturday: 2 p.m. Author Joanne Fluke will discuss and sign “Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.” Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 374-0084.

Information about book signings, writers groups and publishing events can be e-mailed to anns40@aol.com or faxed to 647-5649).