Xiangyun Temple “Easy Digging” Film Screening — Digging Inward, Seeing the Self

Report by Ben Yu in Austin, TX

On the evening of November 21st, the Fo Guang Shan Austin English Subchapter hosted a film screening featuring the mockumentary Easy Digging, directed by Marissa Macy, produced by Keith Charba, and starring Phillip Johnson. The event drew more than fifty attendees, both Chinese and English-speaking.

The film tells the story of protagonist Ed Brown, who rekindles a childhood dream inspired by a small shovel gifted by his father—his dream was to dig a hole from his home all the way to China. After the passing of his close friend Joey, Ed decides to pursue this dream again, wishing to bury his friend’s ashes within the tunnel. Throughout the journey, he faces numerous challenges, including fundraising difficulties, mortgaging his home, and objections from neighbors and the community. Eventually, after discovering that the fundraising effort had fallen victim to a scam, Ed chooses to stop digging. Once the community comes to understand that he was acting out of love and loyalty to fulfill a promise to his late friend, their attitude shifts to support, allowing Ed to regain strength through compassion and connection.

The film uses the act of digging as a metaphor for pursuing one’s dreams and conducting inner exploration. In the end, what Ed uncovers is not a tunnel to China, but the courage to face himself and grow.

A lively discussion followed the screening. Venerable Jue Ji shared that the message of the film aligns deeply with the principles of Buddhism:

True “digging” is the practice of turning inward and awakening to one’s own mind.