What is Paragami?

Paragami is a non-profit cultural and educational initiative rooted in creative documentary practice. It is dedicated to amplifying the lived experiences, teachings, and resilience of women and LGBTQI practitioners within Buddhist traditions across Southeast Asia.

The word Paragami comes from Pali and means “one who has gone to the other shore.”
Traditionally used to describe enlightened beings, the title honors the journeys of women and queer monastics who are forging their own paths inside deeply patriarchal structures, transforming them quietly from within.

Through documentary film, storytelling, and community-based programs, Paragami’s goal is offer alternative ways of understanding spiritual life, preserves and shares teachings and lived wisdom that rarely reach Western audiences, supports monastic and lay communities on the ground and explores the interconnections between spirituality, gender, ecology, and social justice.

Paragami is founded on the principles of generosity (dāna), accessibility, and care. All educational resources, including films, interviews, Dharma texts, and public events, are offered free of charge, ensuring that knowledge and spiritual inquiry remain open and shared rather than commodified.

The platform is currently entirely self-funded; donations will make possible to continue this work, cover basic production and operational costs, fairly compensate collaborators, and build a sustainable team to support the project’s long-term growth.

Participate:

We are in need of translators for Thai, Sinhala and Khmer languages.

If you would like to participate in any way, feel free to contact via the page bellow.