From childhood to adulthood, Tibet's fourteenth Dalai Lama deals with Chinese oppression and other problems.

Next Life tells the story of a Tibetan family seeking moments of “temporary happiness” while living in exile in suburban America. As their father suffers from a mysterious inner pain, they turn to Buddhist medicine and spiritual teachings on death and rebirth, embracing the Tibetan concept of "Tse Chema" (reincarnation).