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...But Not Lost

The path of letting go without giving up..

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Under cover of darkness and with no word of his plans, much-beloved Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche walked away from his life on the international stage to live that of a wandering yogi. Unheard of among eminent teachers today, such a practice is filled with hardships. For Mingyur Rinpoche, these challenges—begging, finding food and shelter, illness, and all the related risks of wandering incognito from place to place with the barest of possessions—present fertile ground for deepening insight into the true nature of the mind.

Wandering . . . But Not Lost is an intimate account of Mingyur Rinpoche's four-and-a-half-year retreat interspersed with Rinpoche’s own guidance in applying Buddhist wisdom to our daily modern lives that will touch—and inspire—audiences everywhere.

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Articles on Wandering...But Not Lost in Tricycle in the Winter 2021 issue of the magazine and in the latest issue of Lion's Roar which features Mingyur Rinpoche!

https://www.lionsroar.com/wandering-but-not-lost-interview/

https://tricycle.org/magazine/mingyur-rinpoche-wandering/

We are building a virtual gallery of the “Wandering…But Not Lost” multimedia installation/exhibition as a companion to the film.

Here's a preview.

Looking for more films with Rinpoche? Watch A Joyful Mind.  Click Here .

Please enjoy this powerful guided meditation by Mingyur Rinpoche on the Bardo of the Time of Death.

MORE REVIEWS HERE

Wandering...But Not Lost Official Trailer

A huge thank you once again to all of our supporters, whose contributions have made it possible to share Rinpoche's incredible wisdom with the world.

Q&A with Director Paul MacGowan

Why do you think this film is important? (Why do you believe this is a story worth telling?)

Although Rinpoche wouldn’t care for the comparison, this story of the pampered prince leaving the comforts of home to go out into the world and see for himself what’s going on, parallels that of Shakyamuni Buddha. This is an archetypal story that is retold in different ways but holds a profound message at its core: that we need to shake up our life and, in a sense, turn it upside down in order to see behind the surface of our day-to-day struggles and, from there, to confront and absorb the deepest, most enriching lessons of life. 

What would you like audiences to feel after they’ve viewed Wandering...But Not Lost ?

I would like them to gain a sense that our normal daily lives can be a kind of “wandering retreat.” We can bring that attitude of adventure to even the most mundane aspects of our lives and thereby experience the world in an open and fresh way. Through this mindset, we can grow and develop ourselves. We can learn to embrace the full experience of life—whatever the outward circumstances.

Reflections

While Rinpoche was on retreat he survived by begging, an unfamiliar and uncomfortable experience for him as he tells it.  But working with aversion is the essence of the practice of wandering retreat. 

Rinpoche at a Padmasambhava cave in Langtang, Nepal where he

spent several months during his wandering retreat.

To be out of your comfort zone and continue with meditation practices is very difficult, but as Rinpoche explains, it is working with difficulty in our lives that is the most fruitful for our spiritual development.

Rinpoche walking in the mountains at 13,000ft. in Langtang, Nepal

One dramatic example of this is when he almost dies from food poisoning only 3 weeks into the retreat . 

Rinpoche candidly explains in detail what he experienced during four days of intense illness, going through the stages of the Bardo, why he decided not to call someone to be rescued, and his return to life.

Rinpoche where he loves to be, in the mountains meditating.

A partial list of some of the places both in the cities and in the mountains where I’ve filmed includes:

India - Bodh Gaya, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Shravasti, Tso Pema, Ayodhaya, Srinigar, Jammu, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Ladakh (Leh and Nubra Valley).

Nepal - Kathmandu, Dolpo, Lapchi, Langtang, and Yolmo

Rinpoche at a Padmasambhava cave in Langtang, Nepal. Despite almost dying he says his retreat was one of the happiest times of his life.

This website will be updated frequently with teachings and stories and photos from the making of the film of Rinpoche's retreat so please come back often.

“The best knowledge comes from difficulties. The best opportunity comes from obstacles.” ~~~Mingyur Rinpoche

The nature of everything is illusory and ephemeral, Those with dualistic perception regard suffering as happiness, Like they who lick the honey from a razor's edge. How pitiful are they who cling strongly to concrete reality: Turn your attention within, my heart friends.

- Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche  (one of Mingyur Rinpoche's main teachers)

About Mingyur Rinpoche

Mingyur Rinpoche possesses a rare ability to present the ancient wisdom of Tibet in a fresh, engaging manner. His profound yet accessible teachings and playful sense of humor have endeared him to students around the world. Most uniquely, Rinpoche’s teachings weave together his own personal experiences with modern scientific research, relating both to the practice of meditation.

“This dewdrop world is but a dewdrop world - and yet ...”

― Kobayashi Issa

Behind the scenes - the making of Wandering...But Not Lost

We were all really excited when Rinpoche returned from his 4½ year wandering retreat in November 2015.  A few months earlier I had put most my belongings in a storage locker and headed to Kiev, Ukraine to finish my other film, A Joyful Mind.  No one knew when Rinpoche would return so after Kiev I was going to go to Kathmandu to wait for him there.

I was still in Ukraine when we received word of his return and a group of us went to Delhi to meet with him.  Everyone was very happy to see him. He had lost a lot of weight, was darker from the sun and had long hair and although startling, these were only the most obvious indications of his long and difficult journey. 

I traveled with Rinpoche over the next several weeks in India first to meet his teacher Tai Situ Rinpoche in Himachal Pradesh then on to Nepal.  His family had already flown to Bodh Gaya, where he resurfaced, to meet with him there.  

At first making a film about his retreat was not on my mind at all.  I had just finished A Joyful Mind, which took me 6 years, so working on another film right away wasn’t on my radar.  That is until the stories started flowing and I became very inspired by all that Rinpoche went through.  Then when he told about his near death experience in Kushinagar, I was certain that this would make a great film that would inspire many.

Rinpoche came with us to Langtang, high in the Himalayas (13,000 ft.) to film.  It was amazing to be there with Rinpoche in a Padmasambhava cave where he stayed while on retreat.

Rinpoche with Director, Paul MacGowan at Vulture Peak Mountain in Rajgir, India 5 months before Rinpoche left on retreat.

As I started to gain enthusiasm at the prospect of making the film, someone told me that he was approached about writing a book on his retreat and his reply was, “maybe in ten years”.  My heart sank but I was still happy that he was alive and healthy, and that I would be filming teachings with him anyway.   Then a few days later I decided to ask him if I could make a film on his retreat regardless, fully expecting him to decline. I explained what I had in mind and when he replied “Good idea!”  I was thrilled and immediately began working on it. 

Rinpoche enjoying revisiting Yolmo, Nepal where he had some memorable experiences while on retreat.

The Himalayas are an inspiring place to practice meditation.  It's no wonder so many great masters have come from there or have gone there to do retreat.

Now it’s over three years later and I’ve been living in Kathmandu, having made numerous trips to India and around Nepal, and spent months in the villages, cities and mountains of both countries to film where Rinpoche spent time during his retreat.  Sometimes it wasn’t easy to know exactly where he was. A lot of time had passed and those details weren’t really so important to Rinpoche. He was much more focused on practice and experience than on dates and locations. 

One of the many things Rinpoche had to learn while on retreat

was how to make a fire to cook his food and make tea.  His first attempt took hours and his tea tasted like smoke!

The Great Stupa of Boudhanath. Kathmandu, Nepal

One thing I can say for sure is that I have even more respect for Rinpoche and am even more inspired by his journey after visiting some of these places and finding them challenging, hearing his stories, and learning about how he spent his time there.

After more than three years of filming in Nepal and India I’m eager to share these experiences with you.  Check back often, there will be lots of updates. 

See you soon,

"Without this world, we cannot attain enlightenment. Without this world, there would be no journey. By rejecting the world we would be rejecting the ground and rejecting the path. So all the things taking place around our world, all the irritations and all the problems, are crucial."

            Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Meditation Resources

Tergar meditation community and tergar asia support individuals, practice groups and meditation communities around the world in learning to live with awareness, compassion, and wisdom. grounded in the tibetan buddhist lineage of guiding teacher yongey mingyur rinpoche, tergar programs are accessible to people of all cultures and faiths, and support a lifelong path toward the application of these principles in everyday life., visit  tergar.org  for more information about their worldwide meditation community and online learning resources..

RECOMMENDED READING

Please follow this link to see a list of reading suggestions

we have compiled to learn more about meditation and Tibetan Buddhism.

Please consider supporting the film projects of Mingyur Rinpoche and Open Mind Media

Your donation will make it possible for us to continue working on films that will spread Rinpoche's valuable teachings even further.

Giving & Tax Benefits

A Joyful Mind, LLC is wholly-owned "limited liability company" of Tergar International, a tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Therefore, your contribution to A Joyful Mind is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Short video teachings

How to change habits

To transform our lives we need to work with our ingrained habits.  Mingyur Rinpoche tells us how.

Working with difficult emotions

Rinpoche tells us how to work with our emotions without blocking them.

Wandering...But Not Lost

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Watch 'wanderingbut not lost' online.

Looking to feast your eyes on ' WanderingBut Not Lost ' on your TV, phone, or tablet? Searching for a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the Paul MacGowan-directed movie via subscription can be tricky, so we here at Moviefone want to do the work for you. Read on for a listing of streaming and cable services - including rental, purchase, and subscription options - along with the availability of 'WanderingBut Not Lost' on each platform when they are available. Now, before we get into the various whats and wheres of how you can watch 'WanderingBut Not Lost' right now, here are some particulars about the Open Mind Media LLC documentary flick. Released , 'WanderingBut Not Lost' stars Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche , Peter Coyote , Vajradhara Tai Situ Rinpoche , Mayum Sönam Chödrön The movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 29 min, and received a user score of (out of 100) on TMDb, which collated reviews from respected users. What, so now you want to know what the movie's about? Here's the plot: "Under cover of darkness and with no word of his plans muchbeloved Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche walked away from his life on the international stage to live that of a wandering yogi Unheard of among eminent teachers today such a practice is rife with hardships For Mingyur Rinpoche these challengesbegging finding food and shelter illness and all the attendant risks of wandering incognito from place to place with the barest of possessionspresent fertile ground for deepening insight into the true nature of the mind Wandering But Not Lost is an intimate account of Mingyur Rinpoches fourandahalfyear retreat June 2011 November 2015 interspersed with Rinpoches own guidance in applying Buddhist wisdom to our daily modern lives that will touchand inspireaudiences everywhere" 'WanderingBut Not Lost' is currently available to rent, purchase, or stream via subscription on Amazon Video .

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Under cover of darkness and with no word of his plans, much-beloved Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche walked away from his life on the international stage to live that of a wandering yogi. Unheard of among eminent teachers today, such a practice is rife with hardships. For Mingyur Rinpoche, these challenges—begging, finding food and shelter, illness, and all the attendant risks of wandering incognito from place to place with the barest of possessions—present fertile ground for deepening insight into the true nature of the mind. Wandering . . . But Not Lost is an intimate account of Mingyur Rinpoche's four-and-a-half-year retreat (June 2011 – November 2015) interspersed with Rinpoche’s own guidance in applying Buddhist wisdom to our daily modern lives that will touch—and inspire—audiences everywhere.

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Video Available! Film Discussion of "Wandering... But Not Lost" with Director Paul MacGowan and James Gentry

Film screening followed by discussion with director Paul MacGowan on September 29, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.

    1 hr 29 min | 2020 

Registration Required. Webinar link will be sent after registration. 

Film Synopsis :

Under the cover of darkness and with no word of his plans, much-beloved Tibetan Buddhist meditation master Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche walked away from his life on the international stage to live that of a wandering yogi. Unheard of among eminent teachers today, such a practice is filled with hardships. For Mingyur Rinpoche, these challenges—begging, finding food and shelter, illness, and all the related risks of wandering incognito from place to place with the barest of possessions—present fertile ground for deepening insight into the true nature of the mind.

Wandering . . . But Not Lost   is an intimate account of Mingyur Rinpoche's four-and-a-half-year retreat interspersed with Rinpoche’s own guidance in applying Buddhist wisdom to our daily modern lives. It will touch and inspire audiences everywhere.

Paul MacGowan’s interest in meditation and Buddhism started as a teenager in the 1970s. He met Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche in 2010 and was inspired by him to produce the film  A Joyful Mind (2016), which gives an overview of Mingyur Rinpoche’s teachings on meditation. When Mingyur Rinpoche returned from his four-and-a-half-year wandering retreat in 2015, he told wonderful and inspiring stories that became the basis of the film  Wandering . . . But Not Lost . Since its release in 2020, the film has won numerous awards, including Best Documentary and Best Biography Film.

Watch the film trailer!

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Wandering…But Not Lost: Director Paul MacGowan on Capturing Mingyur Rinpoche’s Wandering Retreat

Martine Panzica talks to director Paul MacGowan about the making of the documentary film “Wandering…But Not Lost,” which chronicles Mingyur Rinpoche’s remarkable four-and-a-half year wandering retreat.

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Martine Panzica: Wandering…But Not Lost tells the story of Mingyur Rinpoche’s remarkable four-and-a-half year journey as a wandering yogi. Was it challenging to tell the story of such an extended and profound voyage?

Paul MacGowan: Well, it was very challenging, as you can imagine, because all the action had happened. So I’m filming after the fact. When he came back, we met in Delhi. He didn’t have much to say about his retreat yet. But over the following weeks, there were a number of us who were kind of tagging along. He was teaching and visiting folks, and slowly, the stories of his retreat started coming out. Everybody was saying, “Tell us more, tell us more, tell us more!” I had no idea at first that this would be another film. But the stories were just so inspiring and so compelling that I wanted to make this film.

He’s a good storyteller. I said, “You tell the stories, and I’ll show these places.” And so he said, “Yeah, okay. Good idea.” I was really excited — but then it became so much more.

It’s really challenging to make it a compelling story when the action has already happened. I had no footage. But he was so easy to work with, and he knew I wanted to get shots of him in the mountains. To just go and to be with Rinpoche in these places, it was kind of relaxing. It was a bit of a whirlwind in one sense, but we could be there and in this beautiful environment.

The documentary showcases some stunning cinematography, including views of the Himalayan mountains, rivers, and valleys. What was it like filming these locations?

I absolutely love the mountains. I wanted to tell Rinpoche’s story in a genuine, authentic way. He is such a genuine person, sharing his struggles. So it’s kind of related, wanting to do a good job telling his story and also showing these absolutely stunning mountains and landscapes, and doing it when you’re kind of exhausted while trekking.

When I heard Mingyur Rinpoche was going to do this retreat, I doubled my practice overnight. I was just so inspired by it.

I’m no spring chicken anymore. I used to run up mountains but now I’m slowing down in my 60s. It was challenging. But the whole time, with the friends that came with me, we just decided to treat it like a pilgrimage. We knew Rinpoche had been on retreat in these locations. Wherever we were, we just felt like it was really a special time.

The interviews with Mingyur Rinpoche in the film provide detailed insights into his thought process and physical experiences during the challenges of his journey. How did you get him to tell these stories?

Fortunately, I had a lot of experience working and filming with him, so that helped a lot. I probably did about a dozen interviews with him to get all the information factually correct. But it was an interesting experience. His memory is so good and he was willing to share, but there were times when he was kind of vague.

It took me a while to figure out what was going on. His memory is so sharp, and I didn’t feel like he was holding back, but eventually, I thought: Oh, he was practicing . He wasn’t on a vacation, keeping a travelogue of his experiences. He was, for lack of a better phrase, “in the moment.” He wasn’t thinking about how he would tell the story later. So that was kind of a revelation for me.

Given that this film covers a wide span of time, geography, and subjects, including encounters with individuals along Mingyur Rinpoche’s journey, were there any highlights or favourite moments that you recall during the production process?

It took me five years to make the film. I have to say it was in the mountains with Rinpoche. After figuring out the timing, finding the money, arranging the helicopter, I was worried about the weather. I was worried about a million things and the weather was absolutely perfect. To be there with Rinpoche was just really special. You can just tell that he just enjoyed being back there. It was just a really special time.

I’m a planner. When I learned how to make a good video in America, I learned that you have to control everything. You control the lighting, the sound, the people, the crew — every aspect of it to get a good end result. In India and Nepal, you’re not in control of anything. It’s like total chaos thrown into the mix. You’re making a documentary, so you kind of have to capture what you’re getting. But it’s the places and the people that made it interesting.

While the film primarily centers around Mingyur Rinpoche’s solitary journey, it also presents a larger story about our ability to practice mindfulness in everyday life, regardless of location. What do you hope viewers will take away from watching the film?

I hope they’re inspired by it to practice. When I heard Mingyur Rinpoche had announced he was going to do this retreat, I doubled my practice overnight. I was just so inspired by it. I’m hoping people are inspired by what he did. I hope they learn more about how to bring challenging situations into their practice. That’s what Rinpoche really wants people to do. He’s obviously not suggesting anybody does this kind of retreat. What I practice with here in Kathmandu is working with minor annoyances. You might be able to hear the dogs barking outside, or the cafe and nightclub down below that’s always playing music. We can work with these minor annoyances on the path — we don’t have to think that we have to accomplish this big thing. We just work with these small things on a daily basis, and that can make a profound change.

I also hope people see Mingyur Rinpoche for the great teacher that he is. We’re just fortunate to have these teachers like Mingyur Rinpoche who we can study with and learn from.

Martine Panzica

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Wandering...but not lost.

Directed by Paul MacGowan

Under cover of darkness and with no word of his plans, much-beloved Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche walked away from his life on the international stage to live that of a wandering yogi. Unheard of among eminent teachers today, such a practice is rife with hardships. For Mingyur Rinpoche, these challenges—begging, finding food and shelter, illness, and all the attendant risks of wandering incognito from place to place with the barest of possessions—present fertile ground for deepening insight into the true nature of the mind. Wandering . . . But Not Lost is an intimate account of Mingyur Rinpoche's four-and-a-half-year retreat (June 2011 – November 2015) interspersed with Rinpoche’s own guidance in applying Buddhist wisdom to our daily modern lives that will touch—and inspire—audiences everywhere.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche Peter Coyote Vajradhara Tai Situ Rinpoche Mayum Sönam Chödrön Tsoknyi Rinpoche Tashi Lama Samdup

Director Director

Paul MacGowan

Producer Producer

Writers writers.

Paul MacGowan Cortland Dahl Kimberly Danforth

Editor Editor

Camera operators camera operators.

Peter Kent David Lassiter Paul MacGowan

Sound Sound

Artem Mostovyi KWA Studios - Kyiv, Ukraine

Open Mind Media, LLC

India Nepal

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

Nepali English

Alternative Title

Documentary

Releases by Date

19 mar 2021, releases by country.

• Premiere Online

89 mins   More at TMDb Report this page

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