Otto Ringling is persuaded by his sister to give her guru Volya Rinpoche a ride from New York City to North Dakota as Otto prepares to return and settle his deceased parents' estate, and as he introduces the holy man to cultural landmarks, he receives an education in the art of living a peaceful, happy life.

Otto Ringling has come to a crossroads. Still struggling with his wife's death and the adjustments to his life without her, Otto returns to his family home in North Dakota, which is now a spiritual retreat run by his sister, Cecelia, and her husband, a famous Buddhist leader named Volya Rinpoche. Upon arrival, he is informed by Cecelia that she has had visions that her daughter may possibly become the next Dalai Lama. The mysterious person who must...