Unmistaken Child
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Unmistaken Child

2009, Religion  -   46 Comments
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Ratings: 7.86/10 from 28 users.

Unmistaken ChildThe Buddhist concept of reincarnation, while both mysterious and enchanting, is hard for most westerners to grasp.

Unmistaken Child follows the 4-year search for the reincarnation of Lama Konchog, a world-renowned Tibetan master who passed away in 2001 at age 84.

The Dalai Lama charges the deceased monk's devoted disciple, Tenzin Zopa (who had been in his service since the age of seven), to search for his master's reincarnation.

Tenzin sets off on this unforgettable quest on foot, mule and even helicopter, through breathtaking landscapes and remote traditional Tibetan villages.

Along the way Tenzin listens to stories about young children with special characteristics, and performs rarely seen ritualistic tests designed to determine the likelihood of reincarnation. He eventually presents the child he believes to be his reincarnated master to the Dalai Lama so that he can make the final decision.

Stunningly shot, Unmistaken Child is a beguiling, surprising, touching, even humorous experience.

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Lou
Lou
8 years ago

Wow, so many comments on a video that no one can see. Why do you even put it here if we have to buy it at Amazon?

Sergiy Popov
Sergiy Popov
10 years ago

There is not such a concept in Buddhism as reincarnation.

dak8859
dak8859
11 years ago

Fascinating documentary. If you are one of those people who feels every culture must be like your culture, don't watch it. But if you want a fascinating and sometimes moving glimpse into one aspect of Tibetan Buddhism, this is well worth your time. One of my favorite all-time documentaries.

Donald Edward Goodman
Donald Edward Goodman
11 years ago

Tibetan Buddhists are the most peaceful religious folks on the planet. I cannot say that about Islam, Christianity, OR JUDAISM. ALL are full-of EVIL beings, who follow Muhammad or Yahwey. Jesus couldn't possibly be "Jehovah" in-the-flesh. Jesus was a kind and loving man. Jehovah is a evil wicked, mean and nasty "God." Satan killed about 60 people in the old testament. Yehway had others MURDER MILLIONS! I'll never forget the one where "God" sent down evil, in the form of two "she bears" are TORE APART 42 CHILD fun of a bald dude! EXPLAIN THAT ONE TO ME! Now you tell me, WHO would you fall down and worship? Quite frankly, I do not believe in the Jewish "God" Jehovah, OR his so-called "Son of man." They are OLD STORIES. RAPED FROM PAGANISM, the EGYPTIAN RELIGION, AND THE JEWISH RELIGION.
I was forced as an 8 year old, to memorize the 10 commandments. It seems Jehovah forgot to even mention things like RAPE, KIDNAPPING, AND SLAUGHTERING INNOCENT PEOPLE! IN fact, HE ORDERED IT DONE!
Anyone who NEEDS the 10 commandments to "be good:" has no consciousness, or self-respect. (Which is MUCH different from "self-righteousness!") A thing all three "western religions" suffer from. (Muslims too) "Jehovah" is a JEWISH GOD. Christians even stole him too.

sanujams
sanujams
12 years ago

The fact is each religion has mixed with cultural values causing huge problems in this world. Buddhism itself has NOTHING to do with this the same way Christianity has NOTHING to do with KKK. Dali Lama is a CIA terrorist.

tenzin woiser
tenzin woiser
12 years ago

people below me think he is trapped by his destiny, the kid actually was very sure and he gets the best eduction, shelter, the village can offer, money is collected for school in monastery. second the kid either becomes a farmer or can leave to anywhere when he is good as he was before or just have to be 18. its not prison people it is actually the best form of education available there he can be able to read and write. learn arts and crafts plus, astronomy, buddhist philosophy and be able to help people. there's also debate among monks. so fun. its actually better to be in the monastery than a farmer. my uncle became a monk and has much knowledge.

blahblahbob
blahblahbob
12 years ago

the voice of reason has different intonations, it just depends on who's listening to it...

Lord_Kral
Lord_Kral
12 years ago

One of the most beautiful forms of child abuse I've seen.

David Foster
David Foster
12 years ago

It's a wonder that we even claim to respect other cultures.

Ken Campbell
Ken Campbell
12 years ago

I cant say I agree with this. Even if he is the reincarnated soul of the person he was before, his life path should be his to choose. What is there to be learned in a second life that is just a replay of the first? I do believe in reincarnation. Each new life is an entirely different learning curriculum. Only through many lives do we learn what it is to be beautiful, shunned, rich, poor, healthy, sick, powerful, powerless, the taste of success, the agony of defeat, the incredible fire of the heart known as true love or the withering touch of loneliness. Each life is meant to enrich and add intricacy to the soul, to eventually learn life through all of its facets and once all have been learned, lived and experienced perhaps we transcend into something higher no longer requiring physical bodies or restricted by such paltry things as space and time. Not gods but beings of energy able to see the unseen and travel the multiverse at will. What most in their limited scope would call angels I suppose but which are nothing but graduates of the flesh.

blahblahbob
blahblahbob
12 years ago

i find some of the comments on this film to be a little unfair towards this culture. in the west, if someone were to tell you that your child was an heir to a kingdom full of prestige and monetary riches, most people would consider it unfair to stop this child from fulfilling his destiny. even if it meant losing custody of the child most people, i believe, would not stand in the way of such a one in a billion turn of events. yet if a child is given over in the east for prestige and riches, not monetary, but of the spirit, we tend to see it as sad or bad for the child or chalk it up to a lack of concern on the parents part. i just dont think that, as a westerner, i can begin to understand what this feels like for all involved. that being so, i shall not condemn them for it.

judygreen2010
judygreen2010
12 years ago

This is a great doc, I saw it this past year and watched it three times! It's fascinating and very well done.

Guest
Guest
12 years ago

I watched this one earlier but coun't bring myself to comment yet.
I must say, i liked it, beautiful scenery, well done, and very intimate into the life of people we would not normally have access to.
The fact that the parents accept to let their child go away at such a young age is very strange to our society but it has been a practice in buddhism that is respected and accepted, almost like a mark of good fortune for a child. I felt like if they were asked: Can you give your child to be offered as sacrifice and thrown in the volcano? They still would have answered yes in the name of buddhism.
When the child is tested to see if he is the reincarnation, they almost seem to guide his hand. The child looked pretty happy most of the time and his caregiver has at one point a very very real love in this eyes towards this diety.
Despite this strange practice i enjoyed the doc because it shows me a reality not easily accessible.
To know that the Dalai Lama supports this practice even though he has been in contact with cultures from everywhere in the world....was more puzzling to me...and it made me wonder how much longer it would continue.
az

Mickie Brandon
Mickie Brandon
12 years ago

Is it any more "pathetic" than the Christian belief in Jesus' death and resurrection? Egocentricity is unbecoming to you WiseGapist.

WiseGapist
WiseGapist
12 years ago

How pathetic of people to hold such beliefs. An interesting insight into their customs but it was just making me annoyed.^^

Guest
Guest
12 years ago

This is heartbreaking, and wrong.

LINDAM
LINDAM
12 years ago

Very enjoyable and strangely peaceful, I feel kind of sorry for the parent's it must be hard to give up a child but the little guy seamed to know what was expected from him so I agree with anuragwasthi it must be a transmigration of memory

Abraham Anand
Abraham Anand
12 years ago

Astounding! this documentary made me question myself about the perception reality and our purpose of existence.

anuragawasthi
anuragawasthi
12 years ago

Buddha denied the existence of a soul...........The correct word has to be transmigaration of memory...........reincarnation is a Hindu philosophy