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A tulku (Tibetan: སྤྲུལ་སྐུ; Wylie: sprul sku; ZWPY: Zhügu, also tülku, trulku) is a Tibetan Buddhist lama who has through phowa and siddhi consciously determined to be reborn, often many times, in order to continue their Bodhisattva vow. The Tibetan script is an Abugida of Indic origin used to write the Tibetan language as well as the Dzongkha language, Ladakhi language The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Tibetan pinyin is the official transcription system for the Tibetan language in the People's Republic of China. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including Lama ( is a title for a Tibetan teacher Phowa ( Wylie: 'pho ba; also spelled Powa or Poa phonetically is a Tibetan term for a Buddhist meditation practice that Not to be confused with the African-descended Siddi people of India (though sometimes spelled identically In the various Bodhisattva vows (sometimes called the Bodhisattva Precepts) of Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisattvas take Vows stating The most famous example is the lineage of Dalai Lamas, who are held to be reincarnations of the previous thirteen Dalai Lamas, beginning with Gendun Drup (1391 – 1474). The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. Gendun Drup also Gendun Drub and Kundun Drup (1391&ndash1474 is retrospectively considered to be the first of the Dalai Lamas of Tibet, who It is held in the Vajrayana tradition that the oldest lineage of tulkus is that of the Karmapas (spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu lineage), which began with Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193). The Karmapa (officially His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa) is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa ( Tibetan Karma Kagyu ( or Kamtsang, is the largest lineage within the Kagyu school one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Düsum Khyenpa ( (1110 &ndash 1193 was the 1st Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu (ka rma bka’ brgyud school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Contents

Meaning

The term tülku is the Tibetan translation of the Sanskrit philosophical term nirmanakaya. Tibetan refers to a group of languages spoken primarily by Tibetan peoples who live across a wide area of eastern Central Asia bordering South Asia as well as by overseas Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The Trikaya doctrine ( Sanskrit, literally "Three bodies or personalities" 三身 Chinese: Sānshén, Japanese: sanjin) According to the philosophical system of trikaya or three bodies of Buddha, nirmanakaya is the Buddha's "body" in the sense of the 'bodymind' (Sanskrit: nāmarūpa). The Trikaya doctrine ( Sanskrit, literally "Three bodies or personalities" 三身 Chinese: Sānshén, Japanese: sanjin) Bodymind is a compound conjunction of Body and Mind, which in scientific disciplines researchers have begun studying in order to move beyond the dualist Nāmarūpa is a Dvandva compound in Sanskrit and Pali meaning "name ( nāma) and form ( rūpa)" Thus, the person of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, is an example of nirmanakaya. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder In the context of Tibetan Buddhism, tülku is used to refer to the corporeal existence of enlightened Buddhist masters in general.

History

The institution of the tulku as reincarnate lama developed during the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries, as various Tibetan schools of Buddhism began to accept the possibility that exemplary figures might remain within the human world as institutional teachers, manifesting from one lifetime to the next out of compassion. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Compassion is a profound human Emotion prompted by the pain of others At this point, the notion of nirmanakaya became linked to a notion of regular re-manifestation (Tibetan: yangsi; Wylie: g. Tibetan refers to a group of languages spoken primarily by Tibetan peoples who live across a wide area of eastern Central Asia bordering South Asia as well as by overseas The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. yang-srid). The most dramatic—and, at the time, controversial—innovation here was the idea that a tulku could inherit the estate (labrang) of their previous incarnation. This rule of inheritance allowed for the rise of hugely wealthy estates belonging to the lineages of reincarnating tulkus.

The first recognized tulku of this kind within the Vajrayana traditions was the Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism; precisely, the first to be recognized as a re-manifestation was the second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi (1204-1283). The Karmapa (officially His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa) is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa ( Tibetan Karma Kagyu ( or Kamtsang, is the largest lineage within the Kagyu school one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including Karma Pakshi ( 1203 &ndash 1283) was the 2nd Gyalwa Karmapa. He was a child prodigy who had already acquired a broad understanding of Dharma philosophy The Karmapa is now in his 17th incarnation.

By far the most politically powerful tulku lineage for the past several hundred years have been the Dalai Lamas, which has seen a total of fourteen incarnations beginning with Gedun Drub. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. Gendun Drup also Gendun Drub and Kundun Drup (1391&ndash1474 is retrospectively considered to be the first of the Dalai Lamas of Tibet, who Note that the title "Dalai Lama" was not applied to this line from the beginning: the second incarnation was seen simply as the rebirth of Gedun Drub. The same was true of the third incarnation, Sonam Gyatso, until he was dubbed "Dalai Lama" as an adult, after which he applied the title posthumously to his predecessors and declared himself the 3rd Dalai Lama. Sonam Gyatso ( (1543&ndash1588 was the first officially recognized Dalai Lama, although the title was retrospectively given to his two predecessors

It was Lobsang Gyatso (1617–1682), the 5th Dalai Lama, who established the Dalai Lamas as Tibet's predominant political power. Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama (1617 &ndash 1682 was a political and religious leader in seventeenth-century Tibet. After their control was consolidated, recognition of some of the most important tulkus was vetted by the government at Lhasa, and could on occasion be banned if its previous incumbent fell out of favour. A notable example of this penalty was the Shamarpa, once the most powerful subordinate of the Karmapa, who was banned from reincarnating by order of the Dalai Lama in 1792. Shamarpa ( literally "Person (ie Holder of the Red Crown" also known as Shamar Rinpoche or more formally H Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year This ban remained in place until after the Dalai Lama lost power in Tibet during the 1950s, although it was later revealed that the Karmapa had recognized reincarnations of the Shamarpa secretly during the intervening period. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive

Characteristics

Tibetologist Françoise Pommaret estimates there are presently approximately 500 tulku lineages found across Tibet, Bhutan, Northern India, Nepal, Mongolia, and the southwest provinces of China. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The vast majority of tulkus are men, although there are a small number of female tulku lineages.

Lineages of tulkus may be interlinked—for example the Panchen Lama traditionally recognizes the new incarnation of the Dalai Lama and vice versa. The Panchen Lama ( Tibetan: པན་ཆེན་བླ་མ་ Chinese: 班禪喇嘛 is the second highest ranking Lama after the Dalai Lama The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. In most cases there is no such relationship, but the potential candidate is always vetted by respected lamas. This often involves tests such as checking whether the child can recognize acquaintances or possessions from his previous life or answer questions only known to his former life-experience. According to the book Magic and Mystery in Tibet by Alexandra David-Neel, “A number of objects such as rosaries, ritualistic implements, books, tea-cups, etc. Alexandra David-Néel born Louise Eugénie Alexandrine Marie David (born in Saint-Mandé on October 24, 1868, and died in Digne-les-Bains , are placed together, and the child must pick out those which belonged to the late tulku, thus showing that he recognizes the things which were his in his previous life. [1] This process was portrayed in the movie Kundun. Kundun is a 1997 film written by Melissa Mathison and directed by Martin Scorsese.

As a tulku nears death, the people around him listen carefully for clues which may help in finding his reincarnation. Sometimes, a tulku will leave a prediction letter or song describing where they will be found. Prophecies, which may date forward or backward many generations, also play a role. Prophecy, generally describes the disclosing of Information that is not known to the Prophet by any ordinary means

While most tulkus historically have been Tibetans, some have also been born among various other peoples with whom the Tibetans have had contact, such as the Mongols. The Tibetan people are indigenous to Tibet and surrounding areas stretching from Central Asia in the North and West to Myanmar and China Proper In modern times, as Tibetan Buddhism has attracted followers across the world, a small number of tulkus have been found among Western people. Perhaps the most religiously significant such tulku is Tenzin Ösel (born 1985), the child of Spanish parents, who has been recognized as the reincarnation of Thubten Yeshe, an influential Tibetan lama. Tenzin Ösel Rinpoche ( was born in 1985 in Bubion, Granada, to Spanish parents who had been students of Lama Thubten Yeshe. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Thubten Yeshe (1935–1984 was a Tibetan Lama who while exiled in Nepal, co-founded Kopan Monastery (1969 and the Foundation for the Preservation

Another Westerner who has been recognised as a tulku is Lama Shenphen Rinpoche, who was officially recognised by the board of Kharnang Monastery, and the Jhadrel Khangtsen of Sera-Jhe Monastic University. Shenphen Rinpoche (born 10 January 1969 in France) is a Tibetan Buddhist Lama. [2]

The American film actor Steven Seagal, while already an adult, was recognized by Penor Rinpoche, the head of the Nyingma school, as the reincarnation of a 17th century tertön from eastern Tibet, Chungdrag Dorje. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Steven F Seagal (born April 10 1951 is an American Action movie Actor, producer, writer director, Martial artist Kyabjé Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche (1932- is the 11th throne holder of the Palyul Lineage of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, and is said to be an incarnation The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism (the other three being the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug) Terma are key Tibetan Buddhist and Bön teachings originally Esoterically secreted hidden by various adepts such as Padmasambhava and his Penor Rinpoche notes that "such recognition does not mean that one is already a realized teacher"; Seagal has not been enthroned and has not undergone the extensive program of training and study that it is customary for a tulku. [3]

International terminology

In addition to Tibetans and related peoples, Tibetan Buddhism is the traditional religion of the Mongols and their relatives. The Mongolian word for a tulku is qubilγan, though such persons may also be called by the honorific title qutuγtu (Tib: 'phags-pa / Skt: ārya), or hutagt in the standard Khalkha dialect. The Mongolian language (mn [[ImageMonggol kelesvg 17px]] Mongɣol kele, Cyrillic: Монгол хэл Mongol khel) is the best-known member of

A recent Chinese word for tulku is huófó (活佛), which literally means "living Buddha". Thus, the term Living Buddha is sometimes used to mean tulku, although this is rare outside of Chinese sources. Also, modern Chinese sources typically refer to a young incarnation of a (presumably male) tulku as a "soul boy" (traditional Chinese: 靈童; pinyin: língtóng). Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use

List of tulku lineages

See also

Notes

  1. ^ David-Neel, Alexandra. HE Chagdud Tulku ( Rinpoche (1930-2002 was a renowned teacher of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche (b 23 Oct 1964 is the title of a lineage of reincarnate Tibetan Buddhist Lamas They originate with Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye The 7th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche (Karma Sungrap Ngedon Tenpa Gyaltsen 1965-present is an abbot of Dzogchen Monastery, president of Nalandabodhi, the founder of Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche ( is a leading incarnate lama ( Tulku) in the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The Gyalwang Drukpa or Drukchen ("Druk" means "Dragon" and "Chen" means "Chenpo" or "Great" in Tibetan an unofficial address Jamgon Kongtrul was a prominent Tibetan Buddhist teacher ( Lama) and is also the name shared by members of a lineage held by tradition to be his subsequent reincarnations Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892 was a renowned teacher scholar and Tertön of 19th century Tibet. The Khalkha Jebtsundamba Khutuktu (Жавзандамба хутагт Javzandamba Khutagt; Tibetan: རྗེ་བཙུན་དམ་པ་ Jetsun Dampa Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo ( October 12, 1949 - born Alyce Louise Zeoli) is an enthroned Tulku within the Palyul lineage of the Kalu may refer to Kalu Afghanistan Kalu Rinpoche The Karmapa (officially His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa) is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa ( Tibetan The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Jamgön Ju Mipham or Mipham Jamyang Namgyal Gyamtso (also known as "Mipham the Great" was a great master of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism The Panchen Lama ( Tibetan: པན་ཆེན་བླ་མ་ Chinese: 班禪喇嘛 is the second highest ranking Lama after the Dalai Lama The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Nenang Pawo Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist lama considered to be one of the highest lamas of the Karma Kagyu sect The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Reting Rinpoche ( is the title held by abbots of Reting Monastery, a Buddhist monastery in central Tibet. The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Shabdrung (also Zhabdrung;) which literaly means "before the feet of" was a title used when refering to or addressing great lamas in Tibet particularly those who The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Shamarpa ( literally "Person (ie Holder of the Red Crown" also known as Shamar Rinpoche or more formally H The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. In Tibetan Buddhism the Tai Situpa is one of the oldest lineages of Tulkus (reincarnated Lamas in the Kagyu school The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Taktser Rinpoche is a Tibetan Lama. Thupten Jigme Norbu, the brother of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is recognized Lithang Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche ( (born 1950 in Lithang Thil, Tibet) is a Buddhist leader from eastern Tibet. Thrangu Rinpoche ( /'tʰrangu 'rinpotʃe/ was born in 1933 in Kham, Tibet. Thubten Yeshe (1935–1984 was a Tibetan Lama who while exiled in Nepal, co-founded Kopan Monastery (1969 and the Foundation for the Preservation The Ninth Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche is the current incarnation of the Traleg tulku line a line of high lamas in the Kagyu lineage of Vajrayana The Trungpa Tülkus are a line of incarnate Tibetan Lamas who traditionally head Surmang monastery (complex in Kham (Eastern Tibet The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche ( 1965 - is a Tulku, a re-incarnated Lama of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche ( 1920 - February 13, 1996) ( A contemporary Buddhist master of the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages who lived Yongey (pronounced Yon-gay Mingyur Rinpoche is a highly venerated teacher and master of the Karma Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism Kumari, or Kumari Devi, is a living Goddess in Nepal. Kumari literally means virgin in Nepali and was the name Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Rebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the consciousness of a person (as conventionally regarded upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates ( Skandhas According to State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No 5 of the State Administration for Religious Affairs of the People's Republic of China, a Reincarnation Application Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation Magic and Mystery in Tibet. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. , 1971 (ISBN 0-486-22682-4)
  2. ^ Buddhist Congregation Dharmaling - Recognition documents
  3. ^ Statement by H.H. Penor Rinpoche Regarding the Recognition of Steven Seagal as a Reincarnation of the Treasure Revealer Chungdrag Dorje of Palyul Monastery

References

Other Sources:

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