Tulku

In the Buddhism Tibetan, one calls tulku or toulkou a religious personality (LAMA in general) which, by compassion of Bodhisattva, made the decision to reappear continuously to continue to guide those which take the route of Buddhism. This tradition began at the 12th century in the branch karmakagyu from the line Kagyupa with the patriarch (Karmapa) Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193). The Dalai Lama are tulkus line Gelugpa.

The term tulku , still transcribed tülku or trulku , is the translation in Tibetan Sanscrit Nirmanakaya and is written སྥྲུལ ་ སྐུ ་. The Mongolian term is khutughtu or hutagt ; it is in general translated into Chinese by huófó (活佛) “Buddha living” or hùashēn (化身) “reincarnation”; língtóng (靈童) “mystical child” is employed for the young people tulkus.

Development of the institution

Appeared to XIIe century, the line of the tulku extended during the two following centuries at the various schools from the Bouddhisme Tibetan. On the spiritual level, these large Masters being on the way of the Bodhisattva S, one says that they can control their rebirth by the force of their wisdom and compassion. They choose to reappear for the good of all the beings.

Karma Pakshi (1204 - 1283) of the line of the Karmapa S of the school Kagyupa was the first recognized like reincarnation of Düsum Khyenpa. Currently, there exist two candidates for the 17th reincarnation of the Karmapa: Orgyen Trinley Dorje and Trinley Thaye Dorje (See also Controversy Karmapa.

In the school Gelugpa, there are several lines of reincarnations, of which that of the Dalaï Lama. 1st of its line is Gedun Drub (1391-1474). Its 3rd reincarnation, Sonam Gyatso, was the first to receive the title of Dalai Lama of the Mongolian Emperor Altan Khan, which he asked a posteriori for his two predecessors. Current Dalaï Lama, Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th reincarnation of Gedun Drub. At the 17th century, Lobsang Gyatso (1617 - 1682), the 5th Dalaï Lama, “the Great Fifth” was famous for its political direction. It could preserve the independence of Tibet against the pressures of the Chinese and Mongolian capacities. In 1640, the Mongolian Emperor Güshi Khan invades the Tibet and places the 5th Dalaï Lama as temporal chief of Tibet in 1642. Until 1959, the load of the spiritual powers and temporal of Tibet was assumed by the Dalaï Lama S. Lobsang Gyatso is also famous to have establishes the capital Tibetan with Lhassa and makes build the Palate of the Potala and have initiated the line of reincarnation of the Panchen LAMA. Currently, there exists also a controversy concerning the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen LAMA. Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, born the April 25th 1989, is, according to the Gouvernement Tibetan in exile, the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen LAMA. It was named by the 14th Dalaï LAMA, Tenzin Gyatso, on May 14th 1995. Three day later it disappeared, removed and retained captive by the Chinese government. It re-examined forever since. The November 29th 1995, referring to the dynasty Manchu of the Qing S, the Chinese authorities set up a drawing lot at the monastery of Jokhang at Lhassa to designate their candidate Gyancain Norbu who will be named Erdini Qoigyijabu . The goal of the Chinese authorities would be to control the nomination of next the Dalaï Lama.

A line of tulkus can also die out or be put in sleep. Thus in 1792, the line of the Shamar Rinpoché, one of the regents of the Karmapa, then in its 10th incarnation, was banishes Tibet by the government Tibetan for political reasons. Reincarnations of Shamar Rinpoché nevertheless would have been identified, and the 14th Shamar Rinpoché, Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche (born in 1952), was officially recognized by the 16th Karmapa with the agreement of the Dalaï Lama and the government Tibetan in exile.

Characteristics of the tulkus

The estimates concerning the number of tulkus vary between a half-thousand (Francoise Pommaret) and a thousand (Pamela Logan). They are mainly distributed with the Tibet, with the Bhutan, in the North of the India, with the Nepal, in Mongolia, like in the south-west of the China; one finds among them some rare women. They can have many disciples and in general assume the responsibility for one or more monasteries with their assistants.

The tulku can leave before its death of the indications oral or written concerning the circumstances of its next rebirth. One can also call upon astrology, with prophecies or intuitions of spangled devoted. It in general runs out two or three years before the tulku is not identified, because it must make a success of various tests of recognition of people or objects which it met in its preceding life. The tulkus of certain lines can be recognized mutually, like the Panchen LAMA and the Dalaï Lama.

The young person tulku is raised by his parents during the five or the first six years of his life. If it is about a large Master, he is established in a monastery as a holder of the line. Some tulkus are recognized only at the adulthood. Generally, the tulku completes its studies, pronounces its wishes of complete monk, whom it can also return, which was the case of the 6th Dalaï Lama. In certain schools, like those of the Nyingma, the chiefs of line Sakya and some Kagyu, the LAMA can marry and to have children, which was in particular the case of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoché (1939 - 1987).

There can be errors, or hesitations. Thus, Dawa Norbu Rinpoche (born in 1950) of the line Nyingmapa, recognized first of all like tulku of Taksham, was then identified by the Karmapa like tulku of Pema Yeshe. He consequently took up this last duty and one left to research another tulku Taksham. The tulkus were traditionally Tibetans or sometimes Mongolian. Recently, one discovered some in other areas of the world, like the Spaniard Tenzin Ösel (born in 1985), reincarnation of Thubten Yeshe. One can still quote the American Steven Seagal, recognized at the adulthood by Penor Rinpoché of the line nyingmapa, or LAMA Shenphen Rinpoche recognized young but also at the adulthood. The first would be the reincarnation of Chungdrag Dorje (12th century), originating in Dege (Kham) and Tertön of the monastery of Palyul, the second that of LAMA Guendune Rabgye, LAMA of the monastery of Kharnang, Kham.

Principal lines

Dalai Lama, Panchen LAMA, Karmapa, Taï Sitou Rinpoché, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoché, Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoché, Shabdrung, Shamar Rinpoché

See too

Reincarnation
the tulkus Tibetans yesterday and today.
Anne Hubbell Maiden, Eddie Farwell art to be parents according to Buddhism Tibetan. Preconception with early childhood Guy Trédaniel, Paris, 1998 (contains passages on the education of the tulkus)

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