mid-term paper

Unique history of Tibet, a country that was undertaken by one of the greatest country of contemporary world, as well as enigmatic story of its leader, make Dalai Lama a well know and respected person. The stories of his Holiness, and of his beloved country, are well explored. Since 15th century, Dalai Lama chooses to reincarnate to help people of Tibet in their journey through life. After his Holiness passes away, the careful measures are taken to find his reincarnation that will continue his life mission.
Originated in India, Buddhism quickly spread outside it boundaries to neighboring countries. In Tibet and some regions of the Himalayas, influenced by the area's culture and tradition, it took a form of Tibetan Buddhism, which consists of the teachings of the Foundational Vehicle, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Sharing its fundamentals with other form of Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism praises believe of the circle of life and reincarnation. According, to its doctrine one's soul (atman) transmigrates from rebirth to rebirth until one reaches nirvana "or, as Tibetans call it, "a state beyond sorrow" (Bell p.33). Thereby, the one approaches Buddahood and can be called a Buddha, which signifies the end of his/her journey on earth.
At times," those who actively practice Buddha's teachings aim to become bodhisattvas, the enlighten beings who choose to reincarnate. In reincarnation, one's deepest level of consciousness moves on to inherit new body after death. Bodhisattvas reincarnate lifetime after lifetime to help all other beings out of samsara (physical world)" (Stewart p.11). In Tibetan traditions, lamas, or the monastic teachers, often choose to reincarnate, and become highly respected "tulku". Dalai Lamas are the tulku, and are "revered as bodhisattva[s] of unconditional compassion” (Stewart p.11).
According to Tibetan beliefs, Dalai Lamas are emanations of Chenrezig, the Lord of Mercy and Compassion and the patron Bodhisattva of Tibet. Chenrezig took a vow that he will return to earth until he liberates all of the suffering souls. (Craig, p.3) Dalai Lamas live their lives to fulfill this vow.
After each Dalai Lamas’ death, an expedition to find his successor is formed. “Generally, there is a gap of between nine months and two years between the passing of Dalai Lama and his reincarnation” (Chhaya, p.57). The council of monks, which includes Panchen Lama (head the influential Tashilhunpo Monastery) and fifteen/ twenty other leading lamas, is responsible for finding his Holiness reincarnation. (Bell p.44) The search begins within the year of the former leader's death (Craig, p.11, 1997). Until the new Dalai Lama is found, the regent becomes a temporary leader of the country. Dalai Lama appoints the regent before he passes away.
Former Dalai Lama, usually, "leaves" clues that help to find him after being reborn. After his death, the 13th Dalai Lama was placed in his grave in lotus position with his face toward south. The next morning, he was facing east, which indicated the importance of eastern part of Tibet (Stewart p.11).
Furthermore, the history of 14th Dalai Lama says that appointed regent, Reting, "made a pilgrimage to the sacred lake of Lhamoi Lhatso [...] For its guardian spirit was the goddess Palden Lhamo, who had promised the first Dalai Lama in the vision that she would watch over his successors" (Craig p.13). It is said that "Dalai Lama's soul resides beneath the waters of this secluded lake." (Bell p.44) After few days of prayers and meditation, Reting had a vision. "He saw three Tibetans letters: Ah, Ka, Ma. Then he had a vision of monastery with turquoise and golden roof. Finally he saw a small house with strange gutters that stood behind an old poplar tree"(Stewart p.34).
In addition, the oracles take part in finding the new Dalai Lama. The oracles are very influential in Tibet because of their ability to foretell future. Two chiefs, one from Nechung and other from Samye monastery, are responsible for that matter. "Nechung gave out the names of young boy's father and mother, and whereabouts of their house." Samye, when predicting the place of birth of 13th Dalai Lama,” made known that the mountain near the house was shaped like an elephant." (Bell p.44)
When the above clues lead to a finding of possible candidates, the little boys are examine for the body marks. Because of believe that Dalai Lama is Incarnation of Chenrezing, who has had four arms; a reincarnated leader is examine for marks near a shoulder blades. "Two other signals [... are] namely large ears, and imprint like that of conch shell on one of the palms of his hands." (Bell p.46)
Next, one more test, maybe of the greatest value, takes place. "The young boy must also identify property, especially the sacred possessions, of his predecessor, or rather of himself in his previous life." (Bell p.46) The articles include: hand bell, small drum (articles of worship), rosary, dorje shaped like a small dumbbell (symbol of power indestructible), drinking cup, handkerchief, and other common items used frequently. "Two of those two religious implements or other articles are placed side by side, one being that used by his predecessor, and the other an exact copy of it." (Bell p.44)
When 13th Dalai Lama passed away, “the oracle gave instructions to send three search teams, to Dokpo, in the southeast, Kham in the east, and Amdo in the northeast.” The first day of journey was determent by astrological calculations. It was time of a strong winter storm but on the first day of the search, sun broke through and begun melting the heavy snow. Few days into the journey, the search party “received the word that the Panchen Lama, who second only to Dalai Lama, had identify three possible child claimants as the reincarnations.” One of them had died, one failed to recognize Dalai Lama’s rosary, leaving only one possible candidate. “It is not quite sure how Panchen Lama went about identifying possible reincarnates. Tibetan reference materials and expert say the process works based on combination of intuition and word of mouth in a small society where there are hardly any secrets.”
In Kumbum monastery, two men from Lhasa saw three-story tall “temple with greenish blue tiles. They also saw a pathway curving around the hill and ending near a blue single story house with a gutter.” After further investigation, it was discovered that while returning from his trip from China, the 13th Dalai Lama, had stopped near a place where his reincarnation was born. Lhamo’s (14th Dalai Lama was named Lhamo Dhondup when he was recognized as reincarnation of 13th Dalai Lama) memory of the day when the search party first came to his house is that he “recognized many of them although he never met them.” He, also, recognized his rosary on abbot’s neck, and both Kyitsang Rinpoche (an abbot) as a lama from Sera monastery, and Tsedrun Lobsong (one of the party member). The search party was instructed to test the boy further by asking him to recognize some of the belongings of 13th Dalai Lama. He was presented with a set of two items that look alike, and supposed to recognize all that belong to 13th Dalai Lama. Items included two black, and two yellow rosaries, two sticks with iron and bronze handles, ivory drums, one ornate, one simple. He, easily, chose all the correct positions. "It was as if I was looking at things that I was accustomed to,” Dalai Lama said. Additionally, the search team solved the meaning of the letters A, Ka, and Ma as Amado, Kumbum, and hermitage of Karma Shar-ston. (Chhaya p.59-60)
The history of Dalai Lama’s lives is rich but esoteric. His journey on earth begun in early 15th century with The First Dalai Lama, Gedun Drupa. In 1578, when third Lama, Sonam Gyatso, was invited to Mongolia by Altan Khan, he was so impressed by lama’s wisdom he named him "Dalai Lama", the "Ocean of Wisdom" (Stewart p.27). From that time on, the great name was carried on by next reincarnations of Gendun Drupta. Since the 17th century, starting with 5th Dalai Lama- Lobsang Gyatso, all of Dalai Lamas have been considered the spiritual and political leader of Tibet, as well as the head of the Dge-Lugs-Pa (Yellow Hat) order of Tibetan Buddhists.
When Rajiv Mehrotra asked 14th Dalai Lama about him as a reincarnation of previous Dalai Lamas, he answered: “there are different types of reincarnation. In some cases, it’s the same person or same being. In other cases, it’s not the same being, but someone else who has come in his or her place. In some, the reincarnation has come as a relative. If you ask me whether I am the reincarnation of Dalai Lama, my answer is yes but not necessarily in the sense that I came in the tenth Dalai Lama’s place to fulfill his work. […] I don’t believe that I am necessarily the same being [as 13th Dalai Lama]. I feel, however, that I have a very strong karmic link with him.” (Mehrotra, p.80-81)





CITATION

Bell Charles. “Portrait of a Dalai Lama: The Life and Times of the Great Thirteenth.”

Wisdom Publications, 1987

Chhaya Mayank. “Dalai Lama: Man, Monk, Mystic.” Doubleday NY 1st ed. 2007

Craig Mary. “Kundun.” HarperCollins Publisher, 1997

Mehrotra Rajiv. “All You Ever Want to Know form His Holiness The Dalai Lama, On

Happiness, Life, Living, and Much More. Conversation with Rajiv Mehrotra.”

Hay House. 2008

Steward Whitney. “The 14th Dalai Lama.” Lerner Publication Company, 1996