Expert: Bodhicitta - 4/23/2008

Question
  I am a professor of meteorology and geology at a local college in Maryland near Washington, D.C.  Perhaps you can help me identify someone I met in 1986 who was introduced to me by his traveling companion as the reincarnation of the person who brought Buddhism to Tibet.  I was on a train traveling from Delhi to Agra.  A man across the aisle from me introduced himself and, after some pleasantries, excitedly told me who his traveling companion was.   Unfortunately, I don’t remember his friend’s name nor did a take a photo, but the monk (I’m not sure that is the right title) and I had a delightful conversation for the next hour or two.
  I would love to find out what and how he is doing.  I can give some details of our conversation if you are interested, but for now, I will just offer information that might help you identify him.  I would guess that he was about 25 years old and was wearing clothes that were typical Indian attire so that he would not be recognized.  He had spent almost his entire life in Dharamsala studying.  He was extremely well educated in certain areas, but was traveling around to get a better idea of what the outside world was like.  
  I have every reason to believe that he was who he said he was.  
     Thank you for your help.
                                   Terry


Answer
Dear Terry,
Thank you for your question.

Something obviously struck you in this meeting if you are wanting
to follow it up. Am I right? Something a remarkable maybe you made a connection with an idea, or a thought, or a word or a person that
is significant for you?


I would be interested to know more of your remarkable conversation.
As well as
being interesting it might help identify who he was.

I can give you a little background information that might help you, but I can not able to definitively tell you who it was at this point based on the
limited information you have provided.But here is some speculation.

Firstly the historic person credited with establishing Buddhism in
Tibet in the 8th century is Guru Rinpoche sometimes called Padmasambhava. In fact
Buddhism was already there in some form. But the hagiography of
Padmasamhava tells of how he destroyed negative forces and demons
that were preventing Buddhism being properly established.

So that is the first piece of information.

Within Tibetan Buddhism there is a system in place whereby particular
Lamas are identified as being the reincarnation of some great figure
from the past. They are known as Tulku's . We are all in the West
familiar with the Dalai Lama system. But there are many of these
figures, some are minor and some are major. It would take a
long time to explain all the in's and out's of this system.
It must be said that the system is complex  because it is mixed
up with power, titles, and religious dimensions. The Tulkus
represent a spiritual elite who have position at the top
of the social and religious hierarchy. They are perhaps like
professors from Ivy league Universities. Anyways this will
just give you a flavor of what we are dealing with.One last
thing - there are a lot of them.

So the next thing to tell you is that for Tibetans who really
know the tradition of Padmasambhava there is something special
about him. He didn't die! He realised the great alchemical
siddhi, and the great transformation body. According to
the tradition he is still living in a hidden place on the world
- the copper coloured mountain. His emanations might appeal
to people who are part of his tradition. But he does not
reincarnate.


So there are two conclusions from the story you have told me.

One possibility is that there was a loose use of language
being used, or a poor use of English. There have been emanations
of him. Former disciples of him.etc

Second possibility is that he was indeed claimed as a reincarnation
of Padmasambhava - which is actually a doctrinal fallacy.

Looking around there has in recent times been an organization
claiming to have a Tulku who is a reincarnation of Padmasambhava.
Various informed discussion forums are full of derision at such a claim.

Here is a web link to some of these claims:
http://tibetanfoundation.org/biographies/lamaDorje.php

I think it has so to be said that the organization is somewhat
left of field.


There are a few thoughts for you. Please do come back with more
information and discussion if you wish.

I wish you well with your search

Bodhicitta