Authors: Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, Kon-Sprul
ISBN-13: 9781559390835, ISBN-10: 1559390832
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Snow Lion Publications, Incorporated
Date Published: August 1997
Edition: New Edition
Facinationg look at the process of identifying and re-establishing reincarnated spritiual masters.
The doctrine of reincarnation is central to Tibetan Buddhism, for it is through reincarnation that its inspired masters are believed to transmit their spiritual authority from one generation to the next, from one body to the next. A sort of What You Always Wanted to Know About Reincarnation but Were Afraid to Ask, this book examines the death rites and explains how the reincarnated masters are recognized in their new forms. A rich historical perspective is provided in the discussion of one particularly celebrated casethe death of Kalu Rinpoche in 1989 and the recognition of the youthful reincarnated master who had been born to the wife of Lama Gyaltsen, Drolkar, 18 months after Rinpoche's death. This case is augmented by an interview with another incarnate spiritual master and leader of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism: Tai Situpa Rinpoche. Tai Situpa is well known in the West and is often called upon to find and recognize other reincarnated masters. These stories precede the central text of the book, which describes the enthronement ritual and procedures for the enthronement of a reincarnated master. The book also contains a glossary and informative footnotes. (Aug.)
Preface | 9 |
Acknowledgments | 13 |
INTRODUCTION | 15 |
A Historical Perspective | 16 |
Bodhisattvas: Spiritual Heroes and Heroines | 19 |
The Tulku System in Modern Tibetan Society | 26 |
Difficult Choices for Modern Tibetan Parents | 27 |
The Lack of Choices for Modern Tibetan Women | 29 |
Death and Rebirth among the Tibetans | 32 |
Kalu Rinpoché (1905-1989) | 32 |
The Last Days of Kalu Rinpoché's Life | 38 |
Kalu Rinpoché's Return | 46 |
The Young Reincarnate Master Meets the World | 49 |
The Tulku's Father Meets the Media | 54 |
PART ONE: THE RECOGNITION OF REINCARNATE MASTERS | |
AN INTERVIEW WITH TAI SITUPA | |
The Recognition of Reincarnate Masters | 61 |
An Interview with Tai Situpa | 65 |
PART TWO: THE ENTHRONEMENT OF A REINCARNATE MASTER | |
Introduction to the Text | 87 |
The Historical Context | 87 |
A Brief Overview of the Text | 93 |
THE CELEBRATION OF THE OPENING OF ONE HUNDRED DOORS TO GREAT | |
WONDER by Jamgon Kongtrul LodröTayé | 97 |
Chapter One: The Five Magnificent Aspects of Our | |
Spiritual Master's Manifestation in the World | 101 |
Tai Situpa's Magnificent Teacher: Karmapa | 102 |
Tai Situpa's Magnificent Residence: Palpung Monastery | 105 |
The Magnificent Time: The Occasion of the Investiture | |
of Tai Situpa | 107 |
The Magnificent Entourage Surrounding Tai Situpa | 108 |
The Magnificent Spiritual Instructions | 112 |
Chapter Two: Tai Situpa's Special Qualities | 117 |
Chapter Three: A Step-by-Step Description of Enthronement | |
and the Presentation of Offerings | 129 |
The Acts Which Cultivate Merit and Wisdom | 129 |
The Investiture of Authority | 131 |
The Preparation | 131 |
The Main Ceremony of Investiture | 132 |
The Conclusion of the Investiture | 135 |
The Offering of the Universe in the Form of a Mandala | 137 |
The Mandala: The Main Form of Offering | 137 |
The Essence of the Offering | 138 |
The Literal Meaning of the Sanskrit Word Mandala | 139 |
The Styles in Which Mandalas Are Offered | 139 |
The Reasons for Offering a Mandala | 141 |
Directions for Making the Offering | 141 |
The Visualization That Accompanies the Offering | 142 |
The Wishes That Should Accompany the Offering | 148 |
Dedication and Colophon | 153 |
Appendix: On Spiritual Kings and Crowns | 155 |
The Red Crown of the Tai Situpas | 157 |
The Tenth Tai Situpa, Péma Kunzang | 163 |
The Incarnations of Karmapa and Tai Situpa | 166 |
Notes | 167 |
Names Mentioned in the Text | 177 |
Texts Cited | 187 |