Banning of Tulkus in History

[Admin]

From http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/banning-of-tulkus-in-history/

Banning of Tulkus in History


16th Century devotional statue of the Shamarpa Tulku


The CTA (Central Tibetan Administration) and its predecessor, the Tibetan government had long been well known for their hard-line policies against Tulkus and their spiritual institutions. If one were to take a long hard look at the history books, one would find a number of high-profile cases where great Lamas were marginalized, their great residences seized, students dispersed and their line of incarnations completely wiped out from historical records.


A recent picture of the current incarnation – the 14th Shamarpa Mipham Chokyi Lodro


The Shamar Rinpoches are one of the highest-ranking Tulkus in the Karma Kagyu School. During the lifetime of the 10th Shamarpa, he was the brother of the 3rd Panchen Lama Palden Yeshe, the second highest Lama in Tibet. Unfortunately, the 10th Shamarpa developed a very poor relationship with the Tibetan government at Lhasa due to a series of ensuing events. After the Panchen Lama entered clear light, a conflict broke out over the handling of the inheritance. Shamarpa received none of the inheritance due to the fact that he was a Kagyu Lama and being a Lama, he has his own estate and inheritance.

However, tensions grew from that day on, which led to the Shamarpa travelling to Nepal on a teaching trip. Shortly thereafter, a letter from the Gurkha king was sent to the Eighth Dalai Lama, claiming that the Shamarpa was held hostage and sought ransom. The government deliberated and felt it was a hoax and refused to pay the ransom. Subsequently, the Gurkha army invaded Tibet and nearly captured Lhasa the capital. In the midst of chaos, the Eighth Dalai Lama stood his ground to remain in Lhasa thus inspiring his people to rally an army to defend Lhasa. After a fierce battle, the Gurkha army was pushed back and peace talks ensued.

As a result of the talks, the blame was placed squarely on the Shamarpa’s shoulders and he was tried for treason. The Tibetan government seized the Shamarpa’s estate and his line of incarnation was banned. They seized his red ceremonial hat and sent it to Lhasa where rumors circulated that it was buried under the front steps of the Jokhang Cathedral so pilgrims would have to step over his hat to make their devotional rounds – the desecration of the main symbol of Shamarpa’s spiritual authority. His incarnation would not be reinstated until the 20th Century.


An intense devotional portrait of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen


The Shamarpa is not the only Lama who had received such treatment. During the time of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, the fame of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen exceeded that of the Dalai Lama. Both Lamas were great disciples of the great Panchen Lama Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen. It would seem that the Dalai Lama wouldn’t be able to ascend to his position of authority unless Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was eliminated. Therefore, tensions arose between the disciples of the Dalai Lama and that of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen.

The worst happened, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was mysteriously murdered and rumors persisted that the murder was attributed to the followers of the Dalai Lama. However, the Dalai Lama knew nothing of the plot and was greatly saddened by the sudden demise of this great Lama. Subsequently, the Tibetan government seized the deceased Lama’s estate and his incarnation name was downgraded in historical records and the search for his incarnation was mysteriously banned.


Panchen Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen (as depicted in this thangka) was the tutor to the Great Fifth Dalai Lama and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen


Finally, another Tulku that received a similar fate was Reting Rinpoche, the Regent of Tibet who came to power after the death of the Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama. Reting Rinpoche formed the search party responsible for the discovery of the boy who would be enthroned as the 14th Dalai Lama. Reting Rinpoche discovered his candidate in Taktser and the divination of the Panchen Lama supported his claim. For the right candidate to be enthroned, Reting Rinpoche had to come down hard on Langdun, the chief minister at that time and other corrupt officials that had their own rival candidate to the golden throne of the Dalai Lama. This angered the powerful Lhasa aristocracy that supported the chief minister with his candidate.

However, Reting Rinpoche managed to push for the enthronement of the boy from Taktser as the 14th Dalai Lama. Then, Reting Rinpoche decided to enter into retreat while Taktra Rinpoche was enthroned as the next Regent. But his time in seclusion would be short-lived as the Nechung oracle suddenly announced that the Dalai Lama was in imminent danger during a New Year’s celebration. Reting Rinpoche broke his retreat and traveled to Lhasa only to find that the Lhasa aristocracy had grown in strength.

During that time, the father of the Dalai Lama had become highly influential in Lhasa. Therefore, he was the first target and was poisoned to death. Then, there was a foiled assassination attempt on Taktra Rinpoche and somehow, Reting Rinpoche was implicated and was promptly arrested. He died in prison from horrendous torture that was inflicted upon him. Thereafter, he was typecasted as a villain and his estate seized and his subsequent incarnations were outlawed. All future incarnations of Reting Rinpoche are banned from being recognized just like in the case of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen and the previous Shamarpa.


The official portrait of the Regent of Tibet, Reting Rinpoche


These are some examples of how the Tibetan government had treated some of these ill-fated Tulkus of the past. For political reasons, even High Lamas are not immune to inconsistent policies of the Tibetan government and they can be stripped of their estate, banned and stories of lies and maliciousness concocted in order to justify the bans they had placed upon these High Lamas. These stories may or may not have been investigated depending on the political agenda of a partisan and biased government. Therefore, the validity of such bans and policies that had been issued are questionable and often shrouded in intrigue.

Reference
Mullin, Glenn H. (2001). The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation. Clear Light Publishers. Santa Fe, NM

For the full life story of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, watch these Youtube videos:-

The Illustrated Story of Dorje Shugden - Part 1/2 (HD)

The Illustrated Story of Dorje Shugden - Part 2/2 (HD)

[Ensapa]

There are 2 other tulkus that you have left out, if I may point out. Taranatha is the founder of the Jonang School and not only was his incarnation banned in Tibet, the Jonang school which he founded was also banned but they went underground and survived. The current Dalai Lama's Kalachakra cycle of teachings comes directly from the Jonang School. Historical records of Tibet says that the school was closed down and deemed heretical, misleading and dangerous because of their view of emptiness known as shentong is opposite of what is taught by the Gelug school. However, the current Dalai Lama NOW admits that it was closed purely for political reasons. Taranatha subsequently reincarnated in Mongolia, where he is known as the line of the Jetsun Khalkas, and is to Mongolia what the Dalai Lama is to Tibet.

The other high lama whose incarnations was banned is Chankya Rolpa Dorje. He is the Lama to the emperor of China, Qianlong. There were no reasons given for the banning of his reincarnation, other than him being more popular and more wealthy than the government at that time. His reincarnation also reappeared in Mongolia and he is known as the line of Chankya hutukus there.

[dsiluvu]

Say what??? I cannot believe what I am reading! This is so ridiculous... how can lay people go around stealing high Lama's belongings and rewrite history and ban incarnations? Whoever heard of that? How can you ban incarnations??? That is saying to the Buddhas you cannot manifest anymore because I ban you? Is there such a thing?

The more we dig deep in to the Tibetan government... the more and more we will discover the that there is heaps of skeletons in the closet! And all this is simply due to the corrupt aristocrats who is like any other corrupt government in this world where by their goals are tainted by money and power. It is more disgusting hearing it come from the Tibetan Govt because the world grew to love and appreciate Tibet because of the Dharma, because the Dalai Lama taught compassion and because the picture we received from His Holiness was that Tibetans are spiritual, kind loving people... but oh we are so so wrong. And this perfect picture of sweet Tibet is slowly crumbling down as we discover the truth behind all those lies.

Perhaps it is high time someone EXPOSE them to the world!!! What kind of govt is this any way... and any way it is not a legal Govt hence the name change to CTA. So by right they do not really hold any authorities that would be legal binding to Tibetans in exile. I mean no offense but if they can seize high Lama's estate, property, wealth and ban their future incarnations, then who can trust them to lead Tibetans?
Tibetans are really free to choose to be under them or under a legal Govt such as India or China who will at least give you a place in their society without discrimination. If I was a Tibetan, I would not want to live and follow the CTA that's for sure.

It's terribly sad because everything we thought we knew about Tibetans are basically just a huge fraud where even the Buddhas are being exploited to suit their own means and goals. So why should the world support such a polluted, corrupted unstable fickle minded non-governmental representative of the Tibetans who is obviously not even Buddhist come to think of it, cos they don't even follow the teachings or respect Lamas!

[Ensapa]

Say what??? I cannot believe what I am reading! This is so ridiculous... how can lay people go around stealing high Lama's belongings and rewrite history and ban incarnations? Whoever heard of that? How can you ban incarnations??? That is saying to the Buddhas you cannot manifest anymore because I ban you? Is there such a thing?

The more we dig deep in to the Tibetan government... the more and more we will discover the that there is heaps of skeletons in the closet! And all this is simply due to the corrupt aristocrats who is like any other corrupt government in this world where by their goals are tainted by money and power. It is more disgusting hearing it come from the Tibetan Govt because the world grew to love and appreciate Tibet because of the Dharma, because the Dalai Lama taught compassion and because the picture we received from His Holiness was that Tibetans are spiritual, kind loving people... but oh we are so so wrong. And this perfect picture of sweet Tibet is slowly crumbling down as we discover the truth behind all those lies.

Perhaps it is high time someone EXPOSE them to the world!!! What kind of govt is this any way... and any way it is not a legal Govt hence the name change to CTA. So by right they do not really hold any authorities that would be legal binding to Tibetans in exile. I mean no offense but if they can seize high Lama's estate, property, wealth and ban their future incarnations, then who can trust them to lead Tibetans?
Tibetans are really free to choose to be under them or under a legal Govt such as India or China who will at least give you a place in their society without discrimination. If I was a Tibetan, I would not want to live and follow the CTA that's for sure.

It's terribly sad because everything we thought we knew about Tibetans are basically just a huge fraud where even the Buddhas are being exploited to suit their own means and goals. So why should the world support such a polluted, corrupted unstable fickle minded non-governmental representative of the Tibetans who is obviously not even Buddhist come to think of it, cos they don't even follow the teachings or respect Lamas!

From 350 years ago until now, unfortunately nothing has changed, in reality. Perhaps the chubas have been replaced with suits and the braided hair with slick, well combed hair, but the heart of it all has not changed. Every single Kalon Tripa who replaced Sangye Gyatso was just as bad as him and nothing much has changed unfortunately. It was scheme after scheme and everyone of them focused only on their own benefits and only for their own purposes and only their own benefits. Why else would people in ancient Tibet be living in conditions that are considered horrifying now?

[WisdomBeing]

I have always been puzzled by the banning of Changkya Rolpe Dorje. From the post below, I understand he is a previous incarnation of Pabongkha Rinpoche.
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/recent-masters/my-guru-kind-in-three-ways-who-met-face-to-face-with-heruka-whose-name-i-find-difficult-to-utter-the-great-lama-je-pabongka-according-to-his-disciples-and-others/

This just shows that you cannot keep the incarnation of a highly attained being hidden just by ‘banning’ the incarnation. After all, how can one ban a ‘buddha’? Only if you don't believe that Buddhas can reincarnate. Changkya Rolpe Dorje’s incarnation as Pabongkha Rinpoche is a perfect example that their attainments will shine through from life to life, whatever name they may assume.

Incidently, since Changkya Rolpe Dorje is ‘banned’, I do wonder why this FPMT centre’s website has this poem by Changkya Rolpe Dorje and described as “someone with deep admiration in the great Middle Way” http://www.fpmtabc.org/download/teaching/geshe-chonyi/special-insight/Recognizing_the_mother.pdf

[Ensapa]

What is even more interesting is that while only the Sharmapa was unbanned and pardoned, none of the other tulkus were pardoned or unbanned by CTA. The banned Tulkus, however, came back in many other forms and emanations that were way beyond the reach of the Tibetan government. This goes to show that the tibetan government have failed again and again to bring benefit to Buddhism and have time and time again betrayed the Dharma and their own Gurus in the name of fame and fortune. What or who can withstand this sad and sorry sight? By the way, it is said that the banning of Reting Rinpoche and the sacking of his ladrang generated so much negative karma that Tibet was lost to China.

[beggar]

The very concept of banning a tulku is contradictory. If a being is of a level high enough to be recognised as a Tulku / Rinpoche, wouldn't it therefore be understood that he would have some level of attainment already and have a mind that can control his death and rebirth? Further, Tulkus are not just arbitrarily recognized. They are recognized, 'approved' of and enthroned by highly respected and attained masters and, in almost all cases, also by the Dharma protectors. In the cases of such tulkus it is thus also understood that should a being take rebirth in this way and are rightfully recognized, they are manifesting in this form and incarnation specifically to be of benefit to others; it is not for samsaric means or motivations.

So while on the one hand there is this highly respected system of recognizing tulkus, the Tibetans undermine their own sacred and established traditions by trying to ban the very 'products' that come out of this system. It is therefore saying that this whole process of recognizing tulkus is flawed and mistaken. It is saying that they just don't trust their own lamas and protectors enough to recognize a true and beneficial being, but that they would simply recognize a harmful being as a Rinpoche and/or Tulku. It is also saying that tulkus - and all the lamas that recognize them - cannot be truly trusted, that they are not really attained and that they would have corrupted motivations.

Contradiction? I think so. Also, yet another example of just how the Tibetans shoot themselves in their own foot and go against the very institutions they are trying to establish as credible.

[DharmaDefender]

Incredible how hypocritical the Tibetan government is, when you examine their actions. To the world, the Tibetan government appears spiritual and all Shangri-la-like. But when you dig a little deeper, a lot of shit comes out of the wood works. I call to your attention two particular incidents:

(1) NECHUNG

If you read Oracles and Demons, the number of times they swapped and got rid of the Nechung Oracle was ridiculous. After Sakya phel passed away, Gobo Choje was installed, then removed then installed again after Gyaltsan Thayin refused to resume his role as an oracle. Sure you might argue that it is because the oracle made so many mistakes in his prophecies...but is that how you treat an oracle monk? When he gives you answers you dont want to hear? Or when they come out wrong? Wouldnt it make more sense NOT to rely on Nechung, who is unreliable so you wouldnt have to install, remove then reinstall people?

(2) PANCHEN LAMA

The Tibetan government said that the Chinese-approved Panchen Lama is not the right candidate, and that their methods of recognising the right candidate (the golden urn) are reliant on superstition. But lets throw that back to the Tibetan government...they are approving of a Chinese-recognised Karmapa. So why is it okay to support a Chinese-recognised Karmapa, and NOT okay to support a Chinese-recognised Panchen Lama?

Given how fickle the Tibetan government has traditionally been throughout history, its no surprise to hear that they have been banning tulkus and their reincarnations as and when it suits them. Why should it surprise people? The Tibetan government have never acted in the best interests of their people, and Dorje Shugden is just another example of that.

[Ensapa]

I still think it is very strange that the Dalai Lama has only 'unbanned' Sharmapa and the Jonang school but not the rest of the banned tulkus. Or maybe perhaps the CTA chose not to remind the Dalai Lama? I heard that the Sharmapa was only unbanned after the 16th Karmapa approached the Dalai Lama and requested him to unban the Sharmapa. You see, when they were all back in Tibet, Gelug was the dominant tradition and the other 3 traditions were at the mercy of the Gelugs, which is why the ban on the Sharmapa stayed so long and was 'valid' for so long. But in reality, its not the fault of the Gelug tradition but the government of that time who choose to surpress the rival traditions. The CTA/Dalai Lama should unban all of these lamas as they need all the help they can get Tibet back...but oh well. They seem to be destroying their own religion with all these bannings...especially on Dorje Shugden.

[lotus1]

The more I know about Tibetan Buddhism that emphasis on Guru devotions and lineage, the more I find all these ironic and ridiculous. All tulkus and Rinpoches are recognized through a series of test and by highly attained masters and lamas. How can we just simply banning a tulku??!!

Furthermore, causing the disharmony and schism in the Sangha members ia one of the five non-virtues actions that will cause heavy negative karma. The CTA should really wake up and change for better and not just looking into political and material gains. Respect to all the tulkus and lift the ban for Dorje Shugden!

[Tenzin Malgyur]

This is so disturbing to know that ministers and governments are having a say in important religious decisions. What more, the CTA who does not even have its own country. They are now making decisions and declaring bans on religious matters that was done by very highly attained lamas. Are these people also Buddhists? What happened to their respect for their lamas? Indeed, politics and religion should not be combined.

[Zach]

Its very sad how Worldly concerns poison everything. 

[Ensapa]

You know, times have changed since many of the bannings of those tulkus. Not only that, the jonang school and the sharmapa has also been unbanned as well. Would it behoove the CTA now to unban the rest of the Lamas that was banned? Simply because times have changed and HHDL would want that as there is never enough Dharma teachers around to teach the world and benefit sentient beings. By overstepping their boundaries and playing around with the spiritual affairs of the nation, the tibetan government draws heavy negative karma that would result in many more unfortunate results for them in the future. Wouldnt it be a better thing to do to unban all the said Lamas now rather than waiting for too long? I believe the sikyong can choose to unban  these tulkus for the sake of preserving Tibetan culture but i dont think he would. because he is too scared to step out of the Dalai Lama's shadow.

[thor]

Those of you who said that the Tibetan government have not withdrawn the ban on most of he tulkus are wrong. For example, the lineage of Changkya Rolpai Dorje is alive and well, AND recognised by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government, The difference is that he was not allowed to resume the Changkya title, and was renamed Pabongka, after the village of Pabong.

The point here is that the government will allow true lineage to be affected by the whims of politics. And pabongka Rinpoche's situation is just an example of how far the CTA will go to ensure their goals are met. Nevermind that Tibetan Buddhism was probably one of the most valuable assets and "exports" the Tibetans have on their side... nothing is sacred.

This reminds me of the banning of reincarnation by the Chinese government in 2011The policy is is sheer idiocy.... but is it really any different than what the Tibetans have done to the lineages that fall out of favour? While we are busy protesting the Chinese, have a think...

[Barzin]

This is exactly what we had read in Wheel of Sharp Weapons, the karma returns full force upon the Tibetan government.  This raise my suspicious of they have been trying to tap into the power of the high lamas to do things for their favour.  They intention is rather suspicious if not why would they want to destroy the dharma in fact they should know better than anyone else.  I am guessing that because what they are doing is against the law of dharma hence they will destroy those who don't compromise.  A power game after all.  But too bad they never learn that these lamas are real, spiritualism does exist and karma does come back.

Now it's time to tell the truth.