Another fantastic article to share with everyone on an explosive event! Thubten Jinpa, the Dalai Lamas personal translator, was seen prostrating to Zemey Rinpoches throne on a recent visit to Gaden.
Everyone knows that Zemey Rinpoche is the author of the infamous Yellow Book that anti-Shugdenites often misquote as evidence about Dorje Shugdens brutality. But do those same people know that the Dalai Lamas own translator is a student of Zemey Rinpoche? That if Thubten Jinpa, the Dalai Lamas translator, is prostrating to Zemey Rinpoches throne, perhaps restrictions are relaxing to the point Thubten Jinpa no longer has an overwhelming fear of being caught?
But does anyone really think that Thubten Jinpa could make it all the way to Zemey Rinpoches throne, and the Dalai Lama NOT find out about it? So why did Thubten Jinpa take the risk of being caught making the prostrations?
From:
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/thubten-jinpa-prostrates-to-his-gurus-throne/Thubten Jinpa Prostrates to his Guru's ThroneHis Holiness the Dalai Lama and Thupten Jinpa
By: Mar NeeAnyone who has followed the teachings and travels of H.H. the Dalai Lama in the last few decades would know of Thubten Jinpa, his trusted, devoted and learned translator who has earned much accolade and respect himself.
But behind the scenes of this beautiful, long friendship between the world’s most famous Tibetan Buddhist leader and his translator lies a much sadder tale of how Thubten Jinpa himself has long suffered a grave separation from his root Guru, H.E. Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche.
First, a short trip down history to understand how these three key figures of the Tibetan Buddhist world have become so intricately entwined within one of the biggest spiritual controversies of today.
Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche – the Dalai Lama’s confidanteH.E. Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche
The previous incarnation of H.E. Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche was so highly respected within the Tibetan Buddhist world, that he was considered equal to masters like H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. He was known for being one of the two heart disciples of H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche (the other being Zong Rinpoche), a very highly recognized tulku, an established scholar of the highest caliber within the Ganden tradition and a sought-after teacher. Throughout his life, Zemey Rinpoche had hundreds of students and gave teachings to Sangha from across all major Gelug monasteries; he was so renowned that monks of Drepung and Sera Monasteries would travel long distances across Tibet just to attend his teachings in Ganden Monastery.
Not only was Zemey Rinpoche highly respected within the monasteries, but he also enjoyed a very close relationship with the Dalai Lama, so much so that he was specially selected to be a part of the Dalai Lama’s entourage to travel to Beijing in the 1950s. This visit was at the invitation of the Chinese government, who wished to enter talks with the Tibetan government about Tibet joining China. Included within this entourage were the Dalai Lama’s tutors Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, the Panchen Lama, the Dalai Lama’s mother and of course, Zemey Rinpoche. We must note that this was at a time when there were over 400 tulkus and a population of over 1,500 monks in Ganden Shartse Monastery. For Zemey Rinpoche to have been specially chosen to escort and advice the Dalai Lama. The fact that Zemey Rinpoche was so deeply trusted to attend such a significant event is evidence that the spiritual leader himself held him in extremely high regard.
Zemey Rinpoche was also among the very tightly knit group that accompanied the Dalai Lama on his long and perilous escape out of Tibet into India in 1959. When they arrived in India and lived temporarily in Buxa with the rest of the Tibetan exiled community, Zemey Rinpoche continued to teach abundantly; so broad was his knowledge that he taught not only on Dharma but also the most fundamental and important aspects of grammar, Tibetan writing, reading and philosophy. Following this period in Buxa, Zemey Rinpoche then joined the courageous community of monks and high lamas who personally rebuilt Ganden Monastery with their own bare hands in South India. This monastery continues to stand strong today with over 3,000 monks.
The Yellow BookThe entourage that accompanied the Dalai Lama to Beijing. Zemey Rinpoche (in red) is standing in the third row from the front
As one of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s closest disciples, Zemey Rinpoche often received many direct and personal teachings from this incredible master, known for being one of the most significant lineage holders and teachers of the Gelug lineage. At one time, Trijang Rinpoche taught and explained how the protector Dorje Shugden had ‘killed’ some lamas who were potentially damaging the teachings of the Gelug lineage. A private manuscript of these teachings leaked out in the form of what has become known as the Yellow Book, which incited a tremendous amount of anger from various factions of the Tibetan Buddhist world.
While this book has been the single and most commonly quoted source to ‘prove’ the harmful, sectarian nature of Dorje Shugden, it is important to understand the gross misunderstanding that has arisen over the years from these private teachings. What Trijang Rinpoche had explained was not to be taken literally – about Dorje Shugden destroying lamas who took teachings from other sects. It was not meant to denigrate the teachings and practices of other traditions in any way. Rather, the teaching was about how Dorje Shugden was protecting the Gelug lineage from potentially being damaged by practitioners from within the Gelug school.
Sadly, however, Zemey Rinpoche never had the opportunity to convey the true meaning of the teachings and the manuscript that he had composed. After the Dalai Lama read the Yellow Book, he started talking against the practice of Dorje Shugden and gave up his own personal practice of this protector. It was around this time that he was supposed to receive the empowerment into Dorje Shugden’s practice (sogtae) but changed his mind at the last minute. Practitioners from other sects also began to react adversely. Some of the Nyingmas especially, became very upset with the Gelugpas. Incited by some of the high lamas of their sect, Nyingma practitioners began creating chakras and writing texts against Dorje Shugden; they also modified images of their Protector Dorje Drolo to be shown stamping upon Dorje Shugden which never existed before.
When the Dalai Lama enquired after the author of this book, he was told that it was Zemey Rinpoche. From that moment onwards, all contact with Zemey Rinpoche was completely severed. The Dalai Lama announced that he would never speak to Zemey Rinpoche again, questioning how he could write texts that were so sectarian and went against the Nyingma tradition. True to his word, the Dalai Lama never spoke to Zemey Rinpoche again; all of Zemey Rinpoche’s sincerest requests for audience were denied. From that time onwards, Ganden, Sera, Drepung and Tashi Lhunpo Monasteries, and the Tibetan government proclaimed Zemey Rinpoche to be a very bad lama and he was publicly ostracized and despised.
Zemey Rinpoche was thence prohibited from attending any teachings that the Dalai Lama gave at Ganden, Sera and Drepung Monasteries. As bodyguards stood outside the teaching hall to stop him from entering, Zemey Rinpoche would stand outside – come rain or shine – prostrating for the entire duration of the teaching as a request for forgiveness from the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama never acknowledged him.
In 1974, Zemey Rinpoche retired from public life and entered a period of semi-retreat in the Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe, Mysore, South India. Four years later, he re-entered public life and moved his permanent residence to Ganden Monastery in Mundgod. There, he taught extensively and also wrote prolifically. Rinpoche also travelled widely during this time, in response to requests for him to teach in the various Tibetan communities in India and Nepal.
Tragedy struck in 1984, when Rinpoche suffered a stroke while on tour in North India. Though unable to speak, Rinpoche supervised the compilation and editing of all six volumes of his collected works, while leading a retired life at his residence at Ganden Monastery. Zemey Rinpoche entered into clear light in 1996, amidst many auspicious signs.
True to all highly attained beings, Zemey Rinpoche has reincarnated back in Tibet, right next to his own monastery of his previous life – Yangding Monastery. High lamas throughout India, Nepal and Tibet have confirmed that this is the unmistaken incarnation of Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche.
Thubten Jinpa – A Very Special StudentThubten Jinpa, H.H. the Dalai Lama’s translator
Among the many, many students whom Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche had taught throughout his lifetime, there was one very special boy he took under his wing. A young monk by the name of Thubten Jinpa was studying in a monastery in Bylakuppe, South India, when Zemey Rinpoche visited this monastery. There, upon meeting Thubten Jinpa, Zemey Rinpoche recognized him as a special child and requested for the boy to come with him to Ganden to study. Thubten Jinpa agreed and moved into Zemey Ladrang in Ganden Monastery.
Thubten Jinpa continued to study in Ganden for many years, also receiving teachings from other esteemed masters there such as H.E. Lati Rinpoche and H.E. Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche. He taught himself English until he perfected the language, and successfully obtained a degree at Cambridge University. Eventually, he moved to Canada, returned his monk vows and became a personal translator to the Dalai Lama.
Thubten Jinpa is very often by the Dalai Lama’s side, translating for him during teachings, meetings and talks
The Dalai Lama studied under Ling Rinpoche (of Drepung Loseling Monastery) and Trijang Rinpoche (of Ganden Shartse Monastery); Thubten Jinpa studied under Zemey Rinpoche (a close student of Trijang Rinpoche and of the Ganden Shartse lineage). As such, they both share the same lineage, practices, teachings and monastic education system – mainly the texts of Panchen Sonam Drakpa which are studied by all monks of Ganden Shartse and Drepung Loseling Monasteries. Thubten Jinpa was an ideal translator for the Dalai Lama, as he understood the many intricacies of the Dalai Lama’s teachings and initiations. He went on to serve His Holiness for many years, both as an interpreter at live teachings as well as a translator of books.
Thubten Jinpa continues to enjoy a very close relationship with the Dalai Lama to this day. This means that he has also been close to and around the Dalai Lama throughout the time that the ban against Dorje Shugden was being implemented and spoken about frequently. He would most certainly have been near the Dalai Lama at the time that accusations were being leveled against Zemey Rinpoche – Thubten Jinpa’s own root Guru – for being sectarian and creating schism. He would have been around to hear the Dalai Lama speak strongly and incessantly about just how disappointed he was in Zemey Rinpoche, how heartbroken he was and how he would never speak to him again.
Zemey Ladrang in Ganden, south India
Imagine how painful and difficult it must have been for Thubten Jinpa to listen to the Dalai Lama – the supreme spiritual head of all Tibetan Buddhists – speaking about his own dearest root Guru in this way and to cut off all contact with him. It would naturally have followed that Thubten Jinpa himself – in serving the Dalai Lama – would have been forbidden to associate with or see his own teacher, Zemey Rinpoche. Suddenly, all contact would have been severed. This was the very same predicament that thousands of practitioners the world over would have found themselves in – having to choose one teacher over another, and/or never being able to see their teachers again within that lifetime, because to do so would be tantamount to treason against the Dalai Lama.
Interestingly enough, it was Zemey Rinpoche who had instructed Thubten Jinpa to serve the Dalai Lama, for all the years that Zemey Rinpoche was not allowed to see or contact the Dalai Lama. More surprisingly, the Dalai Lama accepted Thubten Jinpa as his translator, especially knowing that he was a close disciple of Zemey Rinpoche, the very lama that the Dalai Lama now shunned. This brings up a strange contradiction: Why would the Dalai Lama allow such a close associate of the ‘enemy’ to be within such close proximity to him, privy to so many of his most significant, intimate teachings and dealings?
In spite of all this, Thubten Jinpa continued to serve the Dalai Lama for many years as his faithful translator, even travelling great distances with His Holiness for many teachings and initiations. Throughout all these years, Thubten Jinpa never openly returned to Zemey Ladrang, the home and official seat of his root Guru. It was as if Zemey Rinpoche had never been a part of Ganden Monastery.
Ironic as it may seem, this loyalty to the Dalai Lama was a result of Thubten Jinpa’s unwavering, strong devotion to Zemey Rinpoche; he continued to serve the Dalai Lama precisely because
it was Zemey Rinpoche’s instruction to him. The obvious tragedy of this situation can only be seen as incredibly painful and unnecessary.
How Thubten Jinpa Never Forgot His GuruIn recent times, there was great news in December 2012 about the Dalai Lama travelling to Ganden Monastery to give teachings to the monastic community there. Thubten Jinpa also attended as a part of the Dalai Lama’s entourage.
However, this visit was marked by an event of great significance, making it a little different from previous visits. During these few days in Ganden, Thubten Jinpa was seen going to Zemey Ladrang and prostrating to his Guru, Zemey Rinpoche’s throne. Considering that it would have been seen as traitorous to associate in any way with Zemey Rinpoche, going to his ladrang and prostrating to his throne was a very bold and courageous statement to make.
This single act of prostrating to his Guru’s throne is not just about a few prostrations, but reveals many highly significant developments, particularly for the practice of Dorje Shugden:
(1) It shows that in spite of all the slanderous comments and accusations against his Guru all these decades, Thubten Jinpa still maintains strong faith in Zemey Rinpoche.
Unlike many who have cut off contact with their teachers, declaring that they are wrong and engaging in incorrect, harmful practices, Thubten Jinpa still believes in his teacher and has not wavered in his devotion. For him to prostrate to Zemey Rinpoche’s throne – a clear practice of humility and submission to the teacher – is to say that he still believes in his Guru. He effectively says that Zemey Rinpoche was never wrong in his practices and teachings.
(2) The act of prostrating implies that Thubten Jinpa
does not think that Zemey Rinpoche was wrong in his practice of Dorje Shugden.(3) Most of all, it shows that Thubten Jinpa is not afraid to show respect to his teacher. He is willing to brave the possible consequences of setting foot into a known Dorje Shugden lama’s ladrang, particularly one that is so explicitly ‘banned’ by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government. And yet, he continued to do so even in the near presence of the Dalai Lama himself.
Even more surprisingly, the Dalai Lama never said anything about this – an act that would surely be seen as both defiant and disloyal – which he must have known about. For someone to even enter premises that are related to Dorje Shugden practitioners is tantamount to going against the instruction of the Dalai Lama. Yet Thubten Jinpa was not at all reprimanded: after all, he not only entered one of the most ‘controversial’ Dorje Shugden’s lamas’ home but also prostrated towards the throne, the most central, significant part of the ladrang.
Could the Dalai Lama really be relaxing his stance on Dorje Shugden?
Could it be that the Dalai Lama really is
going to stop condemning Dorje Shugden and his practitioners, as he said he would? As recent developments have shown, the Dalai Lama has also seemed to be
relaxing his tone when speaking about Dorje Shugden and the ban. Now, when one of the closest members of the Dalai Lama’s entourage is seen to so openly enter the ladrang of such a controversial Dorje Shugden lama, his visit is allowed to pass with no consequences. It does seem, after all, that the Dalai Lama is beginning to allow people to
make their own choices, as he has mentioned before in a speech. We are optimistic that more and more windows of opportunity are opening up for the practice of Dorje Shugden to finally be freed. It is the very least that we could hope for, as a dedication to incredible lamas like Zemey Rinpoche who devoted their entire lives not just to teaching Dharma in general but also, in particular, to spreading Dorje Shugden’s blessed lineage.
Further reading:
Biography of Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche
Zemey Rinpoche’s Incarnation Receives DS Initiation
Enthronement Ceremony of the Zemey Rinpoche’s Incarnation
