I mean if Pabongkha Rinpoche was recognised and enthroned as Changkya’s incarnation when he was poor and not famous when he was in Sera initially, I am sure we will all scream “boo!”.
As far as I know Pabongkha Rinpoche was not officially recognized as a Changkya reincarnation (ie. enthroned) even later. Tagphu Padmavajra and some disciples recognized him as such and included that in his enumerated reincarnation lineage, but that is still not the official Changkya line. Pabongkha's life was probably much more open, down-to-earth and fortunate not to bound down by the Changkya name and estate, although he could have been a real reincarnation.
I'm sorry, I need to differ a little from some Tibetans here. I think it is a bit of a fault that disciples have to feel in order for their lama to be great they have to be boosted up to some high level and be recognized as the reincarnation of some very high being. This is the same problem with the Dalai Lama, all kinds of ambiguous quotes needs to be thrown together to public justify he is the official Chenrezig. Sorry, this is not how I understand guru devotion.
Dear Trinleykalsang,
I respect you for your Guru devotion that you do not need big titles to be impressed with your Guru, but many others do. This is the degenerate times
Even Tantric initiations is now given in public to plant seeds for the future, what more to say about who is seriously following Asvagosha's 50 stanzas?
There are people of the modest scope, medium scope, high scope, and there are those who are no scope, 'outside the door' exploring and the only way these people can make a connection is to be blown away by big titles initially. We need to have compassion for them too. They are not so fortunate to have met Gurus and study the Dharma with pure motivation YET!
I agree with you that Pabongkha's life was probably much more open, down-to-earth and fortunate not to bound down by the Changkya name and estate. Hence, the same goes with Kyabje Dragpa Gyeltsen. At this point of time, perhaps he's doing what Kyabje Pabongkha is doing - doing work that perhaps does not 'befit' the grand title of his incarnation lineage at this point of time, but I am sure we will hear of him in the near future.
Perhaps it is also that too many death threats and murder attempts, hence his labrang and Gurus advised him to stay secret for now? You know how it is with all these ugliness, sigh...