Born Michel Calmanowitz in 1981, Lama Michel has been recognized by Lama Gangchen and many great lamas as a Tulku – the reincarnation of a Tibetan Buddhist Master. He was born to Bel and Daniel Calmanowitz who are both students of His Eminence Lama Gangchen Rinpoche. Just like many other Western Tulkus, Lama Michel chose to reincarnate in Brazil, not only to benefit the whole country and South America, but all of contemporary society.
Lama Gangchen visited Brazil for the first time in 1987, invited by Lama Michel’s parents. From this encounter was born a strong connection between the great healing lama and the Calmanowitz family, who founded the first of many Dharma centres in the West under the guidance of Gangchen Rinpoche: the ‘Shi De Choe Tsog’ Center.
A young Lama Michel with his teacher, H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche in 1988.
At the age of twelve, Lama Michel spontaneously decided to leave the trappings of lay life behind and began his monastic education in southern India, where the great Gelug monasteries are located. Throughout his youth, he repeatedly visited many sacred sites in India, Nepal, Indonesia, Cambodia, Mongolia and Tibet. During these pilgrimages, he had many intuitions, dreams and special visions. Lama Michel’s previous life imprints and altruistic mind had begun to manifest themselves in the traditional Buddhist manner.
Great lamas including Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Dagyab Rinpoche and Gelek Rinpoche have confirmed that Lama Michel is the reincarnation of Drubchok Gyalwa Sandrup, a 15th century yogi and lama from Gangchen Choepel Ling Monastery in Tibet. This monastery was founded by Panchen Zangpo Tashi, one of Lama Gangchen’s previous incarnations. His successor, the second regent of the throne, was none other than Drubchok Gyalwa Sangdrup.
Lama Michel and Gangchen Rinpoche have a very close student – teacher relationship from many lifetimes.
Lama Michel is really a special young tulku, and many people have noticed his pure energy – similar to the energy of Maitreya, the future Buddha of Love. His Tibetan name, Jangchub Choepel Lobsang Nyendrak, means the ‘Wise and famous mind of Enlightenment, who spreads the peace message of Dharma successfully’.
Under the close tutorship of Lama Gangchen Rinpoche, Lama Michel attends Buddhist studies and practice in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lamas, for up to three months each year. It is through Lama Michel’s devotion to his Guru and dedication to his studies that he is able to present the Dharma in English, Italian, and even quote from Tibetan scriptures at the same time.
Lama Michel continues to serve Lama Gangchen Rinpoche by spreading Lama Tsongkapa’s tradition in the ten directions. His young, dynamic and charismatic demeanor has enabled people from all walks of life to connect with the Dharma more effectively.
We at DorjeShugden.com would like to offer our prayers for the manifestation of Lama Michel’s vision in bringing the Dharma to more people so that they can benefit further.
Listen to Lama Michel’s Teachings
Source : http://www.lgpt.net/bios/lamamichel.htm
English
Indonesia
Tibetan
Sofia Neumerkel
September 19, 2014
How amazing it is that a highly attained being can choose to be reborn in. Lama Michel choose to be reborn in the family of the student of Gangchen Rinpoche in Brazil. At the age of 12, he has already realised the truth of life and wants to renounce to become a monk. He has demonstrated a very strong dharma imprints. He is young but he has this energy of a very wise man. This is the kind of tulku we should respect, who is here to continue with his good works, not using his title to take advantage of the public. May Lama Michel live long and in good health always.
Eli
September 20, 2014
I look forward to hear him speak the dharma and is excited for the students of Geshe Michael and all who will receive the dharma from this young master. This puts a smile on my face!
Galen
September 20, 2014
Another example of reincarnation and this time a high tulku coming back to continue his dharma journey with his beloved guru who was with him many lifetimes. At a very young age, Lama michel already knew what he wanted to do and that is to study dharma. From the pictures, can see that Lama Michel is kind and have a peaceful energy.
paolorossi4444
September 20, 2014
A Perfect true inspiration Lama Michel Rinpoche may He continue to turn the Holy Dharma of Lama Tzong Khapa for the benefits of all sentient beings.Paul Champa..
Sandra
September 20, 2014
It is really great news to all sentient being that another great master come back to samsara to spread dharma and benefit us. In our prayer there is always a request the lama back to samsara in order to turn the dharma wheel. Rejoice to the great news. Hope to see more great master come back.
Manjushri
September 20, 2014
It inspires me as I read about great tulkus, lamas and beings who continue the works of their previous lives, and have such strong imprints which are able to manifest in their current lives. Lama Michel’s story is inspiring, it helps me to believe further that reincarnation exists, and that despite all the conditions that we are thrown with in samsara, it does not deter Lama Michel and many other lamas from expounding the lineage and teachings of the Buddha.
Lama Michel’s story also displays his attainments, that he chose to reincarnate into a family that provides such a conducive condition for him to practise the Dharma, and propagate it. His devotion and relationship with Lama Gangchen is beautiful.
Dorje Shugden lamas are real lamas too, who use their lives to spread the Buddhadharma. There are no differences between a lama who practises Dorje Shugden or one who doesn’t, so there should not be a need to segregate a community of practitioners because of preferences in certain practises.
Scott Lee
September 21, 2014
DS community needs more reincarnated tulkus like Lama Michel that takes root in a foreign country spreading the lineage of Tsongkhapa and Dorje Shugden.
Young lama is the future in spreading Buddha Dharma, more importantly, preserving the authentic lineage benefiting the many. Thru these young lama imparting knowledge of Dorje Shugden and its history, we will able to expose CTA and his cronies for all the evil action and harm they have created/done on innocent Dorje Shugden practitioners.
I pray for Lama Michel and all young lama long life and good health so that they can manifest lots of benefits and aid in lifting the ban.
Gaz
October 7, 2014
You know its not just a matter of him coming back and him being a Westerner and all that what is so great. Its the fact hes gone all the way with it and stuck by Lama Gangchen all these years and served him in a way thats totally out of his culture.
That just goes to show the power of imprints. So yeah yeah yeah wonderful he came back but the fact he came back AND manifested his previous lives achievements by being committed in THIS life tells us somethign much more. And that is, imprints manifest regardless of what culture your from.
So for the rest of us, what are we doing with ourselves? What excuses do we make about not committing to our spiritual path? What that its not in our culture or background? Oh come off it. We wont be human in our next life, let alone British, German, American, French so why get so hung up about this culture bollocks now.
Gaz
October 7, 2014
And Scott yes the DS community does. But you know lets not rely on lamas to do the work. Since when did we become incapable of spreading Buddha Dharma ourselves? We have eyes, ears, hands, feet, a brain. Were educated. We have all mental and physical faculties intact in order to preserve, spread, promote the Buddha Dharma. Sure Lama Michels had a headstart in this because well, he figured out way before we did why we should be committed but better late than never, and better now than later.
bambi
October 20, 2014
Amazing! Gave me goosebumps and such joy to read about Lama Michel’s story.
Such Guru devotion to be born and meet His Guru at such a young age. And at the age of twelve, He already gave up worldly attachments to continue His journey to learn, teach and spreading the Dharma in different languages!!
May Lama Michel’s teaching spread in all directions and benefit many!
Sierra
August 1, 2016
Lama Michel Rinpoche’s journey is an amazing one. It is his great merit that he met his lama at a very young age and can start his journey.
There are those who met the dharma late and their lama even later. Age and physical conditions then become a bit of an obstacle. But, all lost not lost as they can work towards a better human rebirth.
May we aspire for such a path that we are able to work towards benefiting sentien beings.
Dalai Lama should set things right
August 13, 2018
Dear Dalai Lama,
Since you started the cruel ban against the 350 year Dorje Shugden practice, how has it benefit your Tibetan society and Buddhism in the world? Things have become worse and most educated Tibetans can see this. They don’t speak out not because they don’t see your ban as wrong, but you instill fear in them and not respect. It is like fear of a dictator. I am sorry to say so. Everyone is divided. There is no harmony. Before your ban there was more harmony and unity.
By enacting the ban, you split the monasteries, split so many families, split regions in Tibet apart, split your disciples from you, split your own gurus from you, split Tibetan Buddhism apart. You have created so much disharmony.
It is not democratic what you have done to ban a religion within your community. You always talk of tolerance and acceptance and democracy and yet you do not accept and tolerate something different from your beliefs. When people practice Dorje Shugden you ostracize them, ban them from seeing you, ban them from using Tibetan facilities. You know you have done that. There are videos that capture your speech and prove this point. You even had people expelled from monasteries just because they practice Dorje Shugden. Some of the monks you expelled have been in the monastery for over 40 years. Many older monks shed tears because of this.
Many young educated Tibetans lost confidence in you as they saw the damage the Dorje Shugden ban created and they lose hope. Many have become free thinkers. They reject what you have done. So many people in the west left Buddhism because of the confusion you created with this ban against Dorje Shugden which is immoral.
You could of had millions of people who practice Dorje Shugden to support, love and follow you, but you scared them away. They are hurt and very disappointed. They loved you and respected you deeply before the ban. It has been 60 years and you have failed to get Tibet back. Your biggest failure is not getting Tibet back after 57 years in exile. Now you are begging China to allow you to return to Tibet to the disappointment of thousands of people who fought for a free Tibet believing in you. So many self-immolated for a free Tibet and now you want Tibet to be a part of China with no referendum from Tibetans. Just like a dictator, you decide on your own. It was your government and you that lost Tibet in the first place. Your policies and style of doing things do not benefit Tibet and Buddhism. You have been the sole ruler of Tibet your whole life and you still have not gotten our country of Tibet back for us. Our families and us are separated. Yet you create more pain by creating a ban to further divide people. Please have compassion.
No other Buddhist leader has banned or condemned any religion except for you. It looks very bad. You are a Nobel laureate and this is not fitting of a laureate. You should unite people and not separate them by religious differences.
You said Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi did not do right to the Rohingya people in Myanmar due to religious differences, but you are doing the same thing to the Shugden Buddhists within your own society. There is a parallel in this. You separate the Shugden Buddhists from the others in Tibetan society.
You have lost so many people who would have loved and supported you. You have lost so much support around the world. The Shugden Buddhists who love you number in the millions. When you are fast losing support from governments and private people, it will not do you well to lose more.
After you are passed away in the future, the rift you created between the Dorje Shugden and non-Dorje Shugden people will remain for a while and that will be your legacy. Disharmony. You will be remembered for this. Not as a hero but a disharmony creator.
Dorje Shugden will spread and further grow, but you will be no more as you are a human. No one wishes you bad and in fact we hope you have a long and healthy life, but we have lost so much hope and have so much despair because of you. All the hundreds of Dorje Shugden lamas, tulkus and geshes are maturing and there are hundreds of Dorje Shugden monasteries in Tibet who will not give up Dorje Shugden. You have made a mistake. These hundreds of teachers and teachers to be will spread Dorje Shugden further in the future.
The gurus that gave us Dorje Shugden as a spiritual practice and you have called these holy gurus wrong and they are mistaken in giving us Dorje Shugden. How can you insult our gurus whom we respect so much? If they can be wrong, then you can be wrong. Then all gurus can be wrong. So no one needs to listen to any guru? You have created this trend. It is not healthy. Your own gurus practiced Dorje Shugden their whole lives. Your own gurus were exemplary and highly learned.
Dalai Lama you have created so much pain with this ban against so many people due to religion. You are ageing fast. Are you going to do anything about it or stay stubborn, hard and un-moving. You show a smile and preach peace and harmony wherever you go. But will you do the same to your own people? Please rectify the wrong you have done. Please before it is too late. You can create harmony again or you can pass away in the future with this legacy of peace. May you live long and think carefully and admit what was a mistake in having this unethical ban against Dorje Shugden religion.