An Almighty Dharma Protector Arises

According to the Great Fifth’s autobiography, he had heard of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s illness and was very concerned, as they were both close students of the same Guru, Panchen Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen. The Dalai Lama was unable to meet Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen in person so his regent, Desi Sonam Chopel dispatched Depa Norbu instead, allowing him the window of opportunity to perform his evil deed.

However, the Dalai Lama had no prior knowledge of the evil plot to assassinate Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. He wrote that he was initially told that Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen passed away due to illness but later found out that some young people had murdered him. With sadness, he told his attendants what he had learnt and was quick to notice Depa Norbu’s guilty expression. Consequently, the Dalai Lama demanded to know what happened and was thoroughly dismayed to find out the truth.

Before dealing with his attendants, he called for pen and paper. Seized by overwhelming grief and guilt on behalf of his students, he composed a heartfelt verse of apology to his friend, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. He ordered the verses to be brought to the funeral pyre and immediately read out.

Just before the verses arrive at the site of the funerary stupa at Ngakpa Drepung Monastery, the monks had been trying repeatedly in vain to light the pyre beneath the holy remains of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. However, whatever they did, the pyre just would not light.

The funeral rituals were stalled until the Dalai Lama’s verses arrived. When they did, the Dalai Lama’s attendant read the verses out loud towards the holy remains and just as he finished reading, the pyre immediately burst into flames.

The sight of the burning pyre made Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s attendant weep in deep sorrow. Out of frustration and sadness, he took hold of his zen (outer robe) and slapped it against the funerary stupa.

What kind of high Lama are you? How could you let them kill you and not do anything?
~ Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s attendant

Suddenly, a thick gust of wind and smoke swirled out from the funeral pyre into the sky and covered all of Lhasa, in the shape of a large hand. As the smoke swept through the sky, earthquakes shook the land, hail fell, cattle died, crops failed and there was famine throughout the land. These were all signs of the cumulative negative karma of the people who had destroyed a holy being, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen.