September 1999
In This Issue
THE
FOUR PILLARS OF BUDDHISM -
<PART I>
<PART II>
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
TIBETAN
LAMA TAKES CANNES BY STORM -
Phorpa / The Cup
DZONGSAR
KHYENTSE RINPOCHE'S ACTIVITIES IN BHUTAN
LAMA SONAM ZANGPO AND HIS TULKU
DJK's Dharma - DATELESS AND DESPERATE
LAMA SONAM ZANGPO AND HIS TULKU
Lama
Sonam Zangpo (roughly 1888 - 1984) was a renowned practitioner of the
Six Yogas of Naropa and perhaps the most famous yogi in Bhutan this century.
His reincarnation, the now 17-year-old Tulku Drugyul Tenzin was discovered
by His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche while the boy was attending puja
at His Holiness's monastery at Boudhanath in Nepal. When I met him for
the first time at Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche's house in Bir, his dignified
bearing and humility, as well as his enthusiasm for learning the Dharma
immediately impressed me. He was at the time, and continues to be, a diligent
student who, it appears, will do very well in his studies at Dzongsar
Institute.
One
story of the tulku's discovery is quite marvellous. It was related to
me that His Holiness was walking around the stupa at Boudhanath and came
across the boy on his way to school. His Holiness said, "Where are you
going, so and so (calling him by the name of his previous incarnation)?"
and said, "You should be in your monastery. Let's go there right away."
According to the story, the boy's family was initially reticent to let
the boy go at such an early age. They were told it could create obstacles
for himself and his family if he didn't take up his position and attendant
responsibilities immediately. But it wasn't until he became very sick
that the family agreed to let him go.
When I asked the young tulku how he was discovered, he told me he knew nothing of the story I had related. According to him, he was attending a puja at His Holiness's monastery with his father, who was sick at the time. His Holiness kept looking at the boy and later asked his uncle to come and see him. At that time he revealed that his nephew was the tulku of Lama Sonam Zangpo.
The eight-year-old boy was enthroned at Tongsa near Thimpu in Bhutan, after which he resumed his normal studies in Nepal for two years. He was then ordained as a monk and went to His Holiness Drukchen's monastery in Darjeeling to begin his monastic training. For four years his training included learning Buddhist sutras by heart, conducting ritual pujas and Tibetan reading and writing. He also received tantric empowerments and explanations from his teachers and many great lamas during this time.
Tulku Drugyul Tenzin is currently doing his first year of nine years of study at Dzongsar Institute and says, "After learning the sutras, I will return to Bhutan to practice yogas and tantras in order to become as I was in my previous life." His enthusiasm for doing so augurs well for the realisation of his goals. A remarkable young man indeed!
Glenn
Fawcett 