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The reincarnation system for the Living
Buddhas is the main point distinguishing Tibetan Buddhism from other
forms of Buddhism. What led to the introduction of the system?
The term Living Buddha emerged in the early Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)
when Emperor Kublai Khan honored Pagba, head of the Sagya Sect, by
granting him the title "Buddha of the Western Paradise.'' Thereafter,
eminent Tibetan monks we distinguished themselves in the practice of
Buddhism were referred to as ''Living Buddhas.'' However, the term
Living Buddha was not recognized as a special title for a monk who
became the successor of the deceased leader of a monastery until the
eventual introduction of the Living Buddha reincarnation system.
In 1252 , Kublai Khan granted an audience to Pagba and Garma Pakshi, an
eminent monk with the Garma Gagyu Sect. Garma Pakshi, however, sought
the patronage of Monge Khan who proceeded to bestow him a gold-rimmed
black hat and a golden seal of authority. Prior to his death in 1283,
Garma Paksli penned a will to ensure the established interests of his
sect. The will advised his disciples to locate a boy to inherit the
black hat, with the instruction based on the premise that Buddhist
ideology is eternal, and a Buddha would be reincarnated to complete the
missions he had initiated. Garma Pakshi's disciples acted in accordance
with the will and located the reincarnated soul boy of their master. The
event marked the introduction of the Living Buddha reincarnation system
for the Black-Hat Line of Tibetan Buddhism. During the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644), Emperor Yongle honored Black-Hat Living Buddha Garmaba as
the ''Great Treasure Prince of Dharma,'' the first of the three "Princes
of Dharma.'' The Living Buddha reincarnation system remains in operation
today. On September 27, 1992, the Curpu Monastery in Doilungdeqen
County, Lhasa, was the site of a grand ceremony marking the enthronement
of the 16th Living Buddha Garmaba. The event marked a new page in the
history of the Garma Gagye Sect.
Various sects of Tibetan Buddhism reacted to the introduction of the
Living Buddha reincarnation system by creating numerous similar systems.
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) reign of Emperor Qianlong alone, 148
Grand Living Buddhas registered for reincarnation with the Board for
Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs, with the number of registrants rising to
160 by the end of the dynasty. The most influential reincarnation
systems have since been the Dalai and Bainqen Lama systems.
The reincarnation system for the Dalai Lama was introduced in the 16th
century. In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, the 5th Dalai Lama
journeyed to Beiing to pay homage to Emperor Shunzhi. The Qing emperor
granted him the honorific title of "the Dalai Lama, Overseer of the
Buddhist Faith on Earth Under the Great Benevolent Self-subsisting
Buddha of the Western Paradise.'' The title Dalai Lama was thus
established and is still in up today. The current Dalai Lama was
enthroned in the Potala Palace on February 22, 1940, during a ceremony
presided over by Wu Zhongxin, minister of the Commission for Mongolian
and Tibetan Affairs of the nationalist government of the Republic of
China (1911-49). The nationalist government ordered that he be confirmed
as the reincarnated soul boy of the 13th Dalai Lama without the
requirement to carrying the established method of drawing lot from the
golden urn and that he instead directly succeed as the 14th Dalai Lama.
The reincarnatin system for the Bainqen Lama was introduced in 1713 when
the 5th Bainqen was granted the honorific title as "Bainqen Erdeni,"
with Erdeni meaning "great treasure" in Manchu. The 9th Bainqen Erdeni
and the 13th Dalai Lama were at odds during the period of the Republic
of China, with the 9th Bainqen Erdeni departing for China's hinterland.
He later passed away in Qinghai Province. The Tashilhungpo Monastery,
the resident monastery for the Bainqen Erdeni, located a boy by the name
of Gongbo Cidain. All signs pointed to the fact that he was indeed the
reincarnated soul boy of the 9th Bainqen Erdeni. Li Zongren, the acting
president of the Republic of China, issued a special order instructing
that the boy "be excuses from the lot-drawing method and given the
special permission to succeed as the 10th Bainqen Erdeni." The grand
enthronement ceremony held in the Tar Monastery on August 10, 1949, was
presided over by Guan Jieyu, minister of the Commission for Mongolian
and Tibetan Affairs of the nationalist government of the Republic of
China.
The Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism came to power in Tibet in the 17th
century and the Living Buddha reincarnation system became a bone of
contention with the upper class in Tibet. In 1793, as part of an effort
to turn the tide by overcoming drawbacks characteristic of soul boys
nominated from the same tribes, the Qing government promulgated the
29-Article Ordinance for the More Efficient Governing of Tibet. Article
one of the Ordinance stipulates: In order to ensure the Yellow Sect
continues to flourish, the Grand Emperor bestows it with a golden urn
and ivory slips for use in confirming the reincarnated soul boy of a
deceased Living Buddha. For this purpose, four major Buddhist Guardians
will be summoned; the name's of candidates, as well as their birth
years, will be written on the ivory slips in the three languages -
Manchu, Han Chinese and Tibetan; the ivory slips will be placed into the
golden urn and learned Living Buddhas will pray for seven days before
various Hotogtu Living Buddhas and High Commissioners stationed in Tibet
by the Central Government officially confirm the reincarnated soul boy
by drawing a lot from the golden urn in front of the statue of Sakyamuni
in the Jokhang Monastery.
The system of drawing lot from the golden urn thus perfected the Living
Buddha reincarnation system of Tibetan Buddhism. Following the
lot-drawing ceremony, the High Commissioners and leaders of the soul boy
search group were required to report the result to the Central
Government. The enthronement ceremony was held following the approval of
the Central Government.
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The Reincarnation of the Living Buddhas 