Can Dalai Lama Choose His Reincarnated Successor?

By MICHAEL POWELL, The New York Times
January 31, 2009

The search for the present Dalai Lama commenced in earnest in 1935 when the embalmed head of his deceased predecessor is said to have wheeled around and pointed toward northeastern Tibet.

Then, the story goes, a giant, star-shaped fungus grew overnight on the east side of the tomb. An auspicious cloud bank formed and a regent saw a vision of letters floating in a mystical lake, one of which — Ah — he took to refer to the northeast province of Amdo.

High lamas set off at a gallop and found a 2-year-old boy in a distant village. This child, they determined after a series of tests, was the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

There is little linear about lama succession in Tibet. And now, as the 14th Dalai Lama journeys into his 74th year, the question of how to pick his successor has come to preoccupy both him and his followers, as Tibet stands at an ever more precarious political pass.

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Angela Merkel: China should resume dialogue with Dalai Lama

German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the issue of Tibet with visiting Chinese Premiere Wen Jiabao as he stopped over in Berlin on his European tour that excludes France.

Merkel urged Wen Jiabao to restart talks with the envoys of the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama. “Germany has an intense interest in the talks with the Dalai Lama resuming,” Merkel told reporters after meeting Wen.

Around 60 demonstrators were watching from distance amid tight security as the Chinese leader was welcomed with military honours at the German Chancellery.
She said Germany was willing to make a “constructive contribution” on the matter, adding that Germany did not question the one-China policy. "If there is anything Germany can do in this regard, we would like to help," she added.

“We talked about the situation in Tibet and from the German side, I emphasised that we have a common interest that talks with the Dalai Lama get under way,” said Merkel at a joint news conference with Wen.

The issue of Tibet had earlier escalated tensions between the two countries in 2007 when Merkel met the Dalai Lama who is viewed by Beijing as a ’splittist’ and a ‘wolf in a monk’s robe’. She was the first German chancellor to receive the Dalai Lama at the Chancellery. It took months for Beijing to forgive Merkel.

Now China is at loggerheads with France over President Nicolas Sarkozy’s meeting with the Dalai Lama in Poland last month. China cancelled an EU summit when French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who then held the EU presidency, announced his scheduled meeting with the Dalai Lama in Poland and met him eventually.

The talks between Dalai Lama’s envoys and Beijing came to a standstill after the eighth round of talks in October last year failed to produce any results. The exile Tibetan Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche said the Sino-Tibetan dialogue has failed to produce any positive changes in China’s Tibet policy.

“Therefore, the entire responsibility for the future status of our dialogues, irrespective of what it is going to be, lies squarely on the Chinese leaders,” he said last month.

China insists doors for talks are still open but categorically rejected a "Memorandum” on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People submitted by the Tibetan envoys during the eighth round of talks calling it an "agenda of independence".

Source: www.phayul.com

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Kalachakra Empowerment by Beru Kyense Rinpoche in Spain, May 2009

Karma Guen Buddhist Center is very happy to announce a great program for this years spring course. From end of May until June 7th we have the honor of welcoming H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje, the 2nd Beru Kyense Rinpoche, the 4th Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Lama Ole Nydahl at Karma Guen together with many eminent friends from around the world.

17th Karmapa, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Beru Khyentse Rinpoche

In Summer 2008 we had asked Gyalwa Karmpa for giving the Kalachakra empowerment at Karma Guen 2009. H.H. recommended us to contact Beru Kyense Rinpoche as he has a very good transmission of this empowerment. We are very happy that Beru Kyense Rinpoche accepted and agreed to give this empowerment. Since the Kalachakra Stupa was build in 1994, now 15 years ago, we find it a good way to celebrate that.

Kalachakra Stupa in Karma Guen

Followed the 12 year old Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche (son of Beru Kyense Rinpoche) will give the Buddha of Limitless Light (Amithaba) empowerment. And for the 21st time Lama Ole Nydahl will guide the 5 days Phowa course at Karma Guen.

On June 3rd, Gyalwa Karmapa will give the Gyalwa Gyamso empowerment, and then for the first time in Karma Guen Gyalwa Karmapa will give 3 days of teachings. H.H. has chosen the text by Shanti Deva for his teachings. On Sunday June 17th Gyalwa Karmapa will give the White Liberatrice (Tara) empowerment at the stupa in Benalmadena.

Stupa in Benalmadena

As you can see we will have a great program at Karma Guen this year and we look forward to welcoming all our many friends from around the world. On-Line registration will be soon available at the Karma Guen page.

The Events Schedule:

Sunday 24th of May 2009

Budda of Long Life Initiation by the 4th Jamgol Kongtrul Rinpoche

Location: Benalmadena Stupa

Wednesday 27th to Thursday 28th of May 2009

Kalachakra Initiation by the 2nd Beru Kyense Rinpoche

Location: Karma Guen

Friday 29th of May 2009

Buddha of Limitless Light Initiation by the 4th Jamgol Kongtrul Rinpoche

Location: Karma Guen

Friday 29th of May to Tuesday 2nd of June 2009

Phowa course by Lama Ole Nydahl

Location: Karma Guen

Wednesday 3rd of June 2009

Gyalwa Gyamso Initiation by H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje

Location: Karma Guen

Thursday 4th to Saturday 6th of June 2009

Teachings by H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje (Shanti Deva Text)

Location: Karma Guen

Sunday 7th of June 2009

White Liberatrice Initiation by H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje

Location: Benalmadena Stupa

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Beru Khyentse Rinpoche

The 2nd Beru Khyentse was born in central Tibet in 1947 and, as a young monk, was recognized and enthroned by the 16th Karmapa. At the age of thirteen he led his monks and lay devotees from his monastery in Nangchen, out of Tibet, and established a community including monastery and retreat centre for them in Mainpat, India.

Rinpoche completed extensive studies in Buddhist philosophy and training in Vajrayana rituals, receiving instruction from many Lamas including Dzongsar Khenpo Chimey Rinpoche, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, the 16th Gyalway Karmapa, Khunu Rinpoche, His Holiness Sakya Trizin and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. After completing the traditional four-year retreat in the Karma Kamtsang tradition, Rinpoche established monasteries in Bodh Gaya and Kathmandu and the Nangchen monastery, nunnery, institute and three-year retreat centre in Tibet.
Rinpoche rebuilt the Sakya monastery, Nyenthang Tashigang, near his birthplace in Tibet and founded the Tharjay Charitable Foundation to sponsor bridges, schools, clinics and medical treatment for the nomads of eastern Tibet.

The past three decades Beru Khyentse Rinpoche has been teaching and travelling tirelessly around the world, presenting the Dharma in the spirit of non-sectarianism and in a manner suitable for all students from beginners to the most advanced practitioners.

The Khyentse Lineage

The 1st Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, 1820-1892, was one of the most important illuminators of Buddhism in Tibet. This great treasure revealer was born in east Tibet as an emanation of Manjushri and in previous lives had incarnated as many masters including the Indian Pandita Vimalamitra, the Tibetan King Trisondeutsen, Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen founder of the Sakyapa school, Gampopa, Longchenpa and Jigme Lingpa. With his unsurpassable learning and realisation gained through study, practice and visions Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo was not confined to sect or school and propagated the Dharma impartially to all.

At the end of his life Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo’s mind was absorbed into the wisdom mind of Vimalamitra, from which five emanations of body, speech, mind, qualities and activities emanated simultaneously. Thus the speech emanation became the 1st Beru Khyentse, son of the King of Beru in east Tibet, the mind emanation Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and the activity emanation Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro of Dzongsar.
 

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