Reincarnation and Personal Identity in The Lives of Tibetan Masters: Linking the Revelations of Three Lamas of the Dudjom Tradition

Abstract

and is currently involved in a major research project (2017)(2018)(2019) at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. She specialises in Tibetan and Himalayan tantric rituals of all periods from the 10 th century CE. Her publications include, A Noble Noose of Methods, the Lotus Garland Synopsis: A Mahāyoga Tantra and its Commentary" (Vienna 2012, with Robert Mayer). Reincarnation and personal identity in the lives ofTibetan masters: linking the revelations of three lamas of the Dudjom tradition This paper explores Tibetan understandings of character, personal identity, and questions of authorship, when the life story and spiritual writings involve persons linked by a line of incarnation. The focus is the 20 th -century Dudjom Rinpoche (bDud ʼjoms ʼjigs bral ye shes rdo rje, 1904-1987), his immediate predecessor, Dudjom Lingpa (bDud ʼjoms gling pa, 1835-1904), along with a 17 th -century lama, Düdül Dorje (bDud ʼdul rdo rje, 1615-1672). While Tibetan accounts of reincarnating lamas sometimes emphasise continuities, stories of the two Dudjoms make no secret of the contrast between them in terms of their characters and behaviour. Dudjom Rinpocheʼs main textual work is his important contributions to the Nying ma literature of previous generations. It is clear that the identification between these three lamas gave Dudjom Rinpoche a specific responsibility in this case.

Establishing Lineage Legitimacy and Building Labrang Monastery as “the Source of Dharma”: Jikmed Wangpo (1728–1791) Taking the Helm

“…For an example of modern scholarship on reincarnation lineage concerning imitation and reinvention of personal identity, see (Cantwell 2020).…”

“…The tradition does not acknowledge or even deny any inventive/creative roles of the successors who are portrayed as merely continuing the lineage legacy of their predecessors. It, however, is a major literary form of humility, and the successors, in fact, achieve idiosyncratic feats, all the while they continue the shared qualities of the lineage (Cantwell 2020).…”