Alex Wilding

Karmapakshi was the first figure to be recognised as a tulku, that is to say, the rebirth of the person later recognised as the first Karmava. Surprisingly, or I suppose being realistic it's not surprising at all, the story is more complicated than the, so to speak, official Tibetan histories have it.

Karmapakshi was the first figure to be recognised as a tulku, that is to say, the rebirth of the person later recognised as the first Karmava. Surprisingly, or I suppose being realistic it's not surprising at all, the story is more complicated than the, so to speak, official Tibetan histories have it.

These histories have projected the theory backwards onto the earlier figures and the earlier stories. If you want to plunge into fascinating details about this, Charles Manson, yes, you did hear that name correctly, Charles Manson, but of course it's a completely different person, has written a fascinating and thorough account of the life of Karmapakshi.

These histories have projected the theory backwards onto the earlier figures and the earlier stories. If you want to plunge into fascinating details about this, Charles Manson, yes, you did hear that name correctly, Charles Manson, but of course it's a completely different person, has written a fascinating and thorough account of the life of Karmapakshi.

Its full title is The Second Karmapakshi Tibetan Mahasiddha. I've included that name in the fabled word list. To approach an understanding of what the toku role is these days, let's try to take a look at how they fit in socially, religiously and administratively. We can argue, and perhaps you know that people do, about whether Buddhism is a philosophy or religion or what.

Its full title is The Second Karmapakshi Tibetan Mahasiddha. I've included that name in the fabled word list. To approach an understanding of what the toku role is these days, let's try to take a look at how they fit in socially, religiously and administratively. We can argue, and perhaps you know that people do, about whether Buddhism is a philosophy or religion or what.

What we can definitely say, though, whichever side of that argument we come down on, is that it is a path to liberation. It says so on the tin. I don't know quite why the term sermon tends to be used here, although I suppose it might go back to the 19th century attempt to portray Buddhism as a kind of rational, oriental version of Protestantism.

What we can definitely say, though, whichever side of that argument we come down on, is that it is a path to liberation. It says so on the tin. I don't know quite why the term sermon tends to be used here, although I suppose it might go back to the 19th century attempt to portray Buddhism as a kind of rational, oriental version of Protestantism.

But the term is somewhat ingrained, so I'll stay with it. The Buddha's first sermon, then, was given in the Deer Park at Sarnath. Here, in his very first teachings, He spoke about the four noble truths. One, life is crap. Two, it's mostly our fault. Three, there is a way out. Namely, four, following the eightfold path. This statement is called Turning the Wheel of the Dharma.

But the term is somewhat ingrained, so I'll stay with it. The Buddha's first sermon, then, was given in the Deer Park at Sarnath. Here, in his very first teachings, He spoke about the four noble truths. One, life is crap. Two, it's mostly our fault. Three, there is a way out. Namely, four, following the eightfold path. This statement is called Turning the Wheel of the Dharma.

This first and very straightforward presentation of Buddhism is commemorated in the mouldings you may see over the entrance gate to Buddhist establishments round the world. You may well have noticed it. Two deer, one on each side of a large eight-spoked wheel. The eight-spoked wheel representing the Eightfold Path, the deer, of course, reminding us of the deer park.

This first and very straightforward presentation of Buddhism is commemorated in the mouldings you may see over the entrance gate to Buddhist establishments round the world. You may well have noticed it. Two deer, one on each side of a large eight-spoked wheel. The eight-spoked wheel representing the Eightfold Path, the deer, of course, reminding us of the deer park.

Now, what did Tulkus have to do with this straightforward kind of Buddhism? I think the answer is nothing, really. What did Tulkus have to do with the vast scriptures of emptiness and compassion, or with the colourful rites and yogas of Tantric Buddhism. Once again, nothing really. All of these things can function, as they did for centuries, without tulkus.

Now, what did Tulkus have to do with this straightforward kind of Buddhism? I think the answer is nothing, really. What did Tulkus have to do with the vast scriptures of emptiness and compassion, or with the colourful rites and yogas of Tantric Buddhism. Once again, nothing really. All of these things can function, as they did for centuries, without tulkus.

Tulkus are clearly not necessary for treading the path, whether we are talking of a Hinayana path of simplicity and renunciation, or at the other end of an elaborate Tantric path, For tantric practice, for sure, a lama or guru is utterly essential, but a lama does not have to be a tulku.

Tulkus are clearly not necessary for treading the path, whether we are talking of a Hinayana path of simplicity and renunciation, or at the other end of an elaborate Tantric path, For tantric practice, for sure, a lama or guru is utterly essential, but a lama does not have to be a tulku.

I felt it was maybe the right time to tackle this topic because we are, once again, in the middle of yet another case of serious allegations, including sexual misconduct going up to rape, against an important youngish tulku. I shan't actually mention the name because at this stage, although it does look very bad, these are still just anonymous allegations.

I felt it was maybe the right time to tackle this topic because we are, once again, in the middle of yet another case of serious allegations, including sexual misconduct going up to rape, against an important youngish tulku. I shan't actually mention the name because at this stage, although it does look very bad, these are still just anonymous allegations.

And if you're interested in any case, it won't take much sniffing around the net to find out who I'm talking about. For our general concern here, it doesn't really matter whether this case turns out to be as serious as it looks, or whether it turns out to just be a case of empty accusations.

And if you're interested in any case, it won't take much sniffing around the net to find out who I'm talking about. For our general concern here, it doesn't really matter whether this case turns out to be as serious as it looks, or whether it turns out to just be a case of empty accusations.