January-February 1996

LAMAS

During a recent visit to Drepung and Ganden monasteries in Mundgod, south India, Ven. Roger Kunsang photographed and videoed the young reincarnations of five of the highest Gelug lamas: Ling Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche, Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche and Serkong Dorje Chang.

 

LING RINPOCHE

The previous Ling Rinpoche was the 97th Holder of the Throne of Ganden, the first being Lama Tsong Khapa in the 14th century. Considered an emanation of the Buddha Yamantaka, he was the senior tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a role he has had for many lives.

Ling Rinpoche is studying at Drepung Loseling.

Roger Rinpoche, how are you?

Ling Rinpoche I am fine.

Rinpoche, how old are you now?

I am becoming ten.

Rinpoche, what’s your biggest wish?

My biggest wish is to have peace in this world.

Happiness? For yourself?

For everyone.

How can you help? How can you achieve your wish?

We have to pray and we have to meditate and we have to study. Not only one person, but everyone. They should have a peaceful mind, and not be selfish, and be honest.

Are you going to help?

As much as I can.

When will you begin? I think there is a big rush, don’t you think?

When I finish all my classes.

You mean, we have to wait until you completely become a geshe?

Completely become a buddha!

Will that take a long timer?

I don’t know how long I am going to take!

Rinpoche, what should we meditate on? What does it mean to meditate?

Meditate? You should think that the Buddha is coming into your head… If you just stay still, your mind goes to all the places that you are thinking about, right? So you have to take your mind and put it, concentrate it, on whatever you are meditating on.

Is there any particular thing that is very important to meditate on?

You have to think of one deity, and you have to pray, and you have to take all your energy and put here [at your heart], and you have to think which one you want to become.

Do you have more advice for all the students around the world? Something a bit easier for us? This might be a bit hard.

A little bit easier? You have to pray to one God, you have to pray for whatever you wish, you have to be patient and unselfish. This is not very hard, everyone can do it, even a small child can do it.

I am not so sure I can do it!

You can do!

I’m not sure. Not to practice negative karma sounds difficult.

Oh, it’s easy! You do the negative actions! Other people don’t say that you have to do anything. You are doing it! You have all the power to remove the negative karma. You have the power!

I have the power?

Yes, you have the power!

 

TRIJANG RINPOCHE

The previous Trijang Rinpoche was the heart disciple of the great Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo and the junior tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Known as an emanation of the Buddha Heruka, the young Rinpoche, now 14 years old, is studying at Ganden Shartse.

Roger Trijang Rinpoche, how are you?

Rinpoche Fine.

You are memorizing at the moment?

No, I’m reviewing what I’ve already memorized: the preliminary prayers, Ornament of Realizations, Guide to the Middle Way, the root text on valid cognition.

Rinpoche finds memorizing easy?

Yes.

What is your program during the day?

I get up at five-thirty, and then I do prostrations at the stupa of the previous Trijang Rinpoche, and then I say my morning prayers. After that I have breakfast. From seven-thirty until nine o’clock I read scriptures, and then I have a break for half an hour. At nine-thirty until ten-thirty I review the texts that I have already memorized. Then at ten-thirty I learn grammar. At eleven I have lunch, and at eleven-thirty I learn writing. At one o’clock I have a nap until two-thirty and when I get up I have tea. After tea I have debate until five o’clock, then it is dinner time. At six I have class with Khensur Lati Rinpoche. At eight I have debate with my classmates, and from nine until eleven o’clock I do memorization. Then I go to bed.

I am studying the Dharma. Then, having studied, it’s very important to put Dharma into practice. Practice well!

 

ZONG RINPOCHE

The previous Zong Rinpoche, also known as an emanation of the Buddha Heruka, was renowned, according to a biography, for his “many actions of powerful magic,” as a result of which “the most marvelous, indescribable signs occurred.”

The ten-year-old new Zong Rinpoche is studying at Ganden Shartse.

Roger Good morning Rinpoche.

Rinpoche Good morning.

How are you?

Fine.

Today is your holiday?

Yes.

And tomorrow?

Tomorrow is Monday, so usually we have a holiday.

Normally when you are studying, Rinpoche, what do you do? When you get up, what do you do?

I get up about six. Then I pray until eight. And then I eat breakfast, and then until nine o’clock I have a break. And then I memorize.

What are you memorizing now?

The second chapter of Guide to the Middle Way.

Is this the first text you have memorized?

The second.

What was the first text?

Ganden Lha Gyema.

So, after you do memorization in the morning, what do you do?

I have a break until three o’clock. Then again I memorize until five o’clock. Then break until seven-thirty.

Do you have English class?

Yes. But now my teacher has gone to Bylakuppe.

Would you like to go to the West?

Yes.

Do you think you will be able to give teachings to Western people?

Yes.

Do you have some idea when you will go? At what age?

Tenzin knows.

Tenzin [Rinpoche's attendant] Actually, we have a plan to go next year. Maybe he can give teachings. After he has finished his geshe degree, then he can teach.

Rinpoche, which country are you going to?

Canada and America.

For how long?

Three months.

Do you have some advice to give to Western students?

Please don’t forget the teachings that the previous Zong Rinpoche gave.

Do you like animals?

Yes.

Any particular animal is your favorite?

Turtles.

Why do you like turtles?

It will not run away, it will stay with you. I have had five of them.

Rinpoche, do you know any animal stories? What’s your favorite story?

Well, a baby turtle went to see its father and mother and asked, “Why do I have to carry this house all the time?” The parents told the turtle, “You are very fortunate. It is so useful for when you have to go somewhere.” Turtle wasn’t happy, but he thought, “I suppose I must listen to my parents and accept what they say.”

So, off he went, walking on the winding roads, very unhappy that he has to carry his house on his back.

One day he was with his friend the frog. “Why do you always carry this heavy house on your back?” he asked the turtle.

Just then a man came galloping by on a horse. He didn’t see them, but because Frog was light, he leapt out of the way into the nearby pond, but poor Turtle being so slow, could not get out of the way in time, so he just drew his head down into the house on his back. The horseman ran right over him.

Frog was shocked. “No! Poor Turtle has been killed!” But after the horseman had left, Turtle slowly moved and got up. He wasn’t even hurt. “Boy! You sure are lucky to have that house on your back!”

 

THE TWO SERKONG RINPOCHES

Serkong Dorje Chang is said to be the reincarnation of Marpa, the guru of the eleventh century yogi Milarepa, and Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche is the reincarnation of Marpa’s son. In their subsequent rebirths, until now when they are contemporaries, they alternated as father and son and guru and disciple.

In his previous life, Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche was one of the debate partners and advisors to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He was the son of Serkong Dorje Chang in the latter’s life during the time of the 13th Dalai Lama. Both young lamas study at Ganden Jangste.

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