The recognition of multiple incarnations is not that uncommon, either historically or in the present day. Though normally it is not a question of a single authority certifying two or more people as rebirths of the same lama, but of several competing candidates being certified by competing authorities. This may be resolved by one of the candidates emerging over time as generally recognised, but it may also be resolved by negotiation leading to more than one being recognised.

The classic example there is the recognition of three candidates of the Shabdrung Rinpoche, the head lama and ruler of pre-modern Bhutan, as representing the body, speech and mind of the Shabdrung. The story is told in Michael Aris's Bhutan: The Early History of a Himalayan Kingdom (Aris and Phillips, Warminster, 1979, see pp.258-262 in particular).

The multiple reincarnations of the Mkhyen brtse, Kong sprul and Mchog gling lamas in the 20th century are another well-known example (see E. Gene Smith, Among Tibetan Texts, Wisdom Publications, Boston, 2001, pp.267-272; Orgyan Tobgyal, The Lifeof Chokgyur Lingpa, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, Kathmandu, 1988, pp.47-60). For more recent examples there are the multiple rebirths of bDud ’joms Rin po che or the 16th rGyal ba Karma pa. But there are quite a few others.

Best wishes

Geoffrey

From: INDOLOGY <indology-bounces@list.indology.info> on behalf of Jeffery Long via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info>
Sent: 24 March 2023 01:16
To: indology@list.indology.info <indology@list.indology.info>
Subject: [INDOLOGY] Tibetan Buddhism Question (with apologies for cross-posting)
 
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Dear Colleagues,

I assume most of us have seen Bernardo Bertolucci’s film Little Buddha. If you have not seen it, you may want to stop reading this email at this point, as I am about to spoil the plot with my question.

Have there been any historical cases of a tülku being certified as having been reborn in more than one body at the same time? In the film, the three children who are candidates for the reincarnation of Lama Dorje are all determined to be his reincarnation. Is this based on any actual historical precedent?

I seem to recall this being the case, but I have searched in vain for the reference (if it does, indeed, exist).

Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to offer!

All the best,

Jeff

Dr. Jeffery D. Long
Carl W. Zeigler Professor of Religion, Philosophy, & Asian Studies
School of Arts & Humanities
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA
 
https://etown.academia.edu/JefferyLong
 
Series Editor, Explorations in Indic Traditions: Ethical, Philosophical, and Theological
Lexington Books
 
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