Reincarnation
Dzarong Thupten Dongak Choeling Monastery, Junbesi, Nepal
Bowing, a monk welcomes us at the door and leads us into a room filled with pellucid light. Small, fifteen feet by fifteen feet, a quarter of it is occupied by a monk and boy seated on meditation cushions behind low tables laden with prayer books, religious implements and teacups. The older monk is dressed in traditional Tibetan Buddhist maroon robes. Sitting higher, the boy wears a gold robe with a maroon collar over a bright yellow shirt. His head thinly shaven, he looks ten years old, and stares straight ahead deep in thought. Six more people, all Nepalis, crowd into the room. I’m the only westerner. A fourth monk hands us white katas, a silk scarf that the bearer presents to lamas, dignitaries, honored guests and tourists. Holding it with two hands, each Nepali presents it to the boy. Silently, he blesses the kata, then places it around their necks. They bow and walking backwards move away. Repeating their presentation of the kata, I approach the 32nd Reincarnation of His Holiness Trulshik Rinpoche. Thirty-second needs to be put in context: His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th Dalai Lama, the first Dalai Lama being ordained in the 14th Century CE. The Reincarnation takes the kata, blesses it and places it around my neck. As I back away and bow, he asks, “Where are you from?” I say, “The U.S., state of Montana. Do you know where it is?” He shakes his head no. We exchange several more life facts, that unfortunately I forget due to being dumbfounded in the presence of the world’s oldest reincarnation.
only later in a photo
do I see the children's books
on his table
Michael G. Smith, Bozeman, MT, is a Zen Buddhist practitioner who tries to live by the koan There is someone at peace walking in the Tao.
You can see more of Michael's work in 13.3 and 13.1 and 13.1 and 12.2 and 12.2 and 12.1 and 11.1 and 11.1 and 11.1 and 10.2 and 9.2 and 9.2 and 9.2