My Student

I have been asked more than once, how my student Rinpoche became a high lama at such a young age. He was reincarnated and born as Rinpoche, so his status reflects his good works and pure heart of his previous life as the great teacher, or Rinpoche. I know him as a 30 year old monk who likes to eat meat, and read Frog and Toad stories.

Last night I asked him to tell me about his childhood. In accordance with the natural order, when an individual is born as a high lama their family suffers a great deal, this is so that good and bad remain in balance. Rinpoche was born in 19XX during one of the most oppressive times in Tibet, during this time individuals were not allowed to visit the monasteries and there were cut off from religion. At age two Rinpoche began to chant prayers, and speak about life in the monastery; prayers that had not been uttered his life time, and monastic life that did exist at that time. His father knew that his son was a reincarnated person and kept it a secret from the community and from the communists for 14 years.

During those 14 years mass starvation across Tibet, and across China, destroyed the population. Rinpoche’s family was no different, by the time he was 4 his mother, sister, and brother had died. He was left to take care of paralyzed father while his sister worked in the fields. When he was 16 there was a reasonable amount of freedom in Tibet and his father identified him to local monks. He was confirmed as a reincarnated Rinpoche. There must have been a great party at this point because when he is telling me this story he laughs and says that the village was very happy for two days. I believe him and wish I had seen it.

Three years later he made the dangerous passage to Nepal, it took him 18 days. When he arrived in Katmandu he learns that His Holiness the Dalia Lama has received to Nobel Peace Prize. He twinkles as he says this and his sincerity is palpable, he believes in good, and someday that there will be freedom in Tibet.