Tulku

tulku (T. sprul sku སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་) is the Tibetan translation for the Sanskrit term nirmanakaya. This term is often used to refer to a re-incarnated lama in the Tibetan tradition.

Tulku Thondup states:

Tulku is the Tibetan translation of the original Sanskrit term nirmanakaya. The term Tulku has been translated as "the manifested-body, created-body, manifestation,” or also as "incarnation, reincarnation, or rebirth." It has been translated into Chinese as huofo, which means “living buddha,” and into Mongolian has qubilyan. Tulkus are the principal standard bears of the Buddhist tradition of Tibet and the providers of spiritual and social guidance for both the ordained and the laity. Tibetan Buddhists have been meticulously following to the tradition of finding, recognizing, and throning, training, and venerating the totals for over a millennium.

In the literature and history of Tibetan Buddhism, we can see three categories of tulku. There are the emanations of the buddhas, the manifestations of the highly accomplished adepts, and the rebirths of highly virtuous teachers or spiritual friends.

First, there are the buddha manifestations (Skt. nirmanakaya), or the tulkus who appear to ordinary beings and serve them in infinite forms simultaneously throughout their fully enlightened power.

Second, there are the tulkus who are the manifestations of highly accomplished adepts, who appear in many forms through the power of their realized wisdom.

Third, there are the rebirths, or tulkus who are virtuous or meritorious teachers, who are fulfilling their own spiritual goals, and serving others through the beneficial effects of their virtuous deeds. Most of the two of Tibet might belong to this third category, the reverse of virtuous teachers or lamas.

Sources

• Tulku Thondup (2011), Incarnation: The History and Mysticism of the Tulku Tradition of Tibet, Shambhala 

Further reading

• Tulku, Wikipedia
• Being a Rinpoche: A Conversation with Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, Buddhistdoor
• sprul sku, Christian-Steinert Dictionary