Reting Rinpoche
Encyclopedia
Reting Rinpoche is the title held by abbots of Reting Monastery
, a Buddhist monastery in central Tibet
. The identity of the present Reting Rinpoche is contested.
incarnation. It is for this reason that most observers believe the Chinese government has tried to install a sympathetic figure in the position.
(1911–1947; ), played a significant role in Tibetan history as the one-time regent of the present Dalai Lama. He was replaced in 1941 and subsequently is alleged to have organized an uprising against his replacement. He died in 1947 in the prisons of Lhasa's Potala, apparently the victim of poisoning. A jailor also pretended that his testicles were bound and beaten until he died of the pain. Melvyn C. Goldstein report words from Tsepon W. D. Shakabpa who said many people said so, but an investigation was carried out by the Tibetan Assembly to check Reting's body. Shakabpa was member of the committee that also included Tsarong, Khenchen Lobsang Tashi, Gyetakba, as well as representatives from Reting and Sera Monasteries. Tsarong declared to the Assembly there was no evidence that Reting was strangled, there was no wound or anything.
The episode exposed a number of the political dimensions of the religious hierarchy in Lhasa. Critics of the fifth Reting Rinpoche accused him of widespread corruption, and involvement with married women as a monk. Defenders alleged that his imprisonment was partly the result of his attraction to the teachings of the Nyingma
lineage, a politically sensitive orientation, and that the case against him had been fabricated by the cabinet minister Kapshopa.
His charming personality, imprisonment and death feature significantly in Martin Scorsese's 1997 film Kundun
.
was born in Lhasa
in 1948. He was identified as the reincarnation of the fifth Reting Rinpoche in 1951 and enthroned in 1955. He was recognized by the Tibetan government. He stayed in Tibet when the Tibetan government went in exile in 1959 during the Tibetan diaspora
.
He died in 1997 and was succeeded by a reincarnation that was appointed by the Chinese
government and not considered legitimate by religious authorities.
In an open letter to the Dalai Lama, Reting Hutuku claims that since the Dalai Lama's root Guru, Trijang Rinpoche
, was a devotee of Dorje Shugden
, "he succeeded in destroying the living tradition of Je Tsong Kapa
." He asks that the Dalai Lama "swiftly liberate all those ignorant of the mistaken path they follow in believing there still exists a valid Gelugpa lineage."
Reting Monastery
Reting Monastery is an historically important Buddhist monastery in Lhünzhub County in the Lhasa Prefecture of central Tibet. It is also commonly spelled "Radreng."...
, a Buddhist monastery in central Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. The identity of the present Reting Rinpoche is contested.
History of the lineage
Historically, the Reting Rinpoche has occasionally acted as the selector of the new Dalai LamaDalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
incarnation. It is for this reason that most observers believe the Chinese government has tried to install a sympathetic figure in the position.
First to fourth Reting Rinpoche
- Ngawang Chokden (1677–1751)
- Lobsang Yeshe Tenpa Rabgye (1759–1815)
- Ngawang Yeshe Tsultrim Gyaltsen (1816–1863)
- Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenpai Gyaltsen (?)
Regency of the Fifth Reting Rinpoche
The fifth Reting Rinpoche, Thubten Jamphel Yeshe GyaltsenJamphel Yeshe Gyaltsen
Jamphel Yeshe Gyaltsen, aka Thupten Jampel Yishey Gyantsen, was a Tibetan tulku and the fifth Reting Rinpoche.-Life:...
(1911–1947; ), played a significant role in Tibetan history as the one-time regent of the present Dalai Lama. He was replaced in 1941 and subsequently is alleged to have organized an uprising against his replacement. He died in 1947 in the prisons of Lhasa's Potala, apparently the victim of poisoning. A jailor also pretended that his testicles were bound and beaten until he died of the pain. Melvyn C. Goldstein report words from Tsepon W. D. Shakabpa who said many people said so, but an investigation was carried out by the Tibetan Assembly to check Reting's body. Shakabpa was member of the committee that also included Tsarong, Khenchen Lobsang Tashi, Gyetakba, as well as representatives from Reting and Sera Monasteries. Tsarong declared to the Assembly there was no evidence that Reting was strangled, there was no wound or anything.
The episode exposed a number of the political dimensions of the religious hierarchy in Lhasa. Critics of the fifth Reting Rinpoche accused him of widespread corruption, and involvement with married women as a monk. Defenders alleged that his imprisonment was partly the result of his attraction to the teachings of the Nyingma
Nyingma
The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism . "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," and is often referred to as Nga'gyur or the "old school" because it is founded on the first translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan, in the eighth century...
lineage, a politically sensitive orientation, and that the case against him had been fabricated by the cabinet minister Kapshopa.
His charming personality, imprisonment and death feature significantly in Martin Scorsese's 1997 film Kundun
Kundun
Kundun is a 1997 epic biographical film written by Melissa Mathison and directed by Martin Scorsese. It is based on the life and writings of the 14th Dalai Lama, the exiled political and spiritual leader of Tibet...
.
Sixth and seventh Reting Rinpoche
There were two claimants to the position of 6th Reting Rinpoche, one of whom has already deceased.Tenzin Jigme and his reincarnation
Tenzin Jigme Thutob WangchukTenzin Jigme
Tenzin Jigme was a Tibetan tulku and the sixth Reting Rinpoche.His reincarnation is recognized by the Tibetan government...
was born in Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
in 1948. He was identified as the reincarnation of the fifth Reting Rinpoche in 1951 and enthroned in 1955. He was recognized by the Tibetan government. He stayed in Tibet when the Tibetan government went in exile in 1959 during the Tibetan diaspora
Tibetan diaspora
The Tibetan diaspora is a term used to refer to the communities of Tibetan people living outside Tibet. Tibetan emigration happened in two waves: one in 1959 following the 14th Dalai Lama's self-exile in India, and the other in the 1980s when Tibet was opened to trade and tourism. The third wave...
.
He died in 1997 and was succeeded by a reincarnation that was appointed by the Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
government and not considered legitimate by religious authorities.
Sixth Reting Hutukthu
Another candidate as sixth Reting Rinpoche carries his title as the sixth Reting Hutukthu. He claims that the Tibetan government continued to suppress the Reting lineage after the death of the 5th by appointing an illegitimate candidate and then abandoning him in Tibet. He presently resides in an undisclosed location in India.In an open letter to the Dalai Lama, Reting Hutuku claims that since the Dalai Lama's root Guru, Trijang Rinpoche
Trijang Rinpoche
Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was a Gelug Lama and a direct disciple of Je Pabongka. He was the junior tutor and spiritual guide of the 14th Dalai Lama for forty years. He is also the root lama of many Gelug Lamas who teach in the West including Zong Rinpoche, Geshe Rabten, Lama Yeshe, Lama Gangchen...
, was a devotee of Dorje Shugden
Dorje Shugden
Dorje Shugden , "Vajra Possessing Strength", or Dolgyal Shugden , "Shugden, King of Dhol" is a deity in Tibetan Buddhism, especially its Gelug school, who is regarded as a Dharma Protector or "guardian angel." The practice of Dharma Protectors is central to most religious Tibetans and...
, "he succeeded in destroying the living tradition of Je Tsong Kapa
Je Tsongkhapa
Tsongkhapa , whose name means “The Man from Onion Valley”, was a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism whose activities led to the formation of the Geluk school...
." He asks that the Dalai Lama "swiftly liberate all those ignorant of the mistaken path they follow in believing there still exists a valid Gelugpa lineage."
External links
- Further biographical info about the fifth Reting Rinpoche, Thupten Jampel Yishey Gyantsen.
- Reting.org Website purporting to be that of an India-based claimant to the title of 6th Reting Rinpoche. Many references to material on the so-called Reting Conspiracy can be found here.