11situpa1.gif (19192 bytes)  A Brief History Of The Tai Situpas


The lineage of the Tai Situpas is traced to one of the chief disciples of the Gotama Buddha, the Bodhisattva Maitreya. Since that time there have been numerous successive, whose achievements are recorded in Sanskrit, Chinese and Tibetan annals. An early and important incarnation in Tibet is that of Marpa Lotsawa (1020-1097), a great teacher who helped to revive Buddhism in Tibet, after its decline during the time of Tibet king, Long Tharma. Marpa visited India where he learned Sanskrit, received teachings and transmission and obtained numerous Buddhist texts which he later translated into Tibetan. These teachings form the core instructions of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.  

<<<The Eleventh Tai Situpa, Pema Wangchuk Gyalpo, on occasion of his visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan at the invitation of His Majesty Jigmed Wangchuk, the King of Bhutan, in 1936.

  
After several more incarnations, one of which was the Chinese Emperor, Tai Shen Chay, a person of great spiritual power, the Tibetan incarnation Chokyi Gyaltsen 1377-1448), became the first to bear the title Tai Situ. The title was given in China by the Ming Emperor, Yung Lo, in 1407, and though the full title is lengthy it may be shortened to  Kuang Ting Tai Situ which contains the essential meaning "far reaching, unshakable, great master, holder of the command."

   In the early 17th century, the 9th  Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje, a great master of the Kagyu School, acknowledge the spiritual mastery of the Tai Situpas when he bestowed he Red Vajra Crown upon the 5th Tai Situpa, Gelek Palzang (1586-1657). This crown may still be viewed when it is worn by the Tai Situpa during a ritual of his lineage, the Red Vajra Crown Ceremony.  
       
   The incarnation that is one of the most well known and which typifies the activity of the Tai Situpas, is the 8th Tai Situ, Chokyi Jungle (1700-1774), whose life was characterized by extraordinary accomplishment. He was a consummate scholar and author of many texts. His famous Tibetan Grammar is still the foremost advanced text in practical use today. He taught in Sanskrit, Nepali and Chinese. He was renowned for his spiritual ability in forecasting future events. he founded Palpung Monastery in the Kingdom of Derge, located in eastern Tibet, which became the monastic seat of the Tai Situpas. With his disciple Tenpa Tsering, the King of Derge, he established the Derge Printing Press which produced over half a million wood block prints of such fine quality that the major ones have been  reprinted in modern editions and circulated to Tibetan archives in libraries throughout the world. He was a doctor, an astrologer, a poet and an artist who developed new styles of Tibetan thangka painting. Students of his went  on to excel in these various  fields, and from that time onwards Palpung Monastery became an important center of learning and culture.

together.gif (19549 bytes)
Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, and Pema Wangchuk Gyalpo, the Eleventh Tai Situpa,
together with high ranking incarnation lamas from Palpung Monastery on the occasion of His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa's visit to Palpung Monastery in 1937
 
Situpa2.gif (56028 bytes) His work was continued by the 9th Tai Situpa,  Pema Nyingche (1774-1853), who fostered an important renaissance of Buddhist thought in the stimulating intellectual climate of Palpung. Pema Nyingche possessed in talent of recognizing future brilliance in young minds; one of his main disciples was Kongrul Lodro Thaye, (1813-1899), a scholar of phenomenal accomplishment, and author of over 200 definitive texts which consolidated much of the learning of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
 
 <<< The Twelfth and current Tai Situpa as a child in Darjeeling, India
  By the time of the 11th Tai Situpa, Wangchuk Gyalpo (1886-1952), Palpung had a solid reputation for spiritual, scholarly and artistic excellence and authority. Several important incarnate emanations were in traditional residence in addition to the Tai Situpa himself. Palpung was the administrative center for over 13 monastic states, located in different areas of Tibet and was  the head of 180 major monastic establishments, all of which looked to the Tai Situpa for guidance in their spiritual and temporal affairs. The 11th Tai Situpa led an active life of teaching and spiritual leadership. Through his command, he established peace in tribal conflicts as well as peace among smaller kingdoms of Eastern Tibet. He was the main teacher of the 16th Karmapa, the supreme head of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.

  The current and 12th Tai Situpa was born in 1954 in Palyul District of the Derge Kingdom, to a family of farmers. He was recognized according to traditional methods and enthroned at Palpung Monastery at the age of 18 months. When he was six years old, political conditions forced him to leave Tibet with a few attendants, first  travelling to Bhutan and then to Sikkim, where he joined the 16th Karmapa who had  also left Tibet. The time of  hardship and struggle to survive as a refugee was complicated by  illness at an early age.


Situpa7.gif (73915 bytes)
The Tai Situpa consecrating a reconstructed monastery during his visit to Tibet.
After his recovery, he went to live at the newly constructed Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, the new seat of the 16th Karmapa. He received his formal religious training under the guidance of the 16th Karmapa until 1975 when, at the age of 22, he assumed his own traditional responsibilities. He established his first monastic project, called Sherab Ling, at the request of  his Tibetan followers who had settled in northern India.


The Tai Situpa inspecting the woodblocks from the Derge Printing Press during his visit to Tibet in 1984       >>>>>>>
Situpa5.gif (38336 bytes)
Sherab Ling is developed on 30 acres of land located in the Himalayan foothills of north India and is now a  lively monastic community with approximately 100 monks of all ages who are engaged in traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices. The surrounding Indian and Tibetan communities also participate in handicraft, art and health programs designed for lay people.

Sherab.jpg (53040 bytes)
Sherab Ling Monastery in Himalchal Pradesh, India
In 1980, he made his first tour to European countries at the request of Buddhist organizations, and since then has traveled widely in North America, Europe and South East Asia lecturing on Buddhist philosophy and mediation. In response to Western interest in multi-culture activity and spirituality, he founded Maitreya Institute in 1984, an organization based on the principle of multi-discipline. It now has branches in Honolulu, San Francisco and Paris. he visited his homeland, Tibet, in 1984 for the first time since 1959. During his visit, he ordained more than 2,000 men and women and presented a plan of suggestions to the Chinese authorities for the rebuilding, preservation and propagation of the Tibetan Buddhist culture.

¡@

The Tai Situpa delivering a public lecture during his visit to New Zealand in 1988>>

 Situpa3.gif (43471 bytes)
He is the author of   Way to Go, an introduction to Buddhist philosophy and practice, and Tilopa, a study of a tenth century Indian Buddhist master. He is currently involved  in the advancement of inter-faith and inter-cultural humanitarian efforts. As a person concerned for the future well-being of the planet and its people, the Tai Situpa both organizes and participates in events and conferences in many countries, attempting to make compassion and wisdom a part of the vision of life on earth.
Books by the Twelfth Tai Situpa:
Way to Go Published by Scotland: Kagyu Samye Ling
Tilopa Published by Scotland: Kagyu Samye Ling, 1988
Relative World, Ultimate Mind Published by Boston: Shambhala, 1992
Awakening the Sleeping Buddha Published by Boston: Shambhala, 1996
For further information:
SHERAB LING
Institute of Buddhist Studies
P.O.Sansal
District Kangra
Himalchal Pradesh 176-125
India
2443 Fillmore Street, Suite 288
San Francisco, California 94115
USA
Tel: 415-330-7529
 
**Thanks a lot for Lama Tenam's kind help.**