Living Buddha(Tulku) is important in the heritage of Tibetan Buddhism. I met this living Buddha in a small village under Mount Ge'Nyen. Since my guide knew him well, he took us on a morning walk through the surrounding mountains. He didn't speak Chinese, only Tibetan, as we relied on his nephew to translate all our communication. He is the most respected lama in the nearby villages and towns, and every summer he goes to the Lengku monastery on Mount Ge'Nyen to give lectures to hundreds of lamas.
A Living Buddha and The Leftover of A Temple July 2021
People often sigh that times have changed and often stay in memories of the past. The broken bricks and tiles in the photo are the old temple site. Living Buddha often went to this temple to study and worship Buddha when he was a child. However, with the passage of time, the younger generation did not remember that there had been temples here, and the broken walls were just like the older people telling stories that only they knew. Life, old age, illness, and death, life in nature is constantly changing, crossing the boundaries of region and time. Magnificent buildings will no longer exist, but the power of life will always be passed on.
Living Buddha and His Nephew July 2021
Unlike monks elsewhere, monks in Tibet do not leave their families completely. Every year when they are busy with farming, monasteries also have a holiday to let monks go home to help. Although he is the chief monk in the nearby temple, living Buddha does not need to live in the temple on the mountain all the time. He usually lives in a small house at the foot of the mountain to practice by himself, and his nephews like to play with Uncle Living Buddha very much, and the Living Buddha will also take them to the nearby mountains or temples. Around the family, the living Buddha is no longer superior in front of people but like an ordinary uncle.
Living Buddha’s Place to Practice Buddhism July 2021
Only on major Buddhist festivals every year, the living Buddha will live in temples and teach more than 200 other monks. Other times, he will live in this small house near the village at the foot of the mountain. This house was built with the help of the living Buddha's family. It is specially used for him to practice. Usually, the daily necessities are also sent to him by his family.
Inside Living Buddha’s Place July 2021
This picture shows the interior of the living Buddha's house. The furnishings are very simple and can only meet the most basic life needs. He does not even have a bedroom, and the bed was put in the wardrobe. Everyone in the surrounding villages respects the living Buddha, so people will bring butter tea, fruits, and other food here, to support him.