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Once saved always saved?

JoshuaJoshua Veteran
edited October 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Is a tulku who was previously enlightened be guaranteed to reach enlightenment in his or her current life?

Comments

  • JasonJason God Emperor Arrakis Moderator
    edited October 2010
    Once bitten, twice shy?
  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited October 2010
    valois wrote: »
    Is a tulku who was previously enlightened be guaranteed to reach enlightenment in his or her current life?
    Not all tulkus are the same.
    There are varying degrees of realization based on the five stages and the bodhisattva bhumi's.

    In a sense we are all tulkus of some kind but only bodhisattva's on more advanced levels of the bhumis are capable of controlling their experience for the benefit of others.
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited October 2010
    My understanding of the role of the tulku is that he/she is someone who keeps reincarnating on the human level in order to keep teaching sentient beings.

    There may be other types of tulkus that I am not aware of.

    On a side note, interestingly enough, there is an apparent female tulku who has a place in Maryland who was born in New York City in 1949. Her story and teachings look pretty interesting.

    Then again, Stephen Seagal has been recognized as a tulku. Go figure.
  • ownerof1000oddsocksownerof1000oddsocks Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Jason wrote: »
    Once bitten, twice shy?

    Well, actually I've been bitten three times and have the scars to prove it. I think people are quite selective when it comes to memories, and this at least partially explains encountering the same pitfalls over and over.

    Certainly, when it comes to wising up, some things probably need hammering home a bit more than once.
  • JoshuaJoshua Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Did this woman have such an intuitive grasp of the dharma that she opened some sort of self-help center that was essentially Buddhism without having even known anything about Buddhism? If so I read about her a long time ago, only I can't remember anything detailed about it.

    Yeah, I was just curious if anybody who has become enlightened and intends to reincarnate as a human again will most certainly reach enlightenment yet again. Or if it's a complete gamble?
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited October 2010
    valois wrote: »
    Did this woman have such an intuitive grasp of the dharma...

    Yeah, that's her. I'm too lazy to look it up right now.
  • JasonJason God Emperor Arrakis Moderator
    edited October 2010
    valois wrote: »
    Did this woman have such an intuitive grasp of the dharma that she opened some sort of self-help center that was essentially Buddhism without having even known anything about Buddhism? If so I read about her a long time ago, only I can't remember anything detailed about it.

    Yeah, I was just curious if anybody who has become enlightened and intends to reincarnate as a human again will most certainly reach enlightenment yet again. Or if it's a complete gamble?

    Sounds like Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. Palzang is the person to ask if you want to know more about her.
  • JoshuaJoshua Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Fucking A Jason
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited October 2010
    Jason wrote: »
    Sounds like Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. Palzang is the person to ask if you want to know more about her.

    Cool! That's who Palzang has been referring to. That explains his very good vibe.

    Sorry about the divergence from the thread.
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