Legend of China's only female Living Buddha

15:24, August 05, 2009

China's only female Living Buddha. (china.org.cn Photo)

The 12th Samding Doje Phagmo Deqinquzhen is regarded in Tibetan Buddhism as the embodiment of the Buddha mother who gave birth to every Buddha. She is also China's only female Living Buddha to own the title of Great Khutuktu (a high-level Living Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism). On February 8 1949, an auspicious day according to the Tibetan calendar, Deqinquzhen was warmly welcomed into the Samding Monastery by monks and other people dancing and singing Buddhist hymns. Then, the succession ceremony was held, and she formally became the 12th Doje Phagmo Living Buddha.

Deqinquzhen spent her childhood worshipping the Buddha, chanting sutra and practicing Buddhism, and she has been tutored by many eminent monks. She also visited the ancient city of Jiangzi and Chunpishan Mountain to teach Buddhist doctrine and pray for disciples every year.

But all of this ended in March 1959. In that year, the local government in Tibet started a riot, with the Samding Monastery at its center. The rioters intruded into the monastery many times, demanding firearms and food. The Living Buddha and several of her servants escaped from the Samding Monastery and hid on the island in the center of the Yamdrok Tso Lake, but they were found afterwards. "Escorted" by the armed rioters, the living Buddha had to leave Tibet. First she was taken to Bhutan and then to India. In August 1959, the 12th Doje Phagmo Living Buddha was assisted by the Chinese Commercial Agency in Kalimpong. She traveled to Pakistan, and then passed through Afghanistan, Russia and Mongolia, to finally arrive in Beijing at the end of September, before the National Day Ceremony, ending her six month migration across foreign lands.

In the 1980s, the Samding Monastery was re-constructed and the female Living Buddha recommenced the annual Great "Gangjiasa" Dharma Assembly. She finally chose to stay in Lhasa practicing Buddhism at home. The annual Great "Gangjiasa" Dharma Assembly is the only chance for disciples to meet her.

After leaving the Samding Monastery, Deqinquzhen established her own family and returned to secular life. Such an example cannot be found in the history of Doje Phagmo Living Buddha's reincarnations, but the disciples in Tibet who had shared an unpredictable life during their 50 years with her had already accepted the female Living Buddha's choice. On this mysterious plateau, as long as the power of religious belief exists, the blessing of the Buddha will forever accompany the people here, and the reincarnation of Doje Phagmo Living Buddha will go on and on.

By People's Daily Online
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