Traktung Rinpoche: Really? Hmmm …chat rooms are full of hell-realm beings trying to make themselves feel significant. It is very sad.

I: Most recently there was a statement that the Dalai Lama’s office has said, in a response to a question, that the Dalai Lama has made no "official" recognition of you as the tülku of Do Khyentsé Yeshé Dorjé.

TR: (Rinpoche laughs, very hard, for a long time) Well, if we were to comprise a list of all those Lamas who "have not recognized me" it would be very very very long indeed!

The issue of "tülku" is really very amusing and is, at heart, a litmus test for the level of dull wittedness of any given individual. Human beings are so very full of silliness as well as endless attempts to "secure" status, power, fame, and security in a world tinged by impermanence. Sad, silly, stupid!

Tülku, Guru, Lama is not — or at least should not be — a status. It is a function not a status. If one were a tülku then one might have certain obligations and a tendency towards spirituality… but that is about it. I have met many tülkus and not all them were what one might call top-notch people — even in an ordinary sense. Many tülkus are "recognized" as part and parcel of the power brokering within various traditions. Not all, but many. Perhaps I was. I know a Lama who offers to make people tülkus for a certain sum of money. When the system works it provides a valuable continuity of training and thereby improves a certain individual's service to all beings. It is supposed to be about service to all beings not about adding to the human realm's obsession with the eight worldly concerns.

By reconnecting with training that has progressed for lifetimes one should be able to embody skillful means and love, wisdom and compassion more swiftly and more thoroughly. That would be very good. One could also work to preserve certain lines of practice. tülku is function not status. But, of course, it has become almost anything but that. As Carl Jung once said "Where there is the will to power there is no love and where there is love there is no will to power."

Whenever you mix power, money and politics with religion you get the eight worldly concerns run rampant. It is the compulsion of human beings to turn whatever is sublime into a morass of aggression and despair. The issue of "tülku" takes on importance, to most, because it is thought to lend legitimacy to ones claims of status and position in the Who’s Who world of Dharma whoring. If I am a tülku of some famous Lama then my absurd statements might have to be regarded as having value — regardless of their intrinsic value. Very stupid. If I am not a tülku then they can be disregarded as the beating of an empty drum, the blathering of another worthless upstart. In other words — status becomes the measuring rod of debate rather than logic, insight or intelligence Either view is, of course, merely example of the lazy, degraded state of most people’s critical acumen.

People do not want to think for themselves, they do not want to see with their own eyes, they do not want to have to listen to and study and evaluate the teachings. Authority based on status is flawed logic as is attacking a person’s character rather than their arguments. Logic is a powerful tool for refining intelligence to the point one can understand and embrace the trans-logical processes of Dzogpa Chenpo. Why in the world would it make any difference if I were a tülku? Listen to my teachings, evaluate them, take em or leave em. The tülku argument could only be of interest to politicians and people with rock star fantasy phenomena Dharma. Spiritual materialist and spiritual consumerists. Of course these two categories make up the vast majority of Dharma practitioners east and west — including tülkus, lamas, guurs, teachers, followers, sycophantic kiss ass disciples and angry detractors.

I have never sought to "be recognized" and could not care less about such recognition. I am not a whore and have no wish to become one. I serve the sublime Lotus Born and Lake Queen; what use do I have for whoring attempts to garner fame or "recognition". I am not in doubt of what I do or who I am. Like or not — that’s enough for me. I have not profited in any way from such recognition nor would I allow myself to become the whore of such profit. Not a single member of our sangha is here because "I am a tülku." And I would never accept a person for whom it made an iota of difference. Wanting to bask in the glow of another’s specialness is not the seed of authentic Dharma and I find such people very annoying. Sycophantic kiss asses do not a good sangha make. People who like such people do not make good Lamas. I enjoy people who have a passion for Dharma, who can investigate and study and ask intelligent questions and work to transform their lives. These are the people who have gathered here - not rock star groupies.

It is amusing and very telling that, from what you tell me, those who "attack" my tülku status seem unable to grasp that it is not about power, status, money, or market share. This tells us something about them — something beyond the fact that they have not even entered the doorway of Dharma but only jumped into the eight worldly concerns in new clothing. Pimps and whores abound!

I: And what about this question of the Dalai Lama’s recognition?

TR: There is simply is no "what" about it. What does the Dalai Lama have to do with it? Namkha Rinpoche, who is the holder of the family lineage of Do Khyentsé Yeshé Dorjé, recognized me. Namkha Rinpoche, who was recognized by Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoche as a tülku of Trak Ngak Lingpa, has also become my student and accepted me as his root Lama. End of story. Either he is right or wrong — I have to decide for myself and decide what it means to me. Frankly I do not see how it concerns anyone else — unless they have some connection with Do Khyentsé. Namkha Rinpoche has great affection and respect for the Dalai Lama as both Lama and King. I however have nothing in particular for or against the Dalai Lama. He is not my Lama or my King. Nor am I a rock star groupie.

As for the Dalai Lama I cannot imagine why he would concern himself over the matter — which it seems that he has not. In terms of Tibetan power positions — I have no interest. There are many tülkus of Do Khyentsé — who knows, maybe there is one for each of his many consorts! I am glad to leave the "power" and status to them. The Dalai Lama is a king and world-class politician - the world of status and power is best left in his hands. The political intrigue of Tibetan society and religion is beyond what any westerner can imagine and should be left to them. For me it is about love and not power. Being a tülku does not benefit me in any way. Nor should it!

I would like to make something abundantly clear: If there is any status or power in being a tülku of Do Khyentsé then I unequivocally renounce it. If there is any material power or benefit to me personally of any sort in this recognition then I, without hesitation or reserve, renounce it. I renounce power, status, fame, and authority over others - of any sort. I renounce being the whore of grasping claims of specialness. Specialness is the coin which all people trade their Buddha nature for — no thanks!

If any one wants to think that I am special because of "recognition" by some other person — whom they do not even know — then let them live in the stupidity of their unexamined foolishness. If anyone wants to attack me for having been "recognized" - then, well, as long as I am true to my spiritual practice there will be nowhere for tigers to put their claws or rhinos to thrust their horns and I can continue to wander about without fear.

I: Are you the tülku of Do Khyentsé?

TR: Yes.

I: How do you know? Because you were recognized by Namkha Rinpoche?

TR: No. I know in the same way you know what you ate for breakfast this morning.

I: How can I know that it is true?

TR: For the life of me I cannot understand why you care — except that — if I am, as my disciple, perhaps you are inflated to a higher status? Are you perhaps a sycophantic fame grasper? (Laughing hard, Rinpoche says:) I knew a girl in college who only had sex with the children of famous people. I knew her because my mother was quite famous at the time. Outside of some spiritual insight, or authentic faith - versus idiot rock star faith - you cannot know. But then, in truth, it makes no difference.

I: Rinpoche, I have known you a long time and it is exceedingly clear that you do not care if people believe this tülku "recognition."

TR: I care so little that I think it would be hard to believe how little I care. In fact outside of those whom I have accepted as spiritual guides I cannot say I really care what anyone thinks of me — good or bad. Such a freedom is the luxury of those who bother to actually embrace Padmasambhava’s radical liberating Dharma. I care so little that it actually makes me full of joyous laughter when I hear about the debate. I am happy to have people know so we can all be amused by the debate! It is as if people are actually debating the quality of silk in the emperor’s new cloths. I am amused at the way in which this issue brings the pseudo buddhist power mongers out of the wood work. Anything that can be done to annoy these people is good. Chat rooms and conferences are just the right hell realm for such fools.

I: Last year you and Namkha Rinpoche met, in a private interview, with the Dalai Lama. Was that about you being a tülku? Could you tell me about that?

TR: Sure. I have no real idea of what it was about. Namkha Rinpoche very much wanted to meet with the Dalai Lama during the big Tibet festival on the mall in Washington D.C. He also very much wanted Lama A’dzom and I to meet with the Dalai Lama. Namkha Rinpoche and the Dalai Lama have met several times in India but because of the busy schedule in the U.S. Namkha Rinpoche could not arrange the meeting. In order to make this possible, I used a few of my family’s political connections to cause this to happen. The Dalai Lama and my mother have met many times and have strong respect for each other and so he met with us as a favor to my mother.

Adzom Rinpoche, Namkha Rinpoche and I met the Dalai Lama in his hotel room. During most of the twenty minute meeting, Namkha Rinpoche and The Dalai Lama spoke together in Tibetan, so I have no idea what they said. I never even asked. Namkha Rinpoche had previously spoken to the Dalai Lama regarding my visions and dreams of Do Khyentsé and some other matters concerning me. At some point the Dalai Lama turned to me and said "Do you want something?" I replied, "No, nothing." The Dalai Lama then turned to A’dzom and said "And you?" and she replied, "Nothing at all." The Dalai Lama said "Very good." in a cheerful voice and then returned to his conversation with Namkha Rinpoche. That was it — the sum total of my Dalai Lama connection. Pretty impressive, eh?

I: You didn’t ask Namkha Rinpoche what the Dalai Lama said?

TR: No. I didn’t really care. He told me a few things - the usual polite, "Good work, keep it up." Namkha Rinpoche said that he was supportive of the projects we were doing together. I didn’t ask any though. It was something of a non-event to me. I remember, as a kid attending one of my father’s philosophy classes at Georgetown University, my father quoted a philosopher whose name I can no longer remember. The philosopher said, "In my 70 years I have learned one truly valuable thing and that is that there are many many things about which I need not have an opinion." That is one the single wisest and most important things I ever heard!

I: You had nothing to ask the Dalai Lama?

TR: No. Why would I? I am not Tibetan. He is not my king. I am not Gelugpa. He is not my root lama. I am not into Dalai Lama Rock Star groupie view— that is not Dharma. Personally, I do not approve of the idea that Nyingma matters should be settled by Gelugpa leaders. It is demeaning to the Nyingma lineage and utterly unnecessary.

Perhaps this is because I am "incarnationally" of Golok decent and Goloks do not bow their heads to the government in Lhasa. Perhaps it’s because I am of Scottish highland descent and embrace the rugged independence of those early clans. Perhaps it is because I am an overly aggressive and self-important fool but I do not bow my head to anyone, nor do I recognize that they have any power or authority over me, unless I have pledged my heart to them - Jerry Falwell or Dalai Lama. That does not mean that I do not respect them or think they might be wonderful people. That is a different issue.

I want to make clear again that this does not mean that I do not see the potential for the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa or anyone else to be a profound spiritual being. But I am Nyingmapa and that is my only refuge. As a Tantric Nyingmapa I only recognize the authority of whomever I have given my heart to as root lama. And that is something not to be done lightly, with any old person who does the traveling Lama road show. The Dalai Lama is not the Pope, nor am I Catholic.

I: Is there anything else you want to say?

TR: Not really. I hope that everyone will be happy and embrace the path beyond suffering. I hope that everyone will remember the taste of freedom born into the hearts of those of noble family. Don’t trade your dignity for cheap illusions. Don’t be a whore for mediocrity.