Resurrection

 

Credit: Chitta.crb

So I asked my new friend ChatGPT about "physical resurrections" in Tibetan Buddhism...

Are there cases in which the person attaining the rainbow body have re-appeared in a physical form (according to alleged eye witness accounts)?

Yes, there are alleged eyewitness accounts of Tibetan Buddhist masters who attained the Rainbow Body and later reappeared in a physical form. These reports often describe masters manifesting in dreams, visions, or even seemingly physical appearances after their supposed dissolution. However, such claims remain within the realm of Tibetan religious tradition and belief, rather than scientifically verifiable phenomena.

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1. Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche)

• Time Period: 8th century CE

• Alleged Event:

  • Tibetan texts state that Padmasambhava did not die in a normal way but rather attained the Great Transfer (Rainbow Body of Light).

  • Many followers believe he still appears to advanced practitioners in visions and even physically manifests at sacred sites in Tibet and India.

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2. Nyala Pema Dündul (1816–1872)

• Alleged Event:

  • After attaining Rainbow Body, his physical form vanished, leaving behind only hair and nails.

  • Some disciples claimed to see him in visions afterward, receiving teachings from him.

  • His students recorded accounts of his posthumous appearances, reinforcing his spiritual presence.

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3. Khenpo A-chö (1998)

• Alleged Event:

  • After his body shrank and emitted light, some of his closest disciples reported seeing him in dreams and waking visions.

  • Some claimed that he spoke to them and gave further teachings even after his physical disappearance.

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4. Rangjung Dorje, 3rd Karmapa (1284–1339)

• Alleged Event:

  • After his passing, monks and disciples reported seeing his physical form appear in different locations, continuing to give guidance.

  • Some claimed that he continued to influence events from beyond physical existence.

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5. Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen (1935)

• Alleged Event:

  • According to eyewitnesses, his body shrank and transformed into light at death.

  • Followers reported receiving messages from him and even seeing him in a tangible form after the event.

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Interpretations of "Reappearance"

Tibetan Buddhism offers several explanations for these alleged posthumous appearances:

1. Tulku Manifestation – The master can reappear voluntarily in a different form to teach others.

2. Sambhogakaya Form – The enlightened being manifests in a visionary, subtle form to communicate with advanced practitioners.

3. Physical Reappearance – Rarely, some traditions claim that certain masters can physically re-materialize.

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Conclusion

While Tibetan Buddhist tradition holds that some Rainbow Body masters reappear after dissolution, these accounts are based on religious experiences rather than scientific evidence. Many followers accept these stories as part of their faith, while skeptics view them as visions or symbolic interpretations rather than literal physical reappearances.

Would you like to explore more about the theoretical basis for reappearance in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy?

Are there any accounts of physical appearences of Padmasambhava?

Yes, there are numerous accounts within Tibetan Buddhist tradition claiming that Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) has physically appeared to devotees, both historically and in more recent times. These accounts come primarily from terma (hidden treasure texts) and the testimonies of advanced practitioners.

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1. Traditional Accounts of Padmasambhava’s Physical Reappearance

A. The 11th–12th Century: Reappearing to Reveal Terma Treasures

• Many tertöns (treasure revealers), such as Nyangral Nyima Özer (12th century) and Guru Chöwang (13th century), claimed to have encountered Padmasambhava in a physical form while retrieving hidden teachings (terma).

• These masters described him as appearing in a youthful or radiant form, guiding them to hidden texts and relics.

B. The 17th Century: Visions and Physical Guidance

• The 17th-century master Terdak Lingpa is said to have met Padmasambhava in a physical body in a hidden valley in Tibet.

• The 5th Dalai Lama also claimed to have received direct teachings from Padmasambhava through visions that seemed as real as physical encounters.

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2. Modern Accounts of Physical Appearances

A. Dudjom Rinpoche (1904–1987)

• Dudjom Rinpoche, one of the greatest Nyingma lineage masters, claimed to have met Padmasambhava in a physically tangible form in a remote cave.

• He described the experience as Padmasambhava speaking directly and giving teachings.

B. H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910–1991)

• A close disciple of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, he was said to have encountered Padmasambhava physically during deep meditation retreats.

C. Tertön Sogyal (1856–1926)

• He reportedly had a face-to-face meeting with Padmasambhava and received sacred texts from him.

• The 13th Dalai Lama regarded him as a genuine recipient of Padmasambhava’s direct transmission.

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3. Interpretations of These Accounts

• Tibetan Buddhists view these as literal, physical encounters, where Padmasambhava temporarily manifests a body for the benefit of his students.

• Some interpretations suggest that these may be Sambhogakaya manifestations—not ordinary physical appearances but experiences as real as physical encounters for highly realized practitioners.

• Skeptics and historians suggest these may be visionary experiences rather than true physical reappearances.

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Conclusion

While mainstream historians do not recognize physical reappearances of Padmasambhava, Tibetan Buddhist tradition maintains hundreds of alleged cases where realized masters saw, spoke with, or received teachings from him in a tangible form.

Would you like references to specific Tibetan texts that record these encounters?

How did Padmasambhava attain the rainbow body originally, according to the traditional understanding?

According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) attained the Great Transfer (Rainbow Body of Light) at the end of his time in Tibet. This means that instead of experiencing a normal physical death, he transformed his body into light and left no physical remains. This event is seen as the culmination of his mastery of Dzogchen and Vajrayana practices.

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How Did Padmasambhava Attain the Rainbow Body?

1. His Mastery of Dzogchen and Tantric Practices

• Padmasambhava was believed to have achieved the highest realization of Dzogchen (the Great Perfection), which allows the practitioner to dissolve the physical body into light.

• Through phowa (transference of consciousness) and tögal (spontaneous presence meditation), he completely purified his body and mind.

• His lifelong practice of Vajrayana tantra, including inner heat (tummo), dream yoga, and deity yoga, helped him transcend physical limitations.

2. His Final Days in Tibet (According to Nyingma Texts)

• Before departing, Padmasambhava gathered his closest disciples and predicted future events, including the coming of tertöns (treasure revealers) who would find his hidden teachings (terma).

• He gave final instructions to King Mutri Tsenpo (the son of Trisong Detsen) and his Tibetan disciples.

3. The Great Transfer at Copper-Colored Mountain (Zangdok Palri)

• According to The Lotus-Born Biography (Nyangral Nyima Özer, 12th century):

  • Padmasambhava did not die in Tibet but rode a sunbeam to the mystical realm of Zangdok Palri (Copper-Colored Mountain) in the pure land of the dakinis.

  • Witnesses saw his body radiate light, and he disappeared into the sky.

  • Only his hair and nails remained, a classic sign of Rainbow Body realization.

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Traditional Significance of His Rainbow Body Attainment

1. He Remains Active in the World

   • Tibetan Buddhists believe that Padmasambhava never truly left and continues to manifest in visions, dreams, and physical appearances to guide practitioners.

2. The Model for Future Masters

   • Many Dzogchen masters (such as Nyala Pema Dündul, Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen, and Khenpo A-chö) are believed to have attained the Rainbow Body by following his path.

3. Terma Teachings & Prophecies

   • Before leaving, he hid secret teachings (terma) across Tibet and Bhutan, to be revealed by tertöns like Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Dudjom Rinpoche in later centuries.

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Conclusion

According to Tibetan tradition, Padmasambhava attained the Great Transfer (Rainbow Body of Light) by fully realizing Dzogchen and Vajrayana practices. Instead of dying, he vanished into light, leaving behind no corpse and traveling to Zangdok Palri, where he continues to guide practitioners.

Would you like a list of Tibetan texts that describe this event in detail?