H.E. Dharma King Ciren Gyatso Gar Tongstan IV drawing lots from a Golden Vase at Hua Zang Si.
Amitabha Buddha at Hua Zang Si, San Francisco.
Under the watchful eye of the magnificent Amitabha Buddha Statue in the Great Temple Hall at Hua Zang Si in San Francisco and with the blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the International Buddhism Sangha Association held theDrawing Lots from a Golden Vase Ceremonyin which the identities listed below of twelve dharma kings and rinpoches as the reincarnation of certain Holy Beings were affirmed. This is the same ceremony that was used in times past to affirm the selection of the Dalai and Panchen Lamas and the identity of other very high rinpoches. The identity of the dharma king or rinpoche is determined prior to the ceremony. At the ceremony a concealed slip holding a number from one to 10 is selected from a golden urn or vase to affirm the prediction. This may be repeated several times, with the same result occurring each time. For the ceremony held at Hua Zang Si there were twelve rinpoches being tested so that 120 slips were prepared and a concealed slip for each of the twelve candidates was selected to affirm the twelve predictions that had been made earlier by His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu.
The Golden Vase used in the ceremony.
In all twelve cases the number selected corresponded with the predicted number, thus confirming the prediction, a truly amazing phenomena. This meant that for twelve times in a row, the correct prediction was made out of 120 options.
See the book H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III for more background on this ceremony and more detailed biographies on the dharma kings and rinpoches. Click the name of the dharma king or rinpoche and/or the name of the Buddha or Bodhisattva below for photos and very brief descriptions.
H. H. Dharma King Great Vehicle Sakya Trizin, Supreme Head of the Sakya Sect: MANJUSHRI BODHISATTVA
H. H. Dharma King Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Nyingma: GURU PADMASAMBHAVA
H. H. Dharma King Pema Norbu Penor Rinpoche, Supreme Head of the Nyingma Sect: VAJRAPANI BODHISATTVA
H. H. Dharma King Omniscience Jamyang Lungdok Gyaltsen Achuk, Nyingma: LONGSAL NYINGPO
H. H. Dharma King Jigme Dorje, Supreme Head of the Jonang Sect: KING SUCHANDRA
H. H. Dharma King Trulshik Rinpoche, Nyingma: MAITREYA BODHISATTVA
H. E. Dharma King Mighty Lion Renzeng Nima, Nyingma: KING GESAR
Ven. Urgyen Xirao Woxiu, Nyingma: URGYEN LINGPA
H. E. Dharma King Shamarpa, Red Jewel Crown Regent Dharma King, Karma Kagyu: AVALOKITESHVARA BODHISATTVA
H. E. Dharma King Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche, Orange Jewel Crown Regent Dharma King, Karma Kagyu: GAMPOPA
H. E. Dharma King Dorje Rinzin Rinpoche, Nyingma: RIGZIN TERDAK LINGPA UNCHANGING VAJRA BEING
H. E. Xiazhu Qiuyang Rinpoche, Geluk: NAROPA
At another time the ceremony was performed to affirm the reincarnated identity of four more holy beings:
H.E. Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche, Nyingma: YESHE TSOGYAL
H.E. Dharma King Ngagwang Pedma Namgyal Palzangpo, Jonang: DUQIN LANGWA
H.E. Shechen Rabjam RInpoche, Nyingma: RABJAM RINPOCHE
Ven. Junmai Baima Dorje Rinpoche VI: VAJRAVARAHI
The identity of twenty-two additional rinpoches was also affirmed:
H.E. Dzogchen Ganor Rinpoche, Nyingma
Ven. Angwang Khyentse Rinpoche, Sakya
H.E. Dharma King Dzogchen Jigme Losel Wangpo Rinpoche (India), Nyingma
H.E. Dharma King Dzogchen Tenzin Longdock Nyima Rinpoche (Tibet), Nyingma
H.E. Renqing Rongbo Barongbo Rinpoche, Nyingma
H.E. Karmapa Green Jewel Crown Dharma King Jiezhong, Kagyu
Ven. Kalsang Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Geluk
Zangxia Rinpoche, Geluk
Ven. Yundeng Jiangcuo Rinpoche
Respected Bamda Tubten Geleg Gyatso Rinpoche
Respected Baima Rongzhu Rinpoche VI
Respected Eba Rinpoche V
Respected Khenpo Chucheng Qupei Rinpoche
Respected Wangzhi Tudeng Jinmei Rinpoche
Respected Bishop Seicho Asahi, Shingon
Respected Gele Sanbu Rinpoche
Luozhu Jiangcuo Rinpoche
Lama Renzhen Rinpoche
Duozhu Rinpoche
Gongbo Rinpoche
Great Khenpo Gongcheng Rinpoche
Pengcuo Rinpoche