A monk stayed in death meditation for 18 days!
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Thukdam is also known as 'clear light' and in this case, it is death meditation. It clearly shows that this master is highly attained and has control over his death. While in this meditation, he sits in full meditation with his heart and breath had ceased but his chest remains warm and there's no sign of rigor mortis or decomposition until the meditation ends.
The end of the meditation is signified when his head leans forward and a drop of blood flows out from one of his nostrils and the warmth in the chest is gone. The purpose of the meditation is to prepare the mind to leave the body at will. You see, when we die, we die without control and we can take rebirth anyway in the 6 realms but for meditational masters like these, they die with full control. That's the power of Buddhist Tantra.
Former Ganden Tripa Stays on 'Thukdam'(Death Meditation) for 18 Days
Phayul[Tuesday, October 07, 2008 12:38]
Dharamshala, October 6 – Doctors and researchers at the Drepung monastery were amazed to witness a rare spectacle in the south Indian Tibetan settlement of Mungod. His eminence Lobsang Nyima, the former Gaden Tripa, who passed away on September 14, stayed in Thukdham for 18 days, till 1st October.
Thukdham, as per Tibetan Buddhist Tantric practice, is explained as a stage in which a highly learned lama or practitioner with his life time practice of meditation is able to meditate on the ‘Clear Light Stage’, an ultimate process of inner dissolution of five elements and consciousness. The practitioners, while in Thukdham, are able to control their body from decomposition and to maintain the internal body heat.
Tenzin Namdul, a Tibetan doctor at the Men-Tsee-Khang, and Dr. Yangzom Dolker of Delek hospital, were sent to Mundgod, South India to scientifically investigate the effect of Thukdham on Trisur Rinpoche's body. Thukdham project was initiated last December in collaboration with Dr. Richard Davidson's brain imaging laboratory at University of Wisconsin under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, says Dr. Namdul. The doctors measured the effect of Thukdham on Rinpoche's body through EEG, ECG and body temperature using latest scientific equipment.
Tibetans as well as Indians thronged Drepung for Rinpoche’s blessing. A team of researchers and scientists from Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation from Bangalore arrived to witness what they later termed as a "scientific breakthrough in the effect of intense meditation". Another team of senior doctors and neuroscientists from Belgaum’s KLES Prabhakar Kore Hospital where Rinpoche breathed his last also arrived to witness the spectacle.
“The doctors commented this is something they need to see to believe and now that they have witnessed it, they said they are simply surprised and speechless. Both the team expressed strong desire in initiating a collaborative project on this important and complex subject”, Dr. Namdul said.
Some say that longer period of meditation will prolong the arrival of his reincarnation. Dalai Lama had asked the attendants of Gaden Trisur to allow the mediation to continue. Earlier, the Tibetan leader had said that scientists should examine the state of thukdham of Tibetan masters and Lamas.
Under guidance of Dalai Lama, Trisur Rinpoche's body will be mummified so that people can have his audience and be blessed by his presence, Dr. Namdul said.
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Pls beware of the buddhism from tibet... http://www.youtube.com/user/B612skywalker/videos?view=0&flow=grid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMWrUdvNx0E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNCcwm7z0gs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFLeHzIm-xQ
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goodness, the more I read about buddhism the more confuse I am.
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To be able to remain in Thukdam for 18 days, the Rinpoche must be a super master of samadhi...
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Originally posted by jlowbog:
I don't know what's in those links, but there are lots of misunderstandings about Vajrayana that should be best clarified with the Vajrayana experts in vajracakra and dharmawheel.
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Originally posted by SJS6638:
goodness, the more I read about buddhism the more confuse I am.
Anything confusing, just ask.
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Trisur Rinpoche was in sg a few times
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Originally posted by SJS6638:
goodness, the more I read about buddhism the more confuse I am.
It's ok... learn bit by bit.. you'll be fine
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While there are many possible ways to be misled in Vajrayana, there are also many benefits and skilful means in Vajrayana that helps one progress on the path swiftly.
The main point is it is very important to understand the Dharma properly before one practises Dharma. Or else it becomes blind practice. The possibility of deviations exist in every religion and path.
Don't rush into Vajrayana headlong but find someone who can give you a good introduction. Also, don't be captured by the external forms of rituals only, the essence of Dharma goes beyond that, although these rituals are very useful too. But without explanations by a qualified and committed teacher, you will not be able to understand its deeper significance.
Look for understanding and wisdom, don't just follow conventions. Dharma should and can change your whole life inside out in a positive way. It is not just a compartment of life to resort to when you feel like getting a spiritual high.
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Nice article. Would be great if we can have scientists observing rainbow body. Maybe even have a time lapse video.
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I think that we should have already have an understanding of Tibetan Buddhism with its esoteric Tantric practices. It would be good to read up on Tantric Buddhism before jumping to conclusions. In today's world, Tibetan Buddhism is growing rapidly and is widely accepted and lamas like the Dalai Lama and many others have a wide following due to their splendid teachings. When a lama shows the power of tantra like in this case, with his ability to control his death, there are still people who doubt and think otherwise. Therefore, it would be good to just present facts and let people judge for themselves.