Tulku Dakpa Gyaltsen Research Paper

Was TulKu Dakpa Gyatsen very learned and famous?

Doegyal worshippers say that Tulku Dakpa Gyaltsen was very learned and very famous. His fame spread so far and wide that there were many people, especially from Kham and Mongolia, coming to seek his blessing. He was a brilliant philosopher. He would often defeat the 5th Dalai Lama in philosophical debate, which consequently sparked jealousy in the hearts of the Dalai Lama´s personal staffs like Desi Sonam Choephal and others.

How far is the story true? There were many great gelugpa lamas contemporary to Tulku Dhakpa Gyaltsen. If Dakpa gyaltsen's was so famous, then, why had they not written on his scholarly brilliance and fame? There is not a single line written on his spiritual glory. What famous teachings did he impart in the three provinces of Tibet? Are their monasteries closely connected to
him in Kham and Mongolia? During the same time, there were Dugang Gelek Gyatso, Changkya Ngawang Chokden, Chankya Ngawang Tsultrim, Chok Dhonyoe khedrup, Khado Soepa Gyatso, Tulku Dakpa Shedrup, etc., who were very famous gelukpa scholars at that time. In Panchen Lobsang Choegyen's autobiography, “Jewel Rosary” there is a brief reference to him, saying that he was present during such and such teaching, and nothing more. Panchen Lobsang Choegyen showed great respect to Tulku Dakpa Gyaltsen on the ground that he was one of the successive reincarnations of the great Panchen Sonam Dhakpa, a very famous master of both sūtra and tantra, and also the root guru of 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso. Therefore, he was given, respect, privileges and a high seat at Monlam Prayer Assembly as the tradition demanded Nevertheless, and it was Panchen Lobsang Choeky Gyaltsen who lowered the high seating.

Mysterious Untimely Death of Tulku Dakpa Gyaltsen

Even among Doegyal devotees, there are conflicting views about the sudden death of Tulku Dhakpa Gyaltsen.
In fact, there are four different versions. Firstly, in the 5th Dalai Lama's autobiography, “Heavenly Garment” there is a detailed chronicle description of the death of Tulku Dhakpa Gyaltsen, and the people who were present. Such description is very useful for research work on the issue, which you can confidently explain to the world. Amongst Doegyal devotees, there are three conflicting views.

1 We find the first one in Phabongka´s and Dakpo Kelsang Khedrup's writings, "people with malicious attitude strangled him to death with a ceremonial white scarf, but due to your positive prayer, you become Lord of the fierce
spirit.”

2 The same explanation is in Yongzin Trichang Rinpoche's writing with a small change, “people with malicious intention killed him by stuffing a ceremonial scarf down his throat.” At first, they tried to kill him with weapons, when they realised that their attempt failed, they resorted to stuffing a scarf down his throat and killed him.

3 The third version is that they stabbed him three or four times in the same spot on his body, suddenly, an eye appeared on the spot, but they kept stabbing. When the seventh eye was about to appear, he cried, “Stop!” If the seventh eye appears, then I would turn into someone very fearful like Rahula and would be very harmful to all. So, kill me by stuffing or strangling with a ceremonial scarf”. Denma Gonsar Rinpoche wrote the third version. Where did he base his explanation? We see differences in their viewpoints. The description of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama is realistic from the historical point of view. “On 11 of the fifth month, 1656, I left for the upper Residence at Drepung monastery where I saw him seriously ill and unconscious. A fierce Spirit possessed his body and mind. I conferred him the blessing of 4-faced Mahakala to exorcise the spirit but was not successful. Even my prayer proved ineffective.”

Dakpa Gyaltsen was found dead two days later, on the 13th of the 5th month, 1656. I think the spirit killed Tulku Dakpa Gyaltsen and declared himself as Dakpa Gyaltsen. Then, who was that spirit, who, through the power of distorted prayers, made Tulku Dakpa Gyaltsen his high-profile victim?