tulku means A high-ranking lama who can choose the manner of his or her rebirth. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 75 out of 100.
Why this word is great
TULKU — [Noun] A recognized reincarnate lama in Tibetan Buddhism, specifically the intentional emanation of a predecessor's enlightened consciousness. From Tibetan སྤྲུལ་སྐུ (sprul sku), from སྤྲུལ (sprul, 'emanation, manifestation') and སྐུ (sku, 'body, embodiment'). Unlike a *lama*—a general term for a spiritual teacher—or a *Living Buddha*—a Chinese title laden with political freight—a *tulku* denotes a doctrinal mechanism of deliberate continuity. It is the child discovered through intricate divination, gravely selecting the ritual objects of his past life; the same pair of ancient eyes gazing out from an unfamiliar face; the profound paradox of seeking the eternal within the perishable. Here is the conviction that wisdom, having once taken form, will find a way to do so again—a defiant relay torch carried forward through time.
noun
- A high-ranking lama who can choose the manner of his or her rebirth.“The abbot is considered a tulku by Tibetans and called a living Buddha in Chinese — an especially revered figure who is believed to be the essence of a prominent religious leader.”