Are the titles “lama” and “rinpoche” given or self-proclaimed?
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The term lama in Tibetan simply means “superior one”, or more precisely one to whom there is no superior. The term is often used as a semi-formal title, and also sometimes refers to particular Tibetan or Nepalese clans or castes, and occasionally (in places like Ladakh) as a general honorific for any Buddhist monk. However, in its usual sense it is subjectively ascribed (as in, “my lama” - the one I willingly accept teachings from). In this regard, many Tibetans I have discussed this with say that your first lama is your parent, because they teach you the first things you ever know. Certainly, there is no formal qualification for being “a lama”, since it is ideally ascribed by others, rather than claimed for oneself. Rinpoche, by contrast, is generally used as an honorific to refer to EITHER an incarnate lama (that is, recognised trulku) or a yogin of exceptional attainment and retreat experience. The term rinpoche means “extremely precious one”, and refers to the sense in which their actual bodies are precious and a source of blessing, having been transformed either through the full performance of completion stage yogas or through mastery of the process of death and rebirth. In BOTH of these cases, there are indeed processes of relatively formal recognition and examination, but not ones that involve a certificate for the wall (I guess that might be a matter of time, though!). Hope that helps.
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