Stories from a Chela – Sacred Handprints
Handprints of great masters are considered very blessed and extremely precious. Here are the handprints of Kyabje Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, one of the most celebrated Gelug lamas of the recent past. All Gelug practitioners today can trace their lineage of teaching back to this great master in one way or another.
‘Chela’ is Sanskrit for ‘student’, particularly the student of a spiritual teacher. Stories from a Chela is a series of short posts of my personal experiences with His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche. I hope that these stories will give you a glimpse into how Tsem Rinpoche, and the unique brand of Dharma that Rinpoche embodied, have benefited me and countless others.
Sacred Handprints
It is a common Buddhist tradition to have images of the Buddhas blessed or consecrated at a temple before adding them to personal shrines. The act of consecration infuses the statues, tsa tsas, thangkas or other forms with the blessings and energies of all Buddhas, transforming them into extremely sacred objects. These sacred objects embody the blessings and protection of the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha).
While Buddhists consider all enlightened images sacred, those blessed by one’s own Guru or a high lama are considered particularly precious. This is because, from a Vajrayana perspective, Gurus are seen as enlightened beings who have manifested in human form to teach the Dharma and aid us in removing the causes of our suffering.
Many students ask their Gurus to empower their personal Buddha images with blessings. Sometimes, the Guru may grant a blessed image to a chela of their own accord if they believe the recipient will benefit from its powerful vibrations. Tsem Rinpoche often did this.
Once, Rinpoche wanted to gift a thangka to someone who was going through a difficult phase in life. When the time came for the thangka to be blessed, Rinpoche sat down and recited his prayers. Arising as his Yidam (Sanskrit: Ishtadevata) or meditational deity, Rinpoche began to bless the thangka.
Turning the thangka over, he wrote the syllables “Om Ah Hung”, which represent the enlightened body, speech and mind of all the Buddhas, on its back. They are an invitation to the Buddhas to reside in the image and Rinpoche frequently added them to items he blessed. However, something was different this time; before Rinpoche had begun, he had asked for red Chinese ink.
A picture capturing the occasion when Rinpoche blessed the thangka and made copies of his handprint for students
Rinpoche knew that the person who was to receive the thangka needed a very special blessing. He put his whole palm into the plate of ink, then stamped his hand on the back of the thangka as he recited the prayers. This was special. It was not just Rinpoche but the Guru-Yidam, Rinpoche in meditation of his personal deity, who placed his handprint on the thangka. This tradition stems from India, where just the handprint of the Guru is said to hold his blessings and transformational power.
Rinpoche finished blessing the thangka and was about to recite the concluding prayers when he looked up at Pastor Jean Ai, Karen and me who were assisting Rinpoche. A smile came over Rinpoche’s face, and he asked for plain paper immediately. Luckily, there was plain paper on hand and we placed the stack before Rinpoche. As soon as Rinpoche had the paper, he did something we did not expect.
Raising his hand up high, he slammed it down on the paper with a bang that echoed around the room. Rinpoche began to make handprint after blessed handprint, using up each and every piece of paper that we had. He was creating sacred objects, imprints of his hand, which would act as powerful protection and a collection of blessings for whoever had one.
Rinpoche manifested slight wrath as he performed the action and this electrified the air. There was no sound in the room but that of Rinpoche’s hand hitting sheet after sheet in a staccato rhythm. The room reverberated with a palpable sense of power emanating from Rinpoche. From the look on Rinpoche’s face, you could see that Rinpoche was in a meditational state. Pastor Jean Ai, Karen and I stood silently in awe. We were mesmerised.
Once he had finished making the imprints, Rinpoche wrote individual prayers or blessings invoking different Buddha deities on each of them. They were then distributed to various students. I was fortunate enough to receive one, which I consider one of my greatest blessings. I treasure my handprint of Rinpoche, which he created that day even more since Rinpoche is no longer with us, having left his worldly body.
Rinpoche’s actions on that day embodied his essential nature of always thinking about others. First of all, Rinpoche was trying to alleviate the suffering of someone he knew needed assistance by gifting them a blessed thangka. On top of that, Rinpoche also thought of his other students, whom he knew would cherish such handprints of their Guru.
That was the first time I saw Rinpoche do handprints. Unfortunately, it was also the last. Every time my eyes come to rest on the piece of paper with the red imprint of Rinpoche’s hand, it takes me back to that moment when I stood with my Guru as he created it. It reminds me of how Rinpoche tried to give people the best gift of all, that of Dharma and Dharma practice.
For more interesting information:
- Stories from a Chela – The Journey to Manjushri
- Stories from a Chela – Taking Refuge
- Stories from a Chela – Daimajin and Wrathful Deities
- Stories from a Chela – Real Worship
- Stories from a Chela – The Roadside Seller
- Stories from a Chela – Blessing the Animal Realm
- Stories from a Chela – Real Transformation
- Stories from a Chela – Za Rahula and Strange Habits
- Stories from a Chela – Spiritual Nourishment for All
- Stories from a Chela – The Lama that Builds
- Stories from a Chela – The Teaching in the Tea
- Stories from a Chela – Incense Offering That Saves Lives
- Stories from a Chela – Supernatural Protection
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A very powerful way to bless the other person immediately. How kind Rinpoche is and all Rinpoche wanted is to help and bless as many as possible. Those who have received it must treasure this, just like Pastor has mentioned, it’s the only and the last!
Wow…..so blessed having Rinpoche’s hand print printed on that thangka. The blessing of a living Buddha is especially important as it endows an object with his meditative essence. For whoever having a hand prints it’s a blessing and act as powerful protection as well. In Tibetan Buddhism ,either handprints or footprints of great masters are considered very blessed and precious. Merely by seeing it or touching those handprints or footprints are very blessed.
Rinpoche will do whatever to benefits all people and bring Dharma to those he came across, nor matter who.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Niral for this sharing.
I truly enjoyed reading this article and wish i was also there with you guys to witness this amazing experience when Rinpoche was making and blessing his handprints as a sacred imprint of his hand. Rejoice to all of you who has this beautiful sacred piece of Rinpoche’s handprint.😎👏🌈 Wish i could invite one too if there is anymore available and hang it up in the room.🌈🔥☘️ Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Niral for sharing this wonderful write up! 🙏😍👍
Such a heartwarming & poignant read. A wonderful reminder of the life of a great being whose sole purpose in life was to benefit others.
May the rising sun of Rinpoche’s incarnation appear swiftly.🙏