Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche

A Yangsi is best described as a recincarnated mind-stream of a previously recognised Rinpoche, who will later go on to be called a Tulku. In this case the Yangsi is the mind-stream of Dilgo Khyentse, who passed in 1991. The Yangsi was reborn nearly a couple of years after the passing of the previous master. He was recognised as the Yangsi by one of Dilgo Rinpoche’s closest collaboraters, Trulshik Rinpoche.

The film follows the Yangsi from the time of his recognition at the age of four, seeing his development through his training and up and till 2012, when this film was made by Mark Elliot, who has been filming his progress this whole time. He has an elder brother who is also recognised as the Tulku of Phakchok Rinpoche, and two other siblings; and his father is Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche.

We see the Yangsi from the time of his enthronment as a young boy, through his Shedra or religious education, during which time he also learns to speak very good English, and it is worth noting he is one of the narrators of the film. He is a very quietly spoken, modest, sincere and engaging figure, who seems aware of his responsibilities, and there seems to be no controversies surrounding him.

The difficulty of the Yangsi finding himself in this situation are really the centrepiece of the film, having some doubts about his own ability to live up to people’s expectations, and the responsibility to live his life not only for his own benefit, but for the benefit of many who look up to him. Fortunately he seems to have had good teachers and a supportive environment around him. Towards the end of the film we see him giving his first teachings around the world.