The 12th Dorje Phagmo Rinpoche [Photo/National Geography] 

The 12th Samding Dorje Phagmo Deqinquzhen, the only female Rinpoche in China, is the reincarnation of Sakyamuni's birth mother. On an auspicious day on February 8th, 1942 according to the Tibetan calendar, she was formally enthroned as the 12th reincarnation of Doje Phagmo in an enthronement ceremony held in Samding Monastery.

The 12th Dorje Phagmo Rinpoche is also the only female Rinpoche in China enjoying the title of Great Khutuktu (a high-level Living Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism).

Samding Monastery is in the Nagarze County on the southern bank of the Yarlung ZangboRiver, where generations of Samding Doje Phagmo Rinpoches lived.

The 12th Samding Dorje Phagmo Deqinquzhen in Tibetan Buddhism is believed to be incarnation of the mother of the creator of all Buddhism.

Deqinquzhen spent her childhood worshipping the Buddha, reciting the scriptures, and meditating. Many eminent monks served as her mentors during this time. Every year, she would be invited to the ancient city of Gyangz? and Mt. Chunpi to give sermons on Buddhist teachers and pray for the disciples.

But this all ended in March of 1959. The Tibetan regional government at that time began an armed uprising, and the Samding Temple was at the center of the turmoil.

The 12th Dorje Phagmo Rinpoche [Photo/National Geography] 

The rioters intruded into the temple, demanding firearms and food. The Rinpoche and other close attendants escaped from the temple, hiding on an island in the middle of Yamdroktso Lake until they were found by the rebels. The Rinpoche had to leave Tibet as gun pointing at her, thus her life as a religious ascetic ended.

The Rinpoche was taken to Bhutan, and then onward to India.

In August of 1959 on the eve of China's National Day Ceremony, the 12th Dorje Phagmo Rinpoche began a long and roundabout journey through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, and Mongolia with the help of Chinese Commercial Agency in Kalimpong to eventually return to Beijing by the end of September that year, ending her days of wandering adrift abroad.

After returning to China, the government assisted her to relocate in Lhasa, so that she could practice Buddhism at home.

The annual Gangjiala Dharma Assembly would be the only opportunity for her disciples to meet her.

After she left Samding Temple, the 12th Dorje Phagmo Rinpoche established her own family. This was unprecedented in the system of Dorje Phagmo Rinpoche's reincarnation; however, in the 50 years of continuously changing experience of the Tibetan community, it was a decision they were ultimately able to accept.

On this mysterious plateau, as long as the power of religious belief exists, the blessing from the Buddha will forever be there with the people and the reincarnation system of Dorje Phagmo Rinpoche will forever continue.

The Samding Temple [Photo/National Geography] 

An old photo of the 12th Dorje Phagmo Rinpoche [Photo/National Geography]