Tulkus

In Tibetan Buddhism, "tulku" (Tibetan: སྤྲུལ་སྐུ, Wylie: sprul sku, ZYPY: Zhügu, also tülku, trulku) is an honorary title given to a recognised reincarnate Lama either on the grounds of his (her) resembling an enlightened being or through his (her) connection to certain qualities of an enlightened being. Amongst the Tulkus of Tibet are those who are reincarnations of superior Bodhisattvas, who are able to choose their place and time of birth as well as their future parents. High-profile examples of tulkus include the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama and the Karmapa.