H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s 2nd incarnation was Virupa, also known as Birwapa. He was one of the 84 Mahasiddhas - the group of yogis who mastered the Buddhist teachings and achieved supreme tantric realisations.
Born into a royal family, Virupa showed signs of spiritual greatness. He became a monk at an early age and studied first at Somapura then at Nalanda, two of the biggest centres for Buddhist higher learning at the time. He rose up the ranks and was appointed abbot of Nalanda.
After a tumultuous period of tantric practice, Virupa had visions of the enlightened beings and became a highly attained being himself.
Having abandoned attachments to conceptions and projections, he displayed “crazy wisdom”. Misunderstood by the monastic community, he was expelled from Nalanda for his unorthodox behaviour that contradicted his ordination vows and position as abbot. It was only later that the sangha community realised that Virupa had in fact become enlightened.
Calling himself Virupa which means “the wicked one”, Virupa travelled around India as a wandering yogi and countless beings gained faith in Buddha’s teachings through his miracles.
Virupa’s teachings and practices became the foundation for the Sakya tradition and influenced all Tibetan Buddhist schools, producing many great masters to this very day.
👉 Learn more about the life and wondrous miracles of Mahasiddha Virupa → tsemtulku.com/mahasiddha-virupa