The Buddha Dipamkara

In Himalayan traditions, the historical Buddha Shakyamuni was but one in a long series of teachers. Each one resolved before his predecessor to become a buddha. It was thus before Dipamkara, whose name might be translated “Illuminator,” that a monk named Dharmakara made his own resolution to attain enlightenment. Eventually, Dharmakara would, as a result of his resolution, himself become the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. Dipamkara is thus the previous link in a chain of transmission culminating—but by no means terminating— in the birth of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. Shakyamuni’s resolution before Dipamkara is likely the prototype for many aspects of Buddhist initiatory practice, including the systems relying either on oral transmission or on tulkus, reincarnate lamas.