Reincarnation 14: Signs and Omens

The Nechung Oracle, also known as the State Oracle of Tibet, holds a central and revered position in Tibetan Buddhism. This oracle is considered the mouthpiece of Dorje Drakden, a powerful protector deity and an emanation of Pehar, the chief of the Five King Spirits. This is no mere theatrical performance, but a tradition as ancient as Tibet itself. Since the 8th century, when mystics and magicians still roamed the land, the Nechung Oracle has guided the fate of a nation. It was the Fifth Dalai Lama, the Great Fifth, who recognized the oracle's power and wove it into the fabric of Tibetan governance. He built the Nechung Monastery, a jewel nestled near Lhasa, to house this living conduit to the divine.