Within the Gelug tradition, reincarnated lamas, or tulkus, are understood as highly realized beings who consciously direct their rebirths out of compassion, in order to continue benefiting others. This is framed not as a permanent self returning, but as the ongoing continuity of a mental stream shaped by karma and altruistic intention. In this light, a tulku is seen as an emanation body of a bodhisattva, a deliberate manifestation that arises for the sake of sentient beings. The system rests on the broader Mahayana vision of bodhicitta and the bodhisattva vow, so that rebirth is interpreted as a compassionate choice rather than a passive result of ignorance.

Institutionally, the tulku system is woven deeply into Gelug monastic and spiritual life, providing a mechanism for continuity of teachings, practice lineages, and leadership roles. Major monasteries maintain their own tulku lineages, and reincarnated lamas often serve as abbots, teachers, and focal points of devotion and study. The Dalai Lama lineage, regarded as an emanation of Avalokiteśvara, stands as the most prominent example, while other eminent lineages, such as the Panchen Lama, function in a similar spirit of embodied compassion. In this way, the tulku institution becomes both a spiritual symbol and a practical framework for preserving doctrinal and ritual transmission.

The recognition of a tulku is treated as a serious and methodical process, involving senior lamas and, in many cases, oracular and divinatory procedures. Indications may include predictions made before the lama’s passing, prophetic dreams or visions, and various signs interpreted by qualified masters. Candidate children are often tested with objects belonging to the previous lama, observing whether they can correctly identify them, and their behavior and spiritual inclinations are carefully assessed. Such procedures are intended to safeguard authenticity and to ensure that recognition is not based merely on worldly criteria.

Once recognized, a tulku is expected to undergo rigorous education and training, typically following the standard Gelug scholastic curriculum and monastic discipline, often with additional specialized instruction. The role carries ethical and doctrinal expectations: to embody compassion, wisdom, humility, and to demonstrate realization through study, practice, and conduct. Traditional Gelug thought stresses that the title of tulku does not in itself guarantee spiritual attainment; realization must be cultivated anew in each life. From this perspective, the true measure of a reincarnated lama lies less in status and more in the depth of Dharma practice and the capacity to benefit beings.