Note 52 — Chapter III · JOURNEY TO DONGTSE.

We were also shown two images of Dorje chang, the supreme Buddha of the Gelugpa sect,52 one of which was very old and of small size, the other large and very highly burnished. Once on a time, the Grand Lama of Tashilhunpo, visiting the chorten, touched the breast of the former image to see if it was warm and full of life, as was popularly said. He soon repented of his sacrilegious act, confessed his sin, and, to atone for his wrong-doing, had made the large gilt image, which was placed beside the old one.