The highest-ranking Buddhist lamas are tulkus, meaning they're these of previous lamas
[DOC] [TLE] A case study of two lama portraits in the collection of the National ... [PAR] The Tibetan word 'lama' means 'none above', or 'superior', and refers to a spiritual 
... tradition the Panchen Lamas are regarded as the second-highest ranking 
lamas after ... Lamas form a lineage of tulkus (reincarnations) of the previous 
lama.