Panchen Lama
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The Panchen Lama (Tibetan: པན་ཆེན་བླ་མ་; Chinese: 班禪喇嘛) is the second highest ranking lama after the Dalai Lama in the Gelugpa (Dge-lugs-pa) sect of Tibetan Buddhism (the sect which controlled Tibet from the 16th century until the Communist takeover). The successive Panchen lamas form a tulku reincarnation lineage which are said to be the incarnations of Amitabha Buddha. The name, meaning "great scholar", is a Tibetan contraction of the Sanskrit paṇḍita (scholar) and the Tibetan chenpo (great).
Who is the true present (11th) incarnation of the Panchen Lama is a matter of controversy: the People's Republic of China asserts it is Qoigyijabu, while the Tibetan Government in Exile maintains it is Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, missing since 1995.
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Relation to the Dalai Lama lineage
The Panchen Lama bears part of the responsibility for finding the incarnation of the Dalai Lama and vice versa. Furthermore, the search for the late Panchen Lama's reincarnation, or any reincarnation, is a religious matter. In the case of the Panchen Lama, the religious procedures traditionally involve a final selection process by the Dalai Lama. This has been the tradition since the Fifth Dalai lama, Ngawang Lobsang, recognized his teacher as the Panchen (Great Scholar) Lama of Tashilhunpo Monastery (Bkra-shis Lhung-po) in Shigatse (Gzhis-ka rtse). With this appointment, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen's three previous incarnations were posthumously recognised as Panchen Lamas. The Fifth Dalai Lama also recognized Panchen Lobsang Yeshe (Blo-bzang Ye-shes) as the Fifth Panchen Lama. The Seventh Dalai Lama recognized the Sixth Panchen Lama, who in turn recognized the Eighth Dalai Lama. Similarly, the Eighth Dalai Lama recognised the Seventh Panchen Lama. [1]
Chosgyi Gyantsen, the 10th Panchen Lama, was an important political figure in Tibet following the 14th Dalai Lama's escape to India in 1959. However, in 1968 he was imprisoned; in 1977, he was released but held under house arrest in Beijing until 1982. In 1983, he married a Chinese woman and had a daughter, a highly controversial behavior for a Gelug lama. In 1989, the 10th Panchen Lama died suddenly in Shigatse, Tibet at the age of 51, shortly after giving a speech critical of the Chinese occupation. His daughter, now a young woman, is Yabshi Pan Rinzinwangmo, better known as "Renji". Although some organizations have criticized the 10th Panchen Lama as a Chinese puppet (or worse), most scholars (and the 14th Dalai Lama) believe that he did the best that he could to help his people in an impossible situation.
The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (Brtan-'dzin Rgya-mtsho), named Gedhun Choekyi Nyima (Dge-'dun Chos-kyi Nyi-ma) as the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama on May 14, 1995 but the government of the People's Republic of China quickly named another child, Gyancain Norbu (Rgyal-mtshan Nor-bu). The former child was taken into "protective custody" by the PRC authorities and his whereabouts remain unknown.
List of Panchen Lamas
| official Romanisation | Wylie transliteration | other names and spellings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Khaichub Gêlêg Baisangbo | 1385–1438¹ | mkhas grub dge legs dpal bzang po | Khedup Gelek Palsang, Khedrup Gelek Pal Sangpo, Khedup Gelek Palsang |
| 2. | Soinam Qoigyi Langbo, Soinam Qoilang | 1438–1505¹ | bsod nams phyogs kyi glang po, bsod nams phyogs glang | Sonam Choklang, Sonam Chöklang, Sonam Choeklang |
| 3. | Wênsawa Lobsang Toinchub | 1505–1568¹ | dben sa pa blo bzang don grub | Wensa Lobsang Dhondup, Lobsang Dondup Wensawa |
| 4. | Lobsang Qoigyi Gyaicain | 1570–1662 | blo bzang chos kyi rgyal mtshan | Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen, Lobsang Choegyal, Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen |
| 5. | Lobsang Yêxê | 1663–1737 | blo bzang ye shes | Lobsang Yeshi, Lobsang Yeshe |
| 6. | Baidain Yêxê | 1738–1780 | dpal ldan ye shes | Palden Yeshe, Palden Yeshi |
| 7. | Dainbai Nyima | 1782–1853 | bstan pa'i nyi ma | Tenpe Nyima, Lobsang Tenpai Nyima |
| 8. | Dainbai Wangqug | 1854/1855–1882 | bstan pa'i dbang phyug | Tenpe Wangchuk, Tenpe Wangchug |
| 9. | Tubdain Qoigyi Nyima, Gêlêg Namgyai | 1883–1937 | thub bstan chos kyi nyi ma, dge legs rnam rgyal | Erdeni Choekyi Nyima, Thubten Chökyi Nyima |
| 10. | Chinlai Lhünchub Qoigyi Gyaicain | 1938–1989² | phrin las lhun grub chos kyi rgyal mtshan | Lobsang Trinley Choekyi Gyaltsen, Trinley Choekyi Gyaltsen, Choekyi Gyaltse, Chökyi Gyaltse |
| 11. | Gêdün Qoigyi Nyima / Gyaicain Norbu² | 1989– / 1990– | dge 'dun chos kyi nyi ma / rgyal mtshan nor bu | Gedhun Choekyi Nyima / Gyancain Norbu, Gyaltsen Norbu |
Remarks:
¹ The title Panchen Lama was conferred posthumously on the first two Panchen Lamas.
² The present incarnation of the Panchen Lama is disputed. The Dalai Lama recognises Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Chinese government regocnises Gyaicain Norbu as the incarnation of the 11th Panchen Lama. Exile Tibetan sources allege that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was kidnapped by the Chinese government.
See also
External links
- Tibet Society UK - The Background To The Panchen Lama
- BBC News article - "Tibet's missing spiritual guide"
An article from "China Tibetology" Nr. 3, published in English, with the title "An example for posterity: Celebrating the Seventh Anniversary of the search for and confirmation of the Eleventh Panchen"; it explains in detail the Chinese government's position on the search of reincarnations of the Panchen Lama:
- Preface
- The reincarnation of Living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism and the administration over Living Buddhas exercised by central governments
- The Grand Living Buddha Reincarnation System in the dGe-lugs-pa Sect and the Central Government Strengthening the Governing of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas
- A Successful Example in Searching and Confirming the Eleventh Panchen Lama Set for the Reincarnation of Grand Living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism in a New Historical Condition
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