Is China’s pick for second-highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism legitimate or just a power grab, asks Saransh Sehgal.
The 75th birthday of the Dalai Lama this week was cause for celebration for many Tibetans. But it also acted as an uncomfortable reminder of both their spiritual leader’s advancing years and the uncertainty of who will succeed him.
Under Tibetan tradition, the Panchen Lama, second only in ranking to the Dalai Lama, plays a key role in finding the next incarnation of the Dalai Lama. But the problem is there are now two Panchen Lama—one selected by the current Dalai Lama and another picked by the Chinese government.
In May 1995, the Dalai Lama named Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the real incarnation of the 11th Panchen Lama. However, China rejected the nomination, and soon after announced that Gyaincain Norbu was actually the newest incarnation of the Panchen Lama; it also said that the Dalai Lama’s named successor had been taken into ‘protective’ custody. By whom, where and why was never made clear.
So who will really succeed the Dalai Lama?
Beijing has insisted that Gedhun is not the real Panchen Lama, and that he was chosen arbitrarily by the Dalai Lama. The avowedly secular Communist government instead selected its own Panchen Lama by drawing lots from a golden urn. But this selection, although a traditional method used by China, is seen by many as an effort by Beijing to diminish the current exiled Dalai Lama’s influence over Tibet. Beijing has long accused the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 and who now lives in exile in the Indian Himalayan town of Dharamsala, of being a separatist.
Supporters of the Dalai Lama say China’s efforts at influencing the succession are doomed to failure.
‘China’s appointed Lama will never get any respect. He’s Tibetan, but we can’t recognize him as the Panchen Lama’s reincarnation,’ says a Tenzin monk at the temple complex opposite the Dalai Lama’s residence in exile. ‘The Chinese have given him this status…but for us, the last words will be His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s.’
The monk is far from alone in this view—many Tibetans dismiss China’s choice as a sham and Tibetan exiles have protested over the disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who they describe as the youngest political prisoner in the world. They say China’s chosen Lama is simply a propaganda tool to undercut the Dalai Lama, and many still live in hope that the ‘real’ Panchen Lama can be found or that he can escape to India.
The urn method used by China is actually considered a legitimate one and was used to select the 10th, 11th and 12th Dalai Lama. But critics say such a process is irrelevant if the Dalai Lama has already unequivocally named his choice of Panchen Lama. Indeed, the 10th Panchen Lama himself reportedly declared that according to Tibetan tradition, the confirmation of either the Dalai or Panchen Lama must be ‘mutually recognized’ by the other, as well as Beijing.
Photo Credit: Steve Taylor
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Sönam
How can anyone imagine that the next incarnation of Dalai Lama could be the one choosen by CCP … it sounds so unrealistic. It may work for ’some’ in China, but there is no chance that anyone (buddhist) outside China, including all westerners, accept to play that “kinder game”.
CCP is a bit naive … one day CCP leaders will be replaced by another type of government, Dalai Lama lineage will remain unpolluted.
Michael
Hate to break the news to you but EVERY DALAI LAMA HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HIS THE BEGINNING!!!
Gyarko
Read Arjia Rinpoche’s book — Surviving the Dragon — on the sham in the selection of Gyaltsen Norbu as the “Panchen Lama”. Arjia Rinpoche was part of the Chinese government official search party and was present at the “urn” method of selection.
As for the reader response that suggests Tibetan youths in India do not “give a damn” about the Dalai Lama. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is NO question on the devotion to HHDL. Tibetan faith is strong. Chinese regime will not outlive the Tibetan spirit. No regime can outlast human spirit.
Wangchuk
The Golden Urn system was first suggested by the Manchu Qing Emperor in the 18th Century to resolve disputes over candidates for the Dalai Lama. It was only used once for the 8th Dalai Lama but thereafter never used again by Tibetans. Whatever you consider it, the Golden Urn system is a legacy of Qing colonial rule & ended when the Qing Empire fell in 1911. It was not used in the selection of the present 14th Dalai Lama. Why is the CCP suggesting that this Qing ritual be used when the PRC is not suggesting any other Qing ritual be used for anything else? Moreover, under the PRC Constitution the Tibetan people have freedom of religion & the state can’t decide who the religious leaders of the Tibetan people should be. That decision is entirely up to Tibetans. Govt interference in the selection of the Panchen Lama or any Tibetan religious figure is unconstitutional & illegal.
Peter
I’m sorry to upset you – But the 10th.11th and 12th Dalai Lama’s were all chosen by the URN METHOD. This was with the Agreement of the 7th PANCHEN LAMA.
Frank
Very soon many Tibetans will give up their believes of Lama. Take a look at Tibetans Youth Group in India. They do not give a dim about Dalai Lama. They are in India.
jean paul
Frank is a Chinese impersonator paid by the Chinese government to disrupt this forum.
Nathan
And whose paying your bills jean paul??? Is the CIA giving good health benefits these days?
Jay
Good piece. While the method used by Beijing may have been legitimate, it ultimately comes down to the Tibetan people themselves. Beijing could go ahead and install new Panchen Lama of their choice (the same thing with the Dalai Lama’s choice) but the future Panchen Lama’s real legitimacy lies in the minds and hearts of the Tibetans. As a side note, the current one installed by Beijing is not popular with Tibetans inside either…
Frank
The Dalai Lama picked the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima will endorse the next Dalai Lama pick by China’s government.
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is living a good life in China now. He understands the good time he has depends on his cooperation.
There will be 2 Dalai Lama. One picked by real and fake Panchen Lamas. One picked by those Tibetans live in India.
Who are you going to follow if you are Tibetans living inside China?
Jonathan
Nicely written, most importantly the piece shows the other method in finding reincarnation used by Beijing is also a legitimate one, meaning more succession trouble when 14th Dalai Lama departs.