25th April: Today is the 32nd birth anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima. It’s been 26 years since the 11th Panchen Lama was last seen. He was kidnapped by the Chinese government along with his family three days after the announcement, making him the world’s youngest political prisoner.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognized him as the 11th Panchen Lama on May 14, 1995, when he was six years old. Despite multiple appeals from Tibetans in exile, UN bodies, and various international governments, the status of the 11th Panchen Lama and his family members remains unknown.
China quickly installed its own candidate, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the true Panchen Lama after kidnapping the 11th Panchen Lama. China has worked hard to lift Gyaltsen Norbu’s profile as the 11th Panchen Lama. This isn’t the first time China has interfered with Tibetan Lamas’ reincarnation. China has meddled in the reincarnation of Tibet’s past Panchen Lama and other reincarnated Lamas.
CHINESE STRATEGY :
The forced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama provides some background for China’s reincarnation politics. China’s ultimate aim is to monitor the reincarnation of Tibet’s future Dalai Lama. Panchen Lamas have historically played a key role in deciding the Dalai Lamas’ reincarnation. China wants to choose the 15th Dalai Lama using its own Panchen Lama and thus influence the hearts and minds of Tibetans in Tibet and, preferably, outside Tibet.
Despite its atheism, China enacted a law in 2007 that specifies that the reincarnation of a living Buddha is “subject to an application for approval” from Chinese authorities. Aside from pursuing a deep interest in ensuring that only Chinese-approved reincarnate Lamas are in place, China’s policy in Tibet is to weaken the power of reincarnating Lamas who are sincerely committed to the preservation of Tibetan religion, culture, and identity.
RESPONSE FROM TIBETANS IN EXILE :
In 2019, high reincarnate lamas from all four Tibetan Buddhist religious sects and Bon gathered to announce that His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s faith will be the sole determinant of future reincarnation. The Tibetan Parliament in Exile’s Special Tibetan General Meeting 2019, which was attended by delegates from the Tibetan diaspora from around the world, also declared that HH the Dalai Lama and his confidence have supreme authority over reincarnation.
US COMMENT :
On March 8, 2019, the US Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback stated: “The international community must make clear now that we believe that members of the Tibetan communities, like members of all faith communities, should be able to select, educate, and venerate their religious leaders without government interference.”
FINAL THOUGHTS :
While China’s intervention in Tibetan Lamas’ reincarnation has not succeeded to date, there is a significant risk of losing power over future reincarnation as China continues to implement new reincarnation policies.
Picture Courtesy: https://japan-forward.com/interview-representative-sonam-frasi-tibets-never-been-part-of-china-thats-our-reality/11th-panchen-lama/