Xi Jinping asks Panchen Lama to
be Tibetan Buddhism's patriotic leader
By AFP | 10 Jun, 2015, 11.09PM
IST
BEIJING: The Panchen Lama, being groomed by China to emerge as a
top Tibetan Buddhist monk to succeed the ageing Dalai Lama, was
given a high political profile today by Chinese President Xi
Jinping, who asked him to be a patriotic "leader" of Tibetan
Buddhism and uphold traditions.
In
a rare meeting with the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Gyaincain
Norbu, 25, Xi said he expects the young monk to grow into "a
Tibetan Buddhist leader with great religious achievement, deeply
loved by the monks and secular followers."
In
Tibetan Buddhist religious hierarchy, the Dalai Lama, who currently
lives in Dharamshala since he fled Tibet in 1959 after an epic
15-day journey on foot over the Himalayas, is regarded as the
highest religious head followed by the Panchen Lama.
China has been
promoting the young Lama to take over the leadership from the
79-year-old Dalai Lama.
Urging him to
carry on the patriotic tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, Xi, also the
General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party, hoped that the
Panchen Lama will keep the motherland and its people in his heart
and firmly work for the unification of the country and all its
ethnic groups, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Norbu was made
the 11th Panchen Lama by an officially atheist China in 1995 when
he was only five. The Panchen Lama is the second most influential
spiritual post in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama.
His
predecessor the six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was appointed to
the same post by Tibet's current spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama,
in 1995. Nyima was alleged to have been imprisoned and later
released.
Since then,
Norbu has received a high profile. In 2010, he was made the member
of advisory body the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC) and the Vice President of Buddhist Association
of China.
He
visits Tibet, specially the Shigatse, traditionally regarded as the
seat of power of the Panchen Lamas.
In
his meeting with the Panchen Lama, Xi asked him to carry on the
patriotic tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, in an apparent dig at the
Dalai Lama whom China accuses of separatism.
Xi
said he expects the Panchen Lama to carry on the legacy of his
predecessor and actively engage with the cause to incorporate
Tibetan Buddhism into a socialist society under the Buddhist
principles of equality and compassion among all beings.
In
response, the Panchen Lama promised to unswervingly safeguard
national unity and ethnic harmony.
He
also said he would bear in mind Xi's advice, to learn hard and work
vigorously to make his contribution to Tibetan Buddhism and
socialist construction, so as to live up to the expectations of the
people.
The Chinese
President suggested that the Panchen Lama promote positive Buddhist
doctrines, such as those upholding kindness, denouncing wickedness,
promoting equality and generosity as well as helping the
needy.
The Panchen
Lama was also advised to advance his religious study, nurture his
own virtue and expand his vision by obtaining knowledge of modern
science and culture.
During the
meeting, Panchen Lama presented Xi with a hada -- a piece of silk
used as a greeting gift among the Tibetan and Mongol
people.
He
also detailed his study and work over the past two decades, which
Xi replied to with warm congratulations.
Panchen Lama
promised he would learn from the examples of the 10th Panchen Lama
to unswervingly safeguard national unity and ethnic
harmony.