Dream and life of the 11th Panchen Lama

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-31 15:13

The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, is seen in this photo taken on March 28, 2009 at the second World Buddhist Forum, in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu province. [Xinhua]

"I don't have a very good environment for improving spoken English. But with the help of teachers, I progressed a bit," he said. "I don't like improving my vocabulary by rote. You have to understand a word's meaning and then remember it. Thus, once I speak this word, its meaning will come to my mind."

He spent quite an effort on his Saturday speech. "I wrote it down in Tibetan, translated it into Chinese and then to English with the help of my teacher. It took me some time to absorb it and at last it came to the speech you heard."

Besides English, he plans to learn more foreign languages. "The more the better. I hope to promote Buddha's thoughts to more places in the world."

A LONG AND SEVERE MISSION

The Panchen Lama realized his responsibility at a young age. "I always bear the responsibility of propagating Buddhism, safeguard the unity of our motherland and ethnic harmony. This hasn't happened recently. It is the task granted to me by history and reality," he said in a slow and calm voice, with a quiet smile.

At the age of five, he won the approval from the central government of China as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama after a lot drawing ceremony among three candidates in the Jokhang Temple in Tibet's capital Lhasa.

The boy, with the secular name Gyaincain Norbu, left his family at Lhari county, Nagqu prefecture in northern Tibet, since then.

In face of a life-long mission, he said, first of all, he should acquire enough knowledge. "Once you have knowledge, you have the strength to realize your dream," he said. "Study is a life-long thing. I have a lot to learn."

Besides learning from teachers and sutras, he would also follow the Buddhist doctrines in daily life. "There are two ways to pass on Buddhist traditions. The first is to teach sutras and second is to cultivate yourself according to Buddhist doctrines."

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Tibet in 50 years

The young living Buddha is optimistic about the future of Tibetan Buddhism in China. "The democratic reform in Tibet five decades ago removed feudal serfdom under theocracy, which purified Tibetan Buddhism," he said.

"In old Tibet, because of the theocratic system, the name of Buddhism was tainted by a small group of people. Now monks can concentrate themselves on Buddhism." All religions are equal in today's China so are all sects in a religion, he said. "There is little conflict between different schools. It is the best chance for us to study and promote Buddhism."

Attending the World Buddhist forum twice, he felt the responsibility of Tibetan Buddhism to the world. "Through the two forums, we can see Buddhists in China are working hard with their counterparts in other countries for world peace.

As part of them, Tibetan Buddhists should also spare no efforts in this cause through implementing and promoting Buddha's teaching in the 21st century."

Besides spiritual issues, the young living Buddha is caring for down-to-earth problems. At this forum, he attended a sub-forum with a group of businessmen about Buddhist thoughts related to business, listening to lecturers who talked about their stories of learning Buddhism and puzzles in their lives.

Attendants considered his presence as encouragement and blessing. "Although quite young, he looked very elegant and dignified," said Yan Wangjia, running an IT firm in Wuxi, who met the Panchen Lama in person for the first time. "His presence is an encouragement for us. This showed that he was interested in our lives and problems and also had expectations upon us."

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