The Washington Post | By Simon Denyer | 26 of September 2016
LHASA – In the competition for Tibetan hearts and minds, a buddhist monk 26 years is emerging into the spotlight. He is the Panchen Lama appointed by the Chinese, and has been prepared by the Communist Party to fill an important political and religious role in Tibet.
(left) The Panchen Lama appointed by the Chinese,
Gyaltsen Norbu
Obedient to the Party and loyal to the Chinese State, the “Chinese Panchen” is being promoted as an alternative to the Dalai Lama, a man much loved by Tibetans as their supreme religious leader but denigrated by the Chinese Communist Party as a “wolf in monk's robes”” that tries to separate Tibet from the motherland.
Experts are skeptical whether ordinary Tibetans will accept this young man's credentials.: his status as true reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism, is the subject of bitter controversy.
However, there is no doubt that with the Dalai Lama now with 81 years, The competition for Tibet is entering a new phase, and decades of Communist Party preparation for the old monk's death are gathering pace.
Officially at least, The Panchen Lama will become the most important figure in Tibet when the Dalai Lama dies, this is, until the reincarnation of the old monk is found. And he will also play a key role in the Chinese government's efforts to install a new Dalai Lama who is more favorable to the Communist Party than the current one..
In July, the young man with glasses, Gyaltsen Norbu, dressed in fine Tibetan religious clothing, presided over an important and rare ritual within Tibet before a large audience of laymen, monks and nuns. Since then, he has been very busy visiting monasteries, schools and hospitals throughout the high plateau.
“An increasingly active Panchen Lama is expected to, mitigate the influence of the Dalai,” announced the nationalist tabloid Global Times, last month, citing speculation that this process is being driven to “prepare for the post-Dalai Lama era.””
Chinese state media said 100.000 people had attended each day of the four days of the meeting, called Kalachakra ceremony, braving the rain and the cold, and cited that the monks praised the “accomplishments” of the young man.
But on the recent visit to Tibet, It was difficult to find much enthusiasm for the Chinese Panchen Lama, as many people know.
Indeed, when the Panchen Lama is mentioned to many Tibetans, They start talking about the boy 6 years recognized by the Dalai Lama as the true reincarnation of the Panchen Lama in 1995, who immediately disappeared into Chinese custody and became known as the world's youngest political prisoner.
His name is Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, and hasn't been seen since, But a Tibetan official claimed last year that he was living a normal life and did not want to be disturbed..
A Lhasa, The Tibetan capital, a business that sells photographs of the most important Tibetan religious figures, It has none of the Chinese Panchen but several of its predecessor, the 10º Panchen Lama, who was insulted and imprisoned during China's Cultural Revolution.
There were also many images of the Karmapa Lama, another important reincarnated Lama, who was recognized by China before fleeing to join the Dalai Lama in exile from India in the 2000, at the age of 14 years, a decision that embarrassed Beijing but gained credibility among many Tibetans. A trade employee said there was simply no demand for photos of the Chinese Panchen, while another man dismissed him as the “official of Chinese Buddhism.””
Similarly, the images of 9º y 10º Panchen Lamas were easy to find at Lhasa's Jokhang Temple, the most sacred place in Tibetan Buddhism, but the images of the 11th Chinese Panchen Lama, they were not displayed.
The Tibetan government in exile, which represents refugees and is based in the Indian mountain town, Dharamsala, He said that Tibetans had been forced to attend the Panchen Lama's Kalachacra, with “severe penalties”” if they didn't.
Sonam Dagpo, the secretary of international relations of the administration in exile, called Kalacrakra a “political farce” and said it was ironic that it was organized by a “government that declares itself an atheist.”” during one of the largest crackdowns on religious freedom in Tibet.
But whatever Tibetans think about the Chinese Panchen, He will be thrust into the spotlight after the Dalai Lama dies.
The 9º Panchen Lama, For example, was instrumental in the search for the boy who came to be recognized as the 14º and current incarnation of the Dalai Lama in the 1970s 30. The Dalai Lama in turn played a key role in the identification of the 10º Panchen Lama in the decade of the 50.
The Dalai Lama said that he could decide not to reincarnate but if he does, I would do it in a child born outside of China. Beijing almost certainly has other plans.
“Ultimately, China has made plans to find and elect the Dalai Lama itself, once the current Dalai Lama dies,” said Elliot Sperling., Indiana University professor and Tibet expert. “And certainly the Chinese Panchen Lama will play a big role in that process.”
The enthronement of both the Karmapa and the Panchen Lama of China can be seen as the dress rehearsals for the final nomination of the new Dalai Lama, said the expert.
“In the case of the Chinese Panchen Lama, authorities have found that they can indeed, install a Lama who is rejected by large segments of the Tibetan population, and keep him in his position by simple coercion and power of the State,” Sperling said.. “This is significant because they will certainly find little support for the Dalai Lama elected by the Chinese state.”
Gyaltse Norbu was born in Tibet in 1990 of parents who were members of the Communist party. He has lived in Beijing, It is reported that under a “guard” protective, since he was enthroned as Panchen Lama in 1995.
He has always emphasized his loyalty to the Chinese state, declaring last year that “the lives of the masses are moving towards wealth and civilization” and that “the Tibetan future is bright like the endless light of the golden sun.”
He has praised the Party for liberating Tibet from feudal servility when its troops moved to Lhasa in 1951. But he caused a stir when he expressed some concern in a speech at the 2015, complaining about the “quotas”” officials too low in the number of monks and nuns allowed in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and that it was “a danger that Buddhism existed in name only.”
The International Campaign for Tibet, an activist group for Tibetan democracy and human rights, based in Washington, He said those comments may have reflected concerns conveyed to him by senior lamas during his visits to Tibet's monasteries..
Tsering Shakya, a Tibetan historian and scholar at the University of British Columbia, indicated the fact that the Panchen Lama does not live in his traditional seat of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Tibet, shows that the monks still do not accept it.-
