China Popular Itineraries |
|
|
|
|
Dalai lama and Panchen lama |
The Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, both of the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, are on the top of the lama hierarchy in old Tibet. They used to be the religious and administrative leaders of Tibetan people.
 |
|
11th Panchen Lama | The title of Dalai Lama, meaning Ocean Of Wisdom, was originally conferred on Sonam Gyatso by the Mongol King Altan Khan who was converted to Tibetan Buddhism in 1578. The title was then retroactively applied to the first two. In 1653, Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty re-conferred the title on the Great Fifth when he visited the emperor and the title was set. The Dalai Lama is considered the incarnation of Chenrezi, Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron deity of Tibet by Tibetan people. There have been fourteen Dalai Lamas, each one considered reincarnation of the former. The fourth is Mongol and the sixth is Menpa while the rest all Tibetans. The present Dalai Lama lives in India.
The title of Panchen, Great Scholar, was conferred on Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen by Qosot Mongol Gushri Khan in 1645 and was also applied retroactively to the three abbots before him. In 1713, Emperor Kangxi conferred the title of Panchen Erdeni to the fifth Panchen Lama. The Manchurian, Erdeni means treasure. The Panchen Lama is esteemed as incarnation of Amitayus, Buddha of Infinite Light. Tashilungpo Monastery is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Till now there have been eleven Panchen Lamas. The eleventh Panchen identified in 1995 now lives in China. |
|
