(TibetanReview.net, Feb25’24) – China’s politburo leader on ethnic minority and religious affairs has on Feb 21 met with its replacement 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu in Beijing and called on him to step up in carrying out his role to help assimilate Tibet and its religion in the mould of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, extended greetings for the Spring Festival and the Tibetan New Year to “Panchen Rinpoche” and all Tibetan Buddhism believers in the meeting, reported China’s official Xinhua news agency Feb 21.
While acknowledging the achievements made by “Panchen Rinpoche” over the past year, Shi expressed the hope that the former could conscientiously study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and maintain a high degree of unity with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core ideologically, politically and in action, the report said.
Shi has also expressed hope that the “Panchen Rinpoche” could uphold the principle of developing Tibetan Buddhism in the Chinese context, and actively contribute to advancing the adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism to the socialist society.
In his turn, the “Panchen Rinpoche” has said he would continue to improve political standards and religious knowledge, inherit and carry forward the patriotic and religious tradition of the Tibetan Buddhist community, and resolutely safeguard national unity and ethnic solidarity.
But Gyaincain Norbu’s status as the “Panchen Lama” remains controversial at best. He is not recognized by mainstream Tibetan Buddhists as he was recognized under the supervision and control of the atheist, even anti-religious CPC and installed by it months after kidnapping and disappearing the 6-year-old candidate Gedhun Choekyi Nyima who had already been recognized and proclaimed by Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in 1995. His fate or whereabouts have continued to remain unknown to this day.
Gyaincain Norbu lives in Beijing, although the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse City of Tibet is supposed to be his seat monastery.