Choekyi Gyalpo

Chökyi Gyalpo, also referred to by his secular name Gyaincain Norbu or Gyaltsen Norbu (born 13 February 1990), is considered the 11th Panchen Lama by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He is also the vice president of the Buddhist Association of China. Gyalpo is considered by critics to be a proxy of the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Gyalpo's position as Panchen Lama is disputed by the earlier recognition of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, by the 14th Dalai Lama. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, along with his family and Chadrel Rinpoche, the then-incumbent Khenpo of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, were kidnapped and/or arrested then detained in one or more unknown locations by the Chinese government in the days following the Dalai Lama's official recognition of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. The Tibetan administration in exile (Central Tibetan Administration) does not recognize the Chinese government's selection using the Golden Urn, but some monks in Chinese-controlled Tibetan monasteries do refer to the Chinese government's selection as the Panchen Lama.

Names

Gyaincain Norbu's full religious name is Jêzün Lobsang Qamba Lhünzhub Qögyi'gyäbo Bäsangbo, although he is generally called Qoigyijabu (). Meaning " Dharma king", this name can also be written Qögyi'gyäbo, Qögyi Gyäbo, Qoigyi'gyaibo, Qoigyi Gyaibo, Chökyi Gyalpo, Choekyi Gyalpo, or, in Wylie transliteration, ''Chos-kyi rGyal-po''. The Chinese equivalent is ''Quèjí Jiébù'' ().

The secular name, Gyaincain Norbu (), can also be written Gyaencaen Norbu, Gyancain Norbu, or Gyaltsen Norbu.

Biography

Gyaincain Norbu was born on 13 February 1990 in Lhari County in northern Tibet Autonomous Region. He had been living in Beijing during his early childhood to be educated in a Chinese way, and travelled to Tashilhunpo Monastery for his enthronement in November/December 1995, in Shigatse, the official seat of the Panchen Lamas. Since his selection by the Chinese government as the Panchen Lama he has studied Tibetan Buddhism; to his studies he added Tibetan language, sutra, and logic at ten, and he is bilingual in both Tibetan and Chinese. He spent most of his later childhood studying Buddhism in Beijing. In a rare appearance for his adolescent age, Norbu delivered a speech in Tibetan for the opening ceremony of the 2006 World Buddhist Forum about Buddhism and national unity. One Western press outlet reported a cold reception among delegates, with fellow Buddhists making no attempt to greet Gyaltsen Norbu during greeting ceremonies ahead of the conference on Wednesday.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4905140.stm China hosts first Buddhism forum Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama had not been invited, because he is viewed by China as "a long-time stubborn secessionist who has tried to split his Chinese motherland and break the unity among different ethnic groups."

Two years later, in 2008, he denounced anti-Han riots in Lhasa, saying "We resolutely oppose all activities to split the country and undermine ethnic unity". China sees him as "the public face of Tibetan Buddhism".

On 3 February 2010, Norbu was elected vice president of the Buddhist Association of China. Later that month, at 20 years old, Norbu became the youngest member of the advisory body National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Hao Peng praised his appointment, in particular for Norbu's "demonstrating the role of the living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism and encouraging more believers to participate in state affairs". He was not, however, made vice chairman of the CPPCC, as Choekyi Gyaltsen, 10th Panchen Lama was and was widely expected of Norbu. Still, the Tibetan government in exile expressed concern that his appointment could prejudice his position on the next Dalai Lama, who normally requires approval from the Panchen Lama.

In May 2010, he reported to the ethnically Tibetan earthquake zone of the 2010 Yushu earthquake

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