The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu pays respects to the cenotaph of the 6th Panchen Lama before he receives homage from Tibetan Buddhism scholars at the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, in Beijing, China, May 18, 2014. These scholars include monks who were offered the "Tho Ram Pa" degree (one of the highest academic degrees in Tibetan Buddhism) and the "Nzhing Ram Pa" degree (an intermediate academic degree in Tibetan Buddhism) and judges of the "Tho Ram Pa" degree. The degree-offering ceremony is held at the college on Sunday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu receives homage from Tibetan Buddhism scholars at the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, in Beijing, China, May 18, 2014. These scholars include monks who were offered the "Tho Ram Pa" degree (one of the highest academic degrees in Tibetan Buddhism) and the "Nzhing Ram Pa" degree (an intermediate academic degree in Tibetan Buddhism) and judges of the "Tho Ram Pa" degree. The degree-offering ceremony is held at the college on Sunday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu receives homage from Tibetan Buddhism scholars at the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, in Beijing, China, May 18, 2014. These scholars include monks who were offered the "Tho Ram Pa" degree (one of the highest academic degrees in Tibetan Buddhism) and the "Nzhing Ram Pa" degree (an intermediate academic degree in Tibetan Buddhism) and judges of the "Tho Ram Pa" degree. The degree-offering ceremony is held at the college on Sunday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu gives blessing to monks as he receives homage from Tibetan Buddhism scholars at the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, in Beijing, China, May 18, 2014. These scholars include monks who were offered the "Tho Ram Pa" degree (one of the highest academic degrees in Tibetan Buddhism) and the "Nzhing Ram Pa" degree (an intermediate academic degree in Tibetan Buddhism) and judges of the "Tho Ram Pa" degree. The degree-offering ceremony is held at the college on Sunday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu gives blessing to monks as he receives homage from Tibetan Buddhism scholars at the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, in Beijing, China, May 18, 2014. These scholars include monks who were offered the "Tho Ram Pa" degree (one of the highest academic degrees in Tibetan Buddhism) and the "Nzhing Ram Pa" degree (an intermediate academic degree in Tibetan Buddhism) and judges of the "Tho Ram Pa" degree. The degree-offering ceremony is held at the college on Sunday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)