The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu pays his first visit to Drepung Monastery, in Southwest China’s Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, on July 4, 2023. Photo: IC

The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu paid his first visit to Drepung Monastery, in Southwest China’s Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, on Tuesday, encouraging the Buddhist monks to make great efforts in studying Buddhism. 

After he entered the Tsochin Hall of the Buddhism temple, the 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, also a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China and president of the association’s Tibet branch, presented Hada scarves to the Buddha statue of the fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-82). 

In 1622, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, who was recognized as the reincarnation of the fourth Dalai Lama, was installed at the Drepung Monastery, being confirmed as the fifth Dalai Lama, under the auspices of the fourth Panchen Lama. 

The Drepung Monastery is the largest of the six monasteries of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and the largest temple in scale in Xizang. It was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge Tashi Palden (1397–1449), one of Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Tsongkhapa was the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. 

At the Tsochin Hall, the 11th Panchen Lama paid visits and respects to different halls and learned about the preservation of Ganggyur, the Tibetan Buddhist literature, which is stored at the monastery. 

While the 11th Panchen Lama was paying respect to the Buddha and preaching to the monks, he said that the 10th Panchen Lama had educated them that a temple should appear like a temple and a monk should act like a monk. It was through collaborative effort that Tibetan Buddhism has achieved such a good development. 

According to the 11th Panchen Lama, nowadays, people’s life is getting better and more convenient day by day. In the past, it was very difficult to find a sutra, but now it is easy to get access to paper and electronic sutras. Thus, it depends on individuals themselves whether they can study well. 

The 11th Panchen Lama admonished people not to waste time, and to cherish the current prosperity and blessings that are difficult to meet, and to work hard. 

He also taught the monks to practice both their external morality and their inner mind. “We learn Buddhism not for the enjoyment of this life or for personal fame, but for all living creatures,” he said. 

He also said the monks should recite the prayer for all sentient beings as soon as they wake up in the morning, cultivating compassion for all beings. Therefore, they must prioritize cause and effect, considering it in all their actions. They should take responsibility for themselves and lay the foundation for them to walk on the right path. 

An eminent monk from the Drepung Monastery said he was deeply inspired by the 11th Panchen Lama’s teachings and sermons and will remember the teachings and strive to study Buddhism diligently in the future. 

The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu is one of the most influential incarnated lamas in Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Lhari county, Nagqu in Xizang, on February 13, 1990. On November 29, 1995, he was approved and confirmed by the State Council as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, being recognized as the 11th Panchen Lama. 

Global Times