Panchen Lama offers blessings to Buddhist believers

The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu offers head-touching blessings to Buddhist believers in Xigaze Prefecture of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 27, 2010.

Snapshots of Panchen Lama at Tashilhunpo Monastery

The annual three days Buddha-Painting Unfolding Festival with a history of over 500 years, was held in Tashilhunpo Monastery on June 25 with the 11th Panchen Lama, vice president of Buddhist Association of China in attendance.

Panchen Lama attends Buddha Festival at Tibetan monastery

The Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, joined crowds of monks and pilgrims at a monastery in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region Friday to mark the annual Buddha Festival.

11th Panchen Lama debates Buddhist scriptures with monks

From June 21 to 23, 2010 the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu observed a group of monks debating Buddhist scriptures at Tashilumpo Monastery in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Divided into three groups, over 100 monks started the debate, known as one of the key practice of Buddhist study with a long history. After observing several rounds of debates, the Panchen Lama himself joined the debate and was greatly welcome by the monks.

11th Panchen Lama warmly greeted in Tashilhunpo Monastery, Xigaze

The 11th Panchen Lama, vice president of Buddhist Association of China was warmly welcomed by the worshippers at Tashilhunpo Monastery in Xigaze, the holy confine of the Panchen Lama's traditional seat on June 10. Tashilhunpo Monastery, a monastery historical and cultural importance is located in the northwest of Xigaze Prefecture. The monastery was founded in 1447 AD by Gelug Sect (yellow sect). On June 10th, various ceremonial scarves and flowers were displayed to welcome the Panchen Lama's arrival.

11th Panchen Lama back to Tashilhunpo Monastery, Xigaze

The 11th Panchen Lama, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China was warmly greeted by devotees on June 10 at the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of Panchen Lamas after a tour of Lhasa and Lhoka Prefecture in southern Tibet.

Panchen Lama warmly greeted by worshippers in Xigaze

The 11th Panchen Lama was warmly greeted by worshippers Thursday at the holy confines of the Panchen Lama's traditional seat -- Tashilhunpo monastery in Xigaze. Clasping ceremonial scarves and flowers, a swarm of worshippers greeted the Panchen Lama as he made his way to Xigaze after a tour of Lhasa and southern Tibet's Shannan. A grand ceremony was held at Tashilhunpo monastery upon the Panchen Lama's arrival. He bowed before the statue of Sakyamuni and led monks in prayer, chanting sutra for a half-hour service. The 11th Panchen Lama...

Tibetans in southern Tibet hails Panchen Lama's visit

The 11th Panchen Lama, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, started visiting the Lhoka Prefecture in southern Tibet honored as the cradle of Tibetan civilization, on June 7. 5,000 local people in festive costumes lined streets to hail this great Tibetan Buddhist leader with bouquets and hadas in their hands. People threw their hadas to the Panchen's car to show their respects. During his first visit to this part of southern Tibet since his enthronement in 1995, the 11th Panchen Lama held religious services and offered head-touching blessings at the Yumbulagang Palace, Trandruk Temple and...

11th Panchen Lama's first visit to Lhoka wrapped up

The 11th Panchen Lama wrapped up his 2-day visit to Lhoka Prefecture in southern Tibet and returned to Lhasa on June 8. The 11th Panchen Lama, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China started on his first tour Monday to Lhoka Prefecture known as the cradle of Tibetan civilization since he was enthroned in 1995. Thousands of local people dressed in festival Tibetan costumes hailed the visit of the great Living Buddha and lined up to wait for the head-touching blessing. During his tour to the area, he visited Yumbulagang

11th Panchen Lama back to Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery

The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu (1st R), who is also vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, is welcomed by local residents in Xigaze of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 10, 2010. The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu finished his visit to Lhasa and south Tibet's Shannan Prefecture, and returned to Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery, the seat of successive Panchen Lamas in Tibet's Xigaze, on Thursday.

Panchen Lama visits Tibet University, Tibet College of Tibetan Medicine

The 11th Panchen Lama (C) is welcomed by Professor Ceyang (L) of Tibet University in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 9, 2010. The 11th Panchen Lama visited Tibet University and Tibet College of Tibetan Medicine in Lhasa on Wednesday.

Life is short, study more -- Panchen Lama tells Tibetan students

The 11th Panchen Lama urged students in Lhasa to study hard on Wednesday during a roundtable held at the University of Tibet, an initiative the 20-year-old Tibetan Buddhism leader proposed during his visit to Tibet. "Life is too short. So you should seize every opportunity to study, to learn knowledge, and then you will succeed," the bespectacled, maroon-robed Panchen Lama said while speaking before nearly one hundred students in the university's assembly hall. "A man without knowledge is a man without soul," he said.

Panchen Lama visits rural households in southern Tibet

The 11th Panchen Lama on Tuesday visited rural homes in Shannan Prefecture and chatted with peasants before finishing his first visit to this part of southern Tibet. "I never dreamed a Living Buddha would come to my home," said Mila, 49, a resident in Ztang Township. The maroon-robed Panchen Lama sat with Mila on a bench in the family's bright new concrete house and talked about a wide range of issues including local living standards, incomes and religious life. Patting the head of a three-year-old, the Panchen Lama, now in his 20s, told Mila's family to...

11th Panchen Lama prays for local devotees

The 11th Panchen Lama (2nd R, front) prays at Sanyai Monastery in Nedong County of Shannan Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 8, 2010. The 11th Panchen Lama finished Tuesday the two-day visit in south Tibet's Shannan Prefecture where he held large prayer services and gave head-touch blessings to more than 5,000 local devotees,

Panchen Lama blesses devotees during visit to southern Tibet

The 11th Panchen Lama on Monday visited south Tibet's Shannan Prefecture, held large prayer services and gave head-touch blessings to more than 5,000 local devotees. It was the 11th Panchen Lama's first visit to Shannan, honored as the cradle of Tibetan civilization, since he was enthroned as a Tibetan Buddhist leader in 1995. Thousands of devout Buddhists welcomed the Panchen Lama when he arrived. He held prayer services at Yumbu La Kang -- the first Tibetan palace -- and a local monastery and blessed thousands of local devotees who had gathered there.

11th Panchen Lama visits Razheng Monastery, Lhasa

The 11th Panchen Erdeni Qoigyi Gyibo, Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China, hosted prayer services at Razheng Monastery in Lhasa on June 6 and met with the 7th Razheng Living Buddha, who was enthroned in 2000. Built in 1057, the Razheng Monastery, 240 kilometers away from Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, carries a history of more than 900 years.

Panchen Lama hosts religious prayer ceremony at Razheng Monastery

The 11th Panchen Lama hosted a religious prayer ceremony at the Razheng Monastery, 240 kilometers away from Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, on June 6. Over two hundred lamas and others welcomed the Panchen Lama, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China when he arrived at Razheng Monastery on Sunday morning after a three-hour ride over rugged mountainous roads from downtown Lhasa. The Panchen Lama exchanged hada, a kind of scarf the Tibetans use to show respect and welcome, with the 14-year-old Razheng Living Buddha.

11th Panchen Lama visits Jokhang Temple

The 11th Panchen Lama adds gold powder to a life-sized statue of Buddha Sakyamuni as a 12-year-old in Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 5, 2010. The 11th Panchen Lama visited Jokhang Temple early Saturday.

11th Panchen Lama arrives at Lhasa for Buddhist activities

The 11th Panchen Lama (Front) throws zanba, roasted qingke barley flour, for good wishes, upon his arrival in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 4, 2010. The 11th Panchen Lama arrived at Lhasa for Buddhist activities as an annual routine in recent years.

11th Panchen Lama visits Lhasa's major monastery

The 11th Panchen Lama visited Jokhang Temple, the most renowned monastery in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, early Saturday. The Panchen Lama arrived in Lhasa on June 4 for a series of Buddhist activities, which have become his annual routine in recent years.

TAR officials meet the 11th Panchen Lama in Lhasa

The 11th Panchen Lama thanked for TAR officials' visit and was delighted to see great changes in all aspects in Tibet under the leadership of CPC and TAR government. He expressed that he would inherit the tradition from past generations of Panchen and resolutely maintain the union of the nation and the unity among ethnic groups. He was sincerely hoped that Tibet has good and fast development in all social and economic aspects; all the people in Tibet have happy life.

11th Panchen Lama prays for quake-hit victims in BJ

11th Panchen Lama, vice president of Chinese Buddhist Association, hosted a prayer session at the Lama Temple to release souls from purgatory for the victims in quake-hit Yushu after 49 days.