By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, November 14 – On 12th October 2006, a 4 year old Tibetan boy was enthroned as the 7th Aala Gunthang Lobsang Gelek Tenpai Khenchen at Labrang Tashikyil Monastery near Sangchu County Town, Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Amdo Region, Tibet in accordance with the Tibetan festival of ‘Lhabab Dhuechen’ (descending of God to earth) under strict Chinese surveillance. Over 1000 armed soldiers were deployed in and around the monastery premises.
According to a reliable source from Tibet, the enthronement ceremony started from his birthplace of Khotse Village in Dzoge County of Amdo Region. He was welcomed to the Labrang Tashikyil Monastery via places like Sangkhok and Tashi Raptenling towns. Labrang Tashikyil Monastery is one of the biggest monasteries in Amdo Region of Tibet with over 1200 monks and is often refered to as “the Small Lhasa”.
On the day of the enthronement ceremony, thousands of Tibetans have gathered at Labrang Monastery to get blessing and a glimpse of the young lama. Due to heavy security and deployment of soldiers, many people were not able to get blessing and glimpse of the young lama and had to return dissatisfied, some people even came from far off places prostrating all the way to the monastery.
The 6th Aala Gunthang Jigme Tenpai Wangchug passed away in February 2000. During the beginning of Chinese occupation of Tibet, like many lamas who were imprisoned, he was also imprisoned by the Chinese in 1958 and was released in 1979, during his prison term he served in Chinese labor camps and underwent many sufferings. After his release, he was one of the main lamas who took the responsibility of renovating the Labrang Tashikyil Monastery and he had always tried to preserve Tibetan culture and tradition and Tibetan Buddhism. He also gave several Kalachakra initiations in Tibet. When the Chinese formed a selection committee for the search of Panchen Lama, Chinese tried to include him in the committee but he did not join the committee. However, during his lifetime after release from prison, he was conferred with many Chinese Government titles.
His reincarnation was born in 2002 in Dzoge County of Amdo Region and in 2004, 6th Jamyang Zhepa Lobsang Jigme Thubten Choekyi Nyima of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery recognized him as the incarnation of the 6th Aalak Gunthang under strong interference from the Chinese authorities who later officially announced the selection on 29th September 2004. Fully aware of teh fact that the Tibetan people are devout and religious the Chinese government involves itself in the selection of important lamas of Tibet to win complete control over the Tibetan people.
