Bylakuppe, Dec. 28: The Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe now houses the first-ever Gyawa Yabsey Museum that pays tribute to the strong spiritual and traditional relationship between the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama through a series of rare images on the lives of the two great masters of Tibet.
Gyawa Yabsey Museum, a permanent exhibit at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery’s New Assembly Hall, has evolved from the travelling photo exhibit, which was organized by the Central Association of His Holiness the Panchen Lama on the life of His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama and inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2009 in Dharamsala. Thereafter, it made its way to Bodh Gaya, Varanasi, Ladakh, Bylakuppe and Bangalore in India and Washington D.C., USA.
The museum’s name is derived from the term Gyawa Yabsey Nyi, or the “Great Father-Son Duo”, alluding to the special long-standing relationship the two masters share, particularly based upon the two recognizing each other’s reincarnation. The museum includes a compilation of over 200 photographs spread across different sections, including one showing images of two leaders together and other sections highlighting their individual lives and legacies – both inside Tibet and in exile.
“The museum is dedicated to His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Panchen Lama as an expression of the Tibetan people’s collective gratitude for the combined great deeds of the great masters of Tibet,” Khen Rinpoche Kachen Lobzang Tsetan, Abbot of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery said.
The museum also seeks to create awareness about the disappearance of His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima since he was a six-year old in May 1995 and garner support for the campaign for his swift release, said Ven. Lobsang, President of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery’s Central Association of His Holiness the Panchen Lama.
The museum includes a section on the 11th Panchen Lama, which displays the only image the world has ever seen of him as a six-year-old boy before he was abducted by the Chinese authorities in 1995. The Postcards to Beijing section allows visitors to sign a postcard bearing the photograph of the 11th Panchen Lama and included in a dropbox placed alongside. These postcards will be sent annually to the Chinese government on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama on April 25.
The Gyalwa Yabsey Museum was curated by Ven. Lobsang Dorjee, Tenzin Pema Chari Sharma and Gayatri Ganju and designed by Gayatri Ganju and Avani Tanya. The Museum was sponsored by the Neil Kreitman Foundation, USA in memory of Late Ruth Hayward, Panchen Lama Tashi Lhunpo Project, USA.
A pictorial book titled Gyalwa Yabsey was presented to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the inaugural ceremony of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery’s New Assembly Hall. The pictorial book, which was released by His Holiness, was ideated and authored by Ven. Lobsang and Tenzin Pema Chari Sharma and designed by Tenzin Thinley. The book includes a section on the two masters together and individual sections on His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the Panchen Lama and the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
“We have seen great interest for the Gyalwa Yabsey pictorial book from all sections of the society, after His Holiness the Dalai Lama launched the book and was visibly moved by the contents. The first print edition of 1,000 copies is now over and the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery intends to print this again to meet the high demand,” said Tenzin Pema Chari Sharma.
The photographs on the life and legacy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the book and the museum were contributed by Tibet Museum, Dharamsala. On display at the museum are also fifteen framed thangka paintings by Dharamsala-based artist Kalsang Damchoe, depicting the life and legacy of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama until his 80th birthday in 2015.
“The Dalai Lamas and the Panchen Lamas have accomplished many great deeds for the benefit of all sentient beings, and throughout Tibetan history have worked tirelessly to safeguard the well-being of the Tibetan people. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama have continued that legacy — one on a global scale in exile and the other, inside Chinese-occupied Tibet. Through this museum, we pay tribute to their life and legacy,” Ven. Lobsang added.
In the individual section on the life of the 10th Panchen Lama are rare photographs on his life and legacy that were curated by the Central Association of the Panchen Lama, a result of years of effort in seeking contributions from close aides of the 10th Panchen Lama, archival footage and photographs in books, etc.
The museum also has on display a handful of Tibetan soil that was smuggled by artist Tenzin Rigdol and an installation of netted fabric through which landscape images of Tibet are projected, allowing visitors to walk through the projected images.
