Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 7: Gyaltsen (Ch. Gyaincain) Norbu, the Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama widely regarded by Tibetans as a “political puppet” or “fake Panchen,” is set to confer the Kalachakra empowerment and teachings at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery—the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas in Shigatse, Tibet—from October 9 to 12, according to a report by Tibet Times, a Tibetan-language media outlet based in Dharamshala.
In an announcement issued by Tashi Lhunpo Monastery on September 29, the event was described as being held “for the sake of many noble causes, including world peace, the flourishing and prosperity of the motherland, the well-being of the people, and the accumulation of merit and virtue for all sentient beings.” The notice further stated that “His Holiness the All-Knowing Panchen Lama, out of his great compassion, will bestow the precious Kalachakra empowerment and teachings” during the four-day ceremony.
The monastery also issued strict guidelines for participants, urging both laypeople and monastics to “adhere to regulations, follow the directions of on-site personnel, and refrain from bringing knives, flammable or hazardous objects, alcohol, or any dangerous items.” Devotees were instructed to maintain complete silence throughout the ceremony.
This is not the first time Gyaltsen Norbu has conducted the Kalachakra empowerment. In 2016, he led a similar ceremony at Dechen Phodrang near Tashi Lhunpo Monastery from July 21 to 24. That event was marred by controversy, as reports emerged that the Chinese authorities had financially incentivized some Tibetans to attend while coercing others to be present.
Over the past several months, Gyaltsen Norbu has been touring various regions of Tibet with the primary agenda of promoting the Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism. His tour follows a face-to-face, closed-door meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing in June, during which he reportedly pledged his full support for the Chinese Communist Party’s campaign to “Sinicise” Tibetan Buddhism. The meeting coincided with the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the six-year-old boy recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1995 as the 11th Panchen Lama, who has not been seen since being taken into Chinese custody that same year.
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family have not been seen in public since their disappearance in 1995, and China has consistently refused to disclose any credible information regarding their whereabouts or well-being. In 2015, a Chinese government spokesperson claimed that he was “being educated, living a normal life, growing up healthily, and does not wish to be disturbed.” Five years later, in 2020, the spokesperson reiterated that he was “a college graduate with a job” who sought privacy, adding that neither he nor his family wished to be disturbed in their “current normal lives.” However, no verifiable details or evidence have ever been provided to substantiate these claims.
Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile continue to regard Gyaltsen Norbu as a political appointee installed by Beijing, dismissing him as an imposter. Despite China’s concerted efforts to elevate his stature—through appointments to high-level political bodies, state-organized religious ceremonies, and frequent appearances at official events—his legitimacy remains widely rejected among Tibetans, who view him as a symbol of China’s interference in Tibetan religious affairs.
