KATHMANDU, Dec 11: The religious leader prepared by the Chinese government to participate in the 'Nanhai Buddhism Round Table' event in Nepal is arriving soon. The Panchen Lama, also known as Gyaltsen Norbu, who was appointed by the Chinese government but has not been recognized by the 14th Dalai Lama, currently in exile in India, as his successor, is set to visit Nepal.
The Nanhai Buddhism Round Table, which will be held from December 12 (Thursday) to December 15 (Sunday), will see the participation of government officials and monks from around 20 countries. The Nepal government has kept the arrival of the Chinese religious leader Panchen Lama a secret. "He is coming for religious harmony," said an official from the Lumbini Development Trust.
Panchen Lama was appointed as a religious leader by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The agreement for his visit to Nepal was made before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's trip to China. "The Ministry of Tourism and the Lumbini Development Trust were already informed about this. Otherwise, he would have arrived on a Chinese chartered flight," said an official from the Trust. According to the official, the Nanhai Buddhism Round Table will be held at Hotel Yak and Yeti.
Panchen Lama's Nepal visit halted by government
The visit of Chinese religious leader Panchen Lama to Kathmandu has created waves among Buddhists from Nepal, India, and the United States. The issue has garnered international attention. "Panchen Lama, also known as Gyaltsen Norbu, is being brought out of China and established," said a source. The religious representative chosen by Beijing, Norbu, is expected to deliver a message of religious harmony at the event.
The 89-year-old Dalai Lama, revered worldwide, has asserted his right to determine his own reincarnation. However, the CCP has been promoting its appointed successor, Norbu. Countries like the United States have stated that China is attempting to diminish the Dalai Lama's influence by using Norbu as the Panchen Lama in the traditional Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
"Beijing has control over Tibet's spiritual heritage," said the source. The true Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who was declared in 1995, has not been seen publicly since his disappearance. After his disappearance, the CCP appointed Norbu as the religious leader. Gedhun was recognized by the Dalai Lama, who is in exile in India.
In 2019, Norbu made a controversial visit to Thailand. It is believed that China wants Norbu's visit to Nepal to help establish ties between Buddhist communities in Nepal and India. A chartered flight from Beijing landed in Nepal last September, and preparations were made for Norbu to visit Nepal at that time, but it was not successful.
Security experts had advised that it was not appropriate to bring him to Nepal immediately. Despite China's efforts, publicity, and pressure, Tibetans have not accepted Norbu as the Lama. During Norbu's visit to Chamdo in 2023, the CCP issued an order requiring Tibetans to pay 100 yuan per person to attend his blessing ceremony, which caused extreme disappointment within the authentic Tibetan community. It is reported that Beijing has imposed a ban on the public display of images of the Dalai Lama and the real Panchen Lama. Although Gedhun has been missing since the age of six, China later claimed that he was a "college graduate and in regular employment."
A similar conference was held in 2018 as well. At that time, Norbu had also sought to attend. The conference saw the participation of Buddhist religious leaders and professors from 23 countries, including Nepal. The two-day conference included discussions on around 30 papers prepared by religious leaders and professors from various countries, covering topics from the birthplace of Buddha to Buddhist culture, philosophy, and the teachings of Buddha.
