Panchen Lama In the mind’s eye of a photographer

Time flies like an arrow. Ten years ago, Buddhists confirmed Bainqen ErdiniQoigyijabu, who was only five years old then, as the reincarnation of the late 10th Panchen Lama by drawing lots from a gold bottle. It has been about ten years since the 11th Panchen Lama was installed to the seat at his inauguration ceremony on November 29, 1995 following the Tibetan Buddha’s rules and customs. In accordance with the Tibetan lunar calendar, the 11th Panchen Lama, who was born on February 13, 1990, has been 15 years old. Now, he has become a Living Buhhda of quite large build. The strict practice Buddhism lifestyle in a planned way help him to show bearing of a Buddha master in manner, expression and high Buddha achievements.

I was very lucky to have an opportunity to accompany the 10th Panchen Lama to attend a ceremony to enshrine the Buddha pagoda, which was built for the burial of the bodies of five Panchen Lamas, from the fifth Panchen to ninth Panchen, just after the Spring Festival (Chinese lunar New Year) in 1989. Nobody could imagine that the Panchen Lama was died for a sudden heart attack as soon as the religious ceremony completed successfully. Until now, it has been 16 years since the beloved 10th Panchen Lama passed away. However, as a photographer, I have still been remembering the unforgettable experiences of taking photos for him whose appearance is very vivid in my heart.

Six years later, on November 19, 1995, I also had another opportunity to accompany the Central Government delegation headed by Luo Gan to attend a religious ceremony on which Buddhists confirmed Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu as the reincarnation of the late 10th Panchen Lama by drawing lots from a gold bottle on November 19, 1995. And then, 20 days later, on December 8, I also witnessed another historical event-Li Tieyin, representative of the Central Government, attending the ceremony for the 11th Panchen Lama of being installed to the seat. As a photographer of the Pictorial for Ethnic Groups, I had the fortunate to be the only journalist to witness the whole event, from the last trip in Tibet of the 10th Panchen Lama to his death, from the 11th Panchen Lama’s confirmation to his ceremony of being installed to the seat. Nobody can say that is not a kind of fate connecting with Buddhism. Since then, I have been running after the 11th Panchen Lama for reporting and taking his photos.