The mural of Dorje Shugden is prominent on the wall behind the Panchen Lama as he enters the main prayer hall of Denma Gonsa Monastery

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By: Steve Lee

The highest-ranking lama of Tibet, the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu officially visited Denma Gonsa monastery on the 19th July 2017. This massive Dorje Shugden monastery is situated in Zhidoi County, Qinghai province of China. In addition, the Panchen Lama also visited a nursing home in the county to grace a charitable event and blessed the elderly residents there.

Denma Gonsa Monastery is situated in Zhidoi County, Qinghai province of China

Denma Gonsa Monastery’s Lama Tsongkhapa statue is 35.32 meters high and this makes it the world’s largest indoor gilded bronze statue

The Panchen Lama visited the monastery following an invitation by the young incarnate lama of the monastery, Denma Gonsa Rinpoche. The Panchen Lama also visited a Sakya monastery, Jyeku Dondrub Ling within the same county as well. As the Panchen Lama’s car approached Denma Gonsa Monastery, Khampas and local nomads on horseback held out prayer flags and khatas to welcome his arrival. On top of that, locals also had several youths ride yaks on both sides of the car to escort the Panchen Lama towards the monastery.

In accordance with Chinese protocol, the approved itinerary of the visit included the Lama Tsongkhapa prayer hall, where the world’s largest bronze Lama Tsongkhapa statue is enshrined. He performed a Rabney consecration ritual to bless the massive Lama Tsongkhapa statue. Following this, the Panchen Lama paid homage at the reliquary stupa containing the relics of the previous incarnation of Denma Gonsa Rinpoche.

Panchen Lama conferred a long life initiation in a tent pitched outside of the monastery

After that, he moved on to the main prayer hall of the monastery to give a Dharma discourse and blessed the public in a traditional manner by placing his hand onto their heads. The crowd was fortunate to have an audience with this great lama, a qualified Geshe who has studied under some of the most prestigious masters of our time. Not only that, but he has received and steadfastly kept the vows of a monk, with no stain on his reputation as a pure monk, and has received many tantric empowerments, practiced the teachings and engaged in many retreats. Even without this title, the breadth and depth of his practice would qualify him as someone more than worthy of bestowing blessings and transmissions. One does not need to be a high ranking lama to be a great teacher of the Buddha’s sacred teachings. After a brief lunch break at midday, the Panchen Lama conferred a long life initiation in a tent pitched on the Tashitan fields just outside of the monastery. Panchen Lama returned to Beijing the next day.

This successful visit cements the close relationship that the 11th Panchen Lama has with Denma Gonsa Rinpoche and this indirectly confirms his approval of Dorje Shugden as an authentic practice and the high lamas, Geshes and sincere practitioners who worship this powerful deity.

The young Denma Gonsa Rinpoche welcoming the Panchen Lama to Denma Gonsa Monastery with a yellow khata

Panchen Lama along with the young Denma Gonsa Rinpoche performing Rabnye consecration ritual on the Lama Tsongkhapa statue

The Panchen Lama is presented with a framed verse of praise composed by Gonsa Monastery monks

Panchen Lama conferring a long initiation in a tent pitched outside of the Denma Gonsa Monastery

The famous statue of Dorje Shugden enshrined in the protector chapel of Denma Gonsa Monastery

Addendum

Whether people accept him as the real Panchen Lama does not make any difference. He is a human, an individual, an ordained monk, and he has received teachings from many erudite masters. He has received tantric empowerments, engaged in retreats, does the prayers; he does what any other Buddhist monk does. So by virtue of being a monk and someone who has practiced for many years, he is a qualified receptacle, teacher and disseminator of the Dharma. Therefore whether you accept him as the Panchen Lama does not matter. Thousands of monks in the monasteries over the 1,000 years did not have titles but they disseminated the Dharma very well.

So do not judge whether he is doing Dharma correctly based on his title but on his merits. This is a democracy. This young man who has been labelled ‘Panchen Lama’ has held the vows of a monk, lived in a monastery, and studied under the most qualified and greatest masters of Tibet, especially of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, for many years. By all accounts, he is a very qualified Geshe. This Geshe just happens to have the title ‘Panchen Lama’ and happens to be the highest ranking lama in Tibet, sanctioned by the Chinese government. Besides the Panchen Lama can emanate in hundreds of forms simultaneously. It is the choice of the Chinese who they want to sanction, and install as their spiritual leader. It is their choice. Nobody should or can take away their country’s choice.

The current Panchen Lama was invited to Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s monastery in Kham, Tibet, China. Housing thousands of monks, it is one of the biggest monasteries that practises Dorje Shugden. The Panchen Lama, the Chinese government and the Tibetan people in Tibet endorse this monastery and support it. As you can see here in the series of pictures, the Panchen Lama went to this monastery to give his personal support to the young Denma Gonsa Rinpoche who is studying to become a Geshe himself.

Panchen Lama Qoigyijabu Part 1

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Panchen Lama Qoigyijabu Part 2

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Panchen Lama Qoigyijabu Part 3

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Panchen Lama Qoigyijabu’s 20th Enthronement Anniversary

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