11th Panchen Lama calls on Buddhists to back national unity

Special: Focus on

Tibet

CHANGSHA, Dec.5 (Chinese media) -- One of China's most

respectable Tibetan living Buddhas, the 11th Panchen Lama Erdeni Gyaincain

Norbu, told Buddhist believers to make due contributions to the unity of the

country and harmony among different ethnic groups.

The remark was made by the 11th Panchen Lama to followers while doing prayers at two local temples during an inspection tour to central China's Hunan Province from Nov.26 to Dec.4.

Some migratory birds rest in the Lhasa River in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 27, 2008.(Chinese media/Karma)
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On the first day of his stay in Hunan, the Panchen

Lama toured a memorial for late Chairman Mao Zedong and Mao's former residence

in Shaoshan, a village-turned city to the southwest of Changsha, the provincial

capital.

He wrote a piece of calligraphy in Tibetan language

saying "Long Live Chairman Mao's Spirit" on the very desk Mao used to work at.

The 11th Panchen Lama also presided over prayers at

Fuyan Temple in Hengyang, a key city in southern Hunan, on Nov.27 and Lushan

Temple in Changsha on Dec.1.

"Buddhist believers should blend holy Buddhist

doctrine with socialist construction, work for harmony with the society, and

make due contributions for national unity, social stability and reunification of

China," said the eminent living Buddha.

Gyaincain Norbu, born on February 13, 1990 in Lhari

county of Nagqu prefecture in northern Tibet, was approved by the central

government in November 1995 as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, who

died in 1989, after a lot drawing ceremony among three candidates in the Jokhang

Temple in Lhasa. He was enthroned as the 11th Panchen Lama on Dec. 8, 1995.

Drawing lots from a gold urn to decide on the final

choice of the reincarnation of a high lama is a tradition in Tibetan Buddhism.

Gaining the approval from the central government on the choice began in the Qing

Dynasty (1644-1911).