Panchen Lama

Penchen Lama (Tibetan: chen bla ma pan, also: Penchen Rinpoche, Tibetan: chen rin po che pan ) is the title of a major Trülku - line of the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism. The Penchen Lama is the second highest Trülku the Gelugpa tradition and as an emanation of the " Buddha of Immeasurable Light" Amitabha.

Origin

Many lamas are seen in Vajrayana as beings who have chosen to be reborn in order to help other sentient beings can. These lamas are called " Trülku ". The " Penchen lamas " were introduced in the 17th century in Tibet. With the title " Penchen Lama " is a hybrid word formation from Sanskrit Pandit ( scholar ) and Tibetan chen-po (large), and it can be translated as Big learned Guru. He is associated with the prominent and respected Buddhist teacher Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltshen, who was abbot of the monastery Trashilhünpo. Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltshen was the 4th Dalai Lama Yönten Gyatsho monastic vows and was a teacher of the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatsho. After Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltshen had died at the age of 92 years, was the 5th Dalai Lama for the reincarnation of his teacher - he had called Penchen Lama - search, thus its spiritual work would be continued in Tibet. The respective Penchen Lama is an important authority in the recognition of each Dalai Lama as to how the Dalai Lama is an important authority in the recognition of the respective Penchen Lama since that time.

Since retroactively three other Tibetan scholars were recognized as former incarnations of Penchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltshen is also known as 4 Penchen Lama.

Beginning of the 20th century considered an important part of the Tibetan people is not the Dalai Lama, but the Panchen Lama as their supreme ruler in the secular and the spiritual sense.

The recognition of the current Penchen Lama is controversial, as recognized by the 14th Dalai Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima 11th Penchen Lama was kidnapped.

List of Penchen Llamas