Tibetannet

Throughout his life, the 10th Panchen Lama struggled for unity and prosperity of our great motherland. He adhered to his patriotic stance of upholding national unification and ethnic unity especially in the struggle against separatism.

The 10th Panchen Lama summed up his life's thoughts and activities as the "four passions", that is "passion for the Communist Party of China, passion for the socialist motherland, passion for his own ethnic group, and passion for his religious faith". Those are convictions that he held all his life.

The Panchen Lama in his office in Beijing.

Passion for the Communist Party of China

The 10th Panchen Lama said many times that "If there was no Communist Party of China, then there wouldn't be today's everything for me; nor would there be unity, progress, and development among the Tibetan people. Therefore, I love the Communist Party of China. These are not rhetorics; they are the expression of my inner voice. I want to inscribe them on my heart and implement them in my actions."

When the People's Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949, the 10th Panchen Lama sent a telegram to Chairman Mao Zedong and Commander Zhu De, enthusiastically praising the founding of New China, expressing his "sincere support and admiration", saying "it is hopeful for the health and happiness of the people, and the revival of the country".

Passion for the socialist motherland

In March 1959, when Tibetan reactionary groups publicly tore up the "17-Article Agreement" and launched an armed rebellion, the 10th Panchen Lama fought resolutely against the rebels. On March 28, Premier Zhou Enlai issued an order to dissolve the then local government of Tibet. The Preparatory Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region exercised the powers of the local government and appointed the 10th Panchen Lama as acting chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Preparatory Committee. On March 29, the 10th Panchen Lama sent a telegram to Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou, expressing his firm support for the decisions of the State Council.

"In the middle of the 13th century, Tibet officially became under the direct jurisdiction of the central government, and Tibetans became an important group of multi-ethnic China. Since then, we Tibetans have experienced the highs and lows alongside other ethnic groups of the motherland. The future and destiny of Tibet are ever more closely linked to the future and destiny of the motherland," said the 10th Panchen Lama.

He said: "History and reality show us that only under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and through firmly following the socialist path can the Tibetan people have a truly happy future. Therefore, we must protect the unification of the motherland as we protect our own eyes."

Passion for his own ethnic group

The 10th Panchen Lama was very concerned about implementing the Law for Ethnic Regional Autonomy in the People's Republic of China in Tibet, and he put forward many pertinent opinions and suggestions. He actively assisted in implementing the Party's ethnic and religious policies, united front work policies, and other policies. He was especially concerned about the economic development and cultural construction of Tibet and proposed to set up an "Aid Tibet Development Foundation", on which he personally served as chairman. He focused on maintaining and developing the traditional culture of the Tibetan people and proposed important suggestions on strengthening the study and use of Tibetan language.

The 10th Panchen Lama scrupulously adhered to his belief that patriotism and love for one's own ethnic group were completely unified. He believed that loving one's country was the premise of loving one's ethnic group, and loving one's ethnic group was the foundation of loving the country.

Passion for his religious faith

The 10th Panchen Lama inherited and developed the great tradition of patriotism and love of religion of past Panchen Lamas while constantly introducing new content in line with social development. He actively assisted the Party and government in carrying out policies on religious freedom. In addition, he actively promoted the good of Tibetan Buddhism and abolished the bad, pursuing a system of monastery management in socialist society and gradually adapting Tibetan Buddhism to China's socialist society, and he made a useful attempt to harmonize them.

He first put forth an opinion on popularizing Constitution in monasteries during the democratic reform of Tibet, which was directed at feudalistic privilege that existed in monasteries, and wrote this into a resolution by the Tibet Autonomous Region Preparatory Committee.

In 1987, the 10th Panchen Lama established the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China and served as its director. With it, he initiated a good model for training high Buddhist monks to become leaders supporting the Party, patriotic to the country, following the socialist path, and gaining high religious achievements.

Xi Zhongxun (first from left), the 10th Panchen Lama (center), and Deng Yingchao (first from right) attended the founding ceremony of the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China.

Throughout his life, the 10th Panchen Lama was devoted to patriotism and love of religion. He made great efforts towards realizing happiness for the people and world peace, towards national prosperity and peace, social harmony, and ethnic unity, and he should always be remembered by future generations.