Molly Flanders

Tashilhunpo monastery in Tibet is the tradtional seat of HH Panchen Lama, the second highest spirtual leader in Tibetan Buddhism.

After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950 and the destruction of thousands of Tibetan monasteries and temples, HH 10th Panchen Lama was unable to escape Tibet and was imprisoned for 10 years by the Chinese regime after speaking out about the terrible destruction of Tibetan religion and culture. He passed away in 1989 under suspicious circumstances.

In 1995 HH Dalai Lama recognized the 6 year old boy Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnation of HH 10th Panchen Lama. Shortly after the recognition, the young Gedhun and his family were abducted by the Chinese regime and taken to a secret location believed to be somewhere in China. They have not been seen since. Now the 11th Panchen Lama, HH Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, is a man of 20 years old and has now spent more than two thirds of his young life as a political prisoner of the Chinese regime.... more

Tashilhunpo monastery in Tibet is the tradtional seat of HH Panchen Lama, the second highest spirtual leader in Tibetan Buddhism.

After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950 and the destruction of thousands of Tibetan monasteries and temples, HH 10th Panchen Lama was unable to escape Tibet and was imprisoned for 10 years by the Chinese regime after speaking out about the terrible destruction of Tibetan religion and culture. He passed away in 1989 under suspicious circumstances.

In 1995 HH Dalai Lama recognized the 6 year old boy Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnation of HH 10th Panchen Lama. Shortly after the recognition, the young Gedhun and his family were abducted by the Chinese regime and taken to a secret location believed to be somewhere in China. They have not been seen since. Now the 11th Panchen Lama, HH Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, is a man of 20 years old and has now spent more than two thirds of his young life as a political prisoner of the Chinese regime. Traditionally, a Dalai and Panchen Lama recognize each other's reincarnation and oversee the spiritual education of the other. By abducting HH Dalai Lama's choice of HH Panchen Lama, the Chinese regime have broken this spiritual bond between the two highest Lamas. They later installed their own choice of panchen whose parents were loyal members of the Communist Party of China. This was an attempt to control the next choice of Dalai Lama by moulding a young boy and controlling his choice of the next Dalai Lama.

Tashilhunpo monastery in Tibet is the site of some of the most brutal and coercive methods of control by the Chinese regime. Monks suffer regular "patriotic re-education" sessions where they are forced to denounce HH Dalai Lama. Many of the monks undertake the hazardous escape from Tibet to find sanctuary in the safety and tranquillity of Tashilhunpo monastery in India where they can practise their religion in peace.

But Tashilhunpo monastery in India is one of the smallest and poorest of the exile Tibetan monasteries. The monastery faces many problems of overcrowding and being able to meet even the most basic needs such as food and medicines. HH Dalai Lama is the patron of Tashilhunpo monastery in India and has spoken about the exceptional difficulties Tashilhunpo faces. Despite the very real difficulties the monastery struggles with, it continues to provide a very high level of education for monks of all ages in the entire curriculum of Buddhist studies.

I have started this appeal to raise funds for the monastery and to highlight the situation of HH Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. There are many ways to help the monastery. It is possible to sponsor a monk for a few dollars a month, whereby you can have regular contact by letter, email etc, with each other; volunteer to teach English at the monastery school; volunteer medical knowledge to the monastery; order lovely gifts which are made at the monastery such as CD's of Tashilhunpo music and chanting, incense, bags, prayer beads etc, by visiting the monastery website at http://tashilhunpo.org/ or for U.K. residents http://tashi-lhunpo.org.uk/ ; or by donating or pledging to this appeal.

Further details on the history of Tashilhunpo monastery can be found by visiting the monastery website. Please help this extremely important monastery in whatever way you can.