11th Panchen Lama visits Xigaze monastery

　　XIGAZE, Tibet, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The 11th Panchen Lama on Wednesday visited Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery, the largest of its kind in Xigaze, Tibet.

　　Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, one of the two most senior living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism, also held Buddhist services in Xigaze, Tibet's second-largest city.

　　The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu (C Front) walks to worship the major palaces at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 22, 2009. (Xinhua/Chogo)

　　The 19-year-old paid respects to the memorials of the 5th to 10th Panchen Lamas at the monastery, his residence in Xigaze, and led lamas to offer prayers.

　　He waved to hundreds of Buddhists and visitors at the temple, which sparked prayers among the crowds. He also gave touch-head blessings to lamas in the monastery.

　　The 11th Panchen Lama arrived in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, on July 14 and went to Xigaze on July 19. He was welcomed by tens of thousands of followers.

　　The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu worships the major palaces at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 22, 2009. (Xinhua/Chogo)

　　At a meeting with Zhang Qingli, secretary of the Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China, on July 15, he said Lhasa had undergone great changes since his last visit two years ago.

　　Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu was approved by the central government as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama in November 1995 after a lot- drawing ceremony among three candidates in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.

　　Drawing lots from a golden urn to decide the final choice of the reincarnation of a high lama has long-been a tradition in Tibetan Buddhism.