Panchen Rinpoche conducts Buddhist, social activities in Xizang's Qamdo, Nagqu

LHASA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po visited the cities of Qamdo and Nagqu in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region from July 7 to 23, attending a series of religious activities and carrying out social research.

On July 7, Panchen Rinpoche, a leader of Tibetan Buddhism, arrived in Qamdo by plane from Lhasa, the regional capital. From July 7 to 18, he visited more than 10 temples in several districts and counties of Qamdo, and participated in religious services.

At Zongang Temple in Zongang County, Panchen Rinpoche taught the Longevity Sutra to monks and performed a head-touching ritual to bless them.

During his stay in Qamdo, Panchen Rinpoche also presided over a symposium on ethnic unity in Zongang County and visited a Tibetan medicine company, a Tibetan medicine hospital and Xobando town, an important relay station on the ancient Tea Horse Road, a trade route which dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and spans multiple regions, for his social research.

During his visit to the Tibetan medicine company in the city's economic and technological development zone, Panchen Rinpoche said that Tibetan medicine is a treasure of the Chinese nation's traditional medicine. "We must preserve traditional Tibetan medicine formulas while focusing on scientific innovation to allow more people to benefit from this ancient wisdom," he noted.

The Qamdo trip lasted for 12 days, and Panchen Rinpoche was warmly welcomed by monks and other followers of Tibetan Buddhism wherever he went.

After leaving Qamdo, Panchen Rinpoche conducted Buddhist activities from July 19 to 23 at two temples in Nagqu and conducted social research in a local village, where he visited a resident's home and learned about local efforts in building "harmonious and beautiful plateau villages."

Panchen Rinpoche is a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body. He is also vice president of the Buddhist Association of China and president of the association's Xizang branch.

Panchen Erdeni is one of the most influential Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism. Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po was born on Feb. 13, 1990, in Lhari County of Nagqu in Xizang. On Nov. 29, 1995, he was approved and confirmed by the State Council as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen after a lot-drawing from a golden urn. He was then enthroned as the 11th Panchen Erdeni. ■