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Dream and life of the 11th Panchen Lama

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-31 15:13

Most 19-year-old men dream of a pretty girlfriend, a happy life or a good job. He is different.    

The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu (front), attends a sub-forum of the Second World Buddhist Forum (WBF) in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu province, March 29, 2009. [Xinhua]

Born shouldering a sacred mission as one of the two most senior living Buddhas in Tibet, the 11th Panchen Lama has a big dream.    

"My dream is, the world is peaceful, our motherland is stable,  people live in harmony, Buddhism is prosperous," said the elegant young man, neatly clad in saffron monk robe and wearing a string of prayer beads at his left rist.    

Full coverage:  Tibet in 50 years Related readings:  His Holiness the Panchen Lama endorses unity  Panchen Lama says committed to China's unification  Religions remain healthy in China, says Panchen Lama  Interpreter for Dalai, friend of Panchen

"This is what I will pursue in my whole life. I will devote everything for it."  For this dream, he has to work really hard.    

In a half-hour exclusive interview with Xinhua, the 11th Panchen Lama revealed his daily life.    

"From 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., it is my school time every day, not including the time for meditation. A schedule like this has lasted more than ten years," he said.    

About 80 percent of his school time goes to learning Buddhism sutras. Also, he has language classes in Tibetan, Mandarin and  English, and studies poets, literatures, computers and Chinese calligraphy.    

"About 5 percent of my time will be spent on entertainment such as reading newspapers, books and sports," he said.   

The Panchen Lama is a book lover. "I read all kinds of books  but I like historical books most. I also read some fictions and essays, in Tibetan and Chinese." As for sports, he loves horse riding and jogs regularly to keep fit.  Facing the heavy task of study, he is not often seen in the spotlight. "My major task is still to study," he said.  

But he paid frequent visits to Tibet and other Tibetan ethnic areas in Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan, to meet his  followers. He also toured other places in the country, including attending the first World Buddhist Forum in Hangzhou of eastern Zhejiang province in 2006 and the second one held in Wuxi of Jiangsu province from March 28 to 29 this year.    

At the opening of the second World Buddhist Forum on Saturday,  the Panchen Lama gave a speech in English, impressing many.  He was quite modest when talking about his English. "I am just a beginner." He has three English classes every week, one hour each.    

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