My friends from the Seattle-area Tibetan community gathered at their Buddhist Monastery last night to honor the 22nd birthday of Tibet’s Panchen Lama, Gedun Chokyi Nyima. There was a huge birthday cake, Tibetan tea, sweets, and the other trappings of a Tibetan party.
The only thing missing was the guest of honor, the Panchen Lama. He and his family disappeared in 1995 when the young lama was just six-years-old and haven’t been heard from since. Tibetans say that the Panchen Lama was kidnapped by the Chinese authorities, who have since named their own “puppet” Panchen Lama.
It’s not known whether the real Panchen Lama is even still alive.
One of the most important figures (along with the Dalai Lama) in Tibetan culture, the Panchen Lama’s birthday is celebrated each year by Tibetans...and though I've photographed quite a number of events in the monastery the past several years, there was something about the quality of the light last night that made me feel like I was experiencing that interior space for the first time. My friends placed ceremonial “khata” scarves near a photograph of the young lama and chanted prayers. Once the somber ceremony was finished in the monastery shrine room, everyone moved to the downstairs social hall where the atmosphere was lighter. Little ones giggled and enjoyed birthday cake, and adults drank the salty butter tea that is a cultural mainstay.
What a bittersweet evening.
