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Dear John,
Today marks an important birthday for all who believe in human rights and religious freedom, for Tibetan Buddhists worldwide and, in particular, for our brothers and sisters in Tibet.
On April 25, 1989, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was born in Lhari county, Tibet. At age 6, he was identified as the 11th Panchen Lama by the 14th Dalai Lama, making him one of the most important Buddhist leaders in the world.
But three days after his selection, the Chinese government kidnapped him and his family; they have never been seen in public since. This innocent child was the youngest prisoner of conscience in history.
In November that year, China’s atheist Communist Party added insult to tragedy when it appointed its own Panchen Lama, making a mockery of Tibetan Buddhist practices.
To mark the 31st birthday of the true Panchen Lama and to rededicate our work for his release, we’re sharing with you a video message from the abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, which has been the Panchen Lamas’ home monastery for centuries. Following China’s occupation of Tibet, the monastery was reestablished in southern India.
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