By Khedroob Thondup

A Rare Moment of Consensus. In the mid‑1990s, an extraordinary moment of consensus emerged between Beijing and Dharamsala. Both sides agreed that the search for the 11th Panchen Lama would be conducted jointly, a rare alignment in the otherwise fraught relationship over Tibet. Beijing appointed Chadrel Rinpoche, a respected abbot of Tashilhunpo Monastery, to lead the search committee. His role was to identify the rightful reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, a figure second only to the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhism.

The Selection of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. After careful investigation, Chadrel Rinpoche identified Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the authentic reincarnation. Both Beijing and Dharamsala initially accepted this choice. In keeping with centuries of tradition, Chadrel Rinpoche wrote to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, requesting him—as the supreme spiritual authority—to make the formal announcement. On May 1...