In May of this year, the Dalai Lama announced in India that a Tibetan boy was the reincarnated soul boy of the 10th Bainqen Erdeni. His act was severely denounced by the masses of religious believers and people from all circles in Tibet and other parts of China. Faced with mounting criticism and acting under the pretense of religion, the Dalai Lama concocted a series of untruths such as "the selection of the reincarnated Bainqen is a purely religious affair which does not require ratification by the central government", and "it is not necessary to draw lots from the golden urn", as well as "the Dalai and the Bainqen are both masters and disciples of each other, and hence the former has the right to designate a reincarnated soul boy". Are the statements of the Dalai true? History offers the following facts.

Systematic Inception of The Living Buddhas

By the mid-16th century, the Gelug (Yellow) Sect founded by Zongkapa had garnered considerable strength in the Tibetan areas which ignited an acute rivalry between it and other religious sects and local feudal forces. In order to consolidate and expand the vested interests of the Yellow Sect, leader Soinam Gyaco made overtures to Altan Khan of the Tumet Tribe of the Mongols in Qinghai, and the two held an historic meeting in 1578, or the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Wanli. Altan Khan honored Soinam Gyaco by bestowing the title "Dalai (meaning vast ocean in Mongolian) Lama (meaning superior man in Tibetan)".

After the founding of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in China, the 5th Dalai Lama Lobsang Gyaco journeyed to Beijing in 1652 to pay his respects to Emperor Shunzhi. Following Lobsang's return to Tibet the next year, the Qing court honored him by conferring the title of "the Dalai Lama, Overseer of the Buddhist Faith on Earth Under the Great Benevolent Self-Subsisting Buddha of the Western Paradise," thereby formally establishing the title and position of the Dalai Lama. The Qing emperor also granted the Dalai Lama a gold seal of authority bearing inscriptions in the Chinese, Tibetan and Manchu languages. The seal is currently under the care of the Cultural Relics Administration of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The title Bainqen first appeared in 1645, or the second year of the reign of Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty, when the Mongolian chieftain Gushri Khan honored the 16th Abbot Lobsang Qoigyi of the Tashilhungpo Monastery with the title of "Bainqen" (meaning great scholar in Tibetan) "Pokto" (meaning a wise and brave man in Mongolian) after he defeated all the adversary forces of the Yellow Sect and seized ruling power over most parts of Tibet with the energetic support of Lobsang Qoigyi. This marked the origin of the title of Bainqen,and the Yellow Sect monastery later designated Lobsang as the 4th Bainqen.

In 1713, or the 52nd year in the reign of Emperor Kangxi, the emperor conferred the 5th Bainqen Lobsang Yexei with the title "Bainqen Erdeni (meaning treasure in Manchu)", thereby formally establishing the title and position of the Bainqen.

Installation of Reincarnated Soul Boys

Since the Qing court formally conferred the titles of the 5th Dalai and the 5th Bainqen, later generations of the soul boy incarnates of the Dalai and the Bainqen have been subject to the approval and recognition of the central government. The practice has in fact evolved into an established rule.

Confirmation of the reincarnated soul boy of the 5th Bainqen. The 5th Bainqen died in 1737. A little over a year later, the Tashilhungpo Monastery, the home monastery of the Bainqen, discovered a soul boy who, with the approval of Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty, was installed as the 6th Bainqen. The emperor dispatched envoys from Beijing to attend the installation ceremony of the 6th Bainqen.

Confirmation of the reincarnated soul boy of the 6th Bainqen. Following the death of the 6th Bainqen, a soul boy was selected under the auspices of the Tashilhungpo Monastery. In 1782, Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty issued an edict acknowledging the soul boy as the 7th Bainqen. The high commissioner of the Qing government stationed in Tibet presided over the installation ceremony for the 7th Bainqen.

Confirmation of the reincarnated soul boy of the 7th Bainqen. During the course of searching for the reincarnated soul boy of the 7th Bainqen, the Qing government promulgated the 29-Article Ordinance for the More Efficient Governing of Tibet, with the system for drawing lots from the golden urn to determine the soul boy having already been established and put into practice. Hence, determination of the reincarnated soul boy of the 7th and those of later generations of Bainqen all followed the prescribed set rules.

Confirmation of the reincarnated Dalai Lama. The titles of the 7th and 8th Dalai Lamas were respectively conferred by Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.The titles of the 9th and later generations of Dalai Lamas were granted by the central government following approval of the selection based on drawing lots from a golden urn, or otherwise exempting the procedure and nominating the boy directly. All central government documents related to conferring the titles of the 5th and later generations of the Dalai Lamas are on file in the Archives of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Drawing Lots From The Golden Urn

In 1791, or the 56th year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the Korgas mounted a full-scale invasion of Tibet. The aggressive army was eventually repelled by troops sent by the Qing government. Given the drawbacks in Tibetan institutions and the rampant corruption of local officials, the Qing government decided to improve administration in Tibet. Emperor Qianlong issued an imperial decree instructing Fukang'an that "a proper ordinance should be laid down for Tibet and should be abided by at all times following the withdrawal of the army". Fukang'an joined with members of the local Tibetan government to draft the ordinance which was ratified by the Qing government the next year and was formally promulgated in the document entitled the 29-Article Ordinance for the More Efficient Governing of Tibet. The original document, written in Tibetan, is on file in the Archives of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Article 1 of the ordinance provides stipulations for the search and determination of reincarnated soul boys of the Dalai, Bainqen and other Living Buddhas, including all required religious and administrative procedures.

According to the established set of rules, relevant monasteries and local governments are responsible for the search of soul boys. Following a careful examination, no more than three candidates for reincarnation should be selected, and reports related to each should be submitted to the emperor for approval of the identification procedure of drawing lots from the golden urn. Upon receiving the approval of the emperor, the ceremony of drawing lots (slips inscribed with the name and month and year of birth of a candidate in the Manchu, Chinese and Tibetan languages) from the golden urn was to be held in front of the statue of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, on a carefully selected auspicious day. The high commissioner stationed in Tibet was to preside over the ceremony. The name of the selected soul boy was to be submitted to the emperor for approval. The emperor's approval was required to complete the process of determining the reincarnated soul boy. This system, known as drawing lots from the golden urn, is in place even today.

Following the introduction of the system, the 10th, llth and 12th Dalai Lamas and the 8th and 9th Bainqen Erdenis were determined through the process of drawing lots from the golden urn and receiving the approval of the central government. However, under special circumstances, the process has been exempted with the approval of the central government. For example, the central government exempted the process of drawing lots in the selection of soul boys of the 8th,l2th and 13th Dalai Lamas. Nonetheless, no matter the special circumstances involved, exemption of the process must first receive the special approval of the central government, the sole entity with the right to make the decision.

Will of the Late 10th Bainqen Lama

On January 24, 1989, after presiding over the inauguration ceremony for the stupas of the 5th-9th Bainqens in Xigaze, the 10th Bainqen Lama called a meeting of Living Buddhas and eminent monks of Tibetan Buddhism. The Bainqen told those in attendance that "the method for determining the soul boy through the method of drawing lots from the golden urn in front of the statue of Sakyamuni is the best, since Sakyamuni is accepted by all".

Soon after the death of the 10th Bainqen, various highly respected figures, Living Buddhas and eminent monks in Tibet suggested that the reincarnated soul boy of the late 10th Bainqen be selected by drawing lots from the golden urn in front of the statue of Sakyamuni in the Jokhang Monastery. Speaking at a press conference on March 12, 1991, Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that following the installation of the 5th Dalai Lama and the 4th Bainqen Lama, Tibet formed a complete set of religious rituals and historical precedents for the search of reincarnated soul boys. Representatives are first sent to view the inverted reflection in the holy lake in Gyaca County, Shannan Prefecture, in order to determine the birth time and place of the soul boy. Based on the findings, a search for the soul boy is launched nationwide. The method of drawing lots from the golden urn is implemented in cases when there is more than one candidate. The soul boy selected is installed with the approval of the central government. Prior to his death in August 1991, the Living Buddha Gyaya, the sutra teacher of the 10th Bainqen and the chief responsible member in the search of the reincarnation of the Bainqen, told his colleagues, "The reincarnated soul boy of the Bainqen Lama must be determined by drawing lots from the golden urn." His will has been respected by all other Living Buddhas, eminent monks and masses of Buddhist disciples.

Buddhist Doctrine Supports the Selection

The method of determining the soul boy incarnate by drawing lots from the golden urn totally conforms to Buddhist doctrines. Tenets of Tibetan Buddhism express the belief that the soul of a person extends amidst the transmigration of life and death. Living Buddhas, who have acquired high virtue by following rigorous ascetic discipline, are actually beyond the realm of life and death and should remain in the Western Paradise. However, to attain the goal of extricating all living creatures from suffering, they will transform themselves into human figures and, following the Buddhist tenets, dedicate themselves to relieving the misery of mankind. The task of searching for and determining the soul boy of a Living Buddha centers on identifying the reincarnation of the Living Buddha from amongst soul boys of similar age and with the same signs of the zodiac. The method of drawing lots from the golden urn precisely follows this basic principle of Tibetan Buddhism. The "holy choice" determined before the statue of either Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism or Zongkapa, founder of the Yellow Sect, is the most authoritative result, and is trusted by the masses of Tibetan Buddhist disciples since it eliminates the possibility of trickery and graft.

A Method Promoting Unity

The influence and prestige of the 10th Bainqen, a noted politician and outstanding leader of Tibetan Buddhism, have extended far beyond the Tashilhungpo Monastery and indeed permeates all Tibetan regions and areas covered by Tibetan Buddhism. During his lifetime, the Bainqen Lama made frequent inspection tours to Tibet and other areas in which Tibetans live in compact communities to explain Buddhist scriptures to the public. He enjoyed the great support and high esteem of the masses. Hence, the smooth installation of the reincarnated soul boy of the Bainqen is the wish of all monks at the Tashilhungpo Monastery and the masses of Buddhist disciples in Xigaze Prefecture and all other Tibetan regions. Numerous eminent monks have extended great effort to assist with the work and all hope the soul boy will be found in their respective localities. The method of determining the reincarnated soul boy by drawing lots from the golden urn and submitting the name of the selected incarnate to the central government for approval bridges differences between all concerned parties. The system in fact enhances the unity of Buddhist circles in Tibet.

(From the Archives of the Tibet Autonomous Region)

(This article appears on page 7, No. 37, 1995)