The Difference between Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni

The Difference between Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni

Both of Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni were the great disciples of Tsongkhapa – the great founder of Gelug Sect. They created two different systems in Tibet Buddhism history.

The successive Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni are the teacher and the disciple for each other. They are bound up with each other, but also distinguish for each other.

For the Panchen Erdeni, the 1st Panchen Erdeni was the teacher of the 1st Dalai Lama, the 4th Panchen Erdeni was the teacher of the 4th and the 5th Dalai Lama, the 5th Panchen Erdeni was the teacher of the 6th and the 7th Dalai Lama, the 6th Panchen Erdeni was the teacher of the 8th Dalai Lama, the 7th Panchen Erdeni was the teacher of the 9th Dalai Lama, the 10th Dalai Lama and the 11th Dalai Lama, and the 8th Panchen Erdeni was the teacher of the 13th Dalai Lama.

For the Dalai Lama, the 5th Dalai Lama was the teacher of the 5th Panchen Erdeni, the 7th Dalai Lama was the teacher of the teacher of the 6th Panchen Erdeni, the 8th Dalai Lama was the teacher of the 7th Panchen Erdeni, and the 13th Dalai Lama was the teacher of the 9th Panchen Erdeni.

Traditionally, the young people should take the elder as teacher in Living Buddha system. If Panchen Erdeni and Dalai Lama are both young, they will take others as their teacher.

The reincarnation system is available for both of Panchen Erdeni and Dalai Lama. The reincarnation system of Dalai Lama has been confirmed since the 3rd Dalai Lama and the reincarnation system of Panchen Erdeni has been confirmed since the 4th Panchen Erdeni.

Panchen Erdeni (Panchen Lama) has been named since 1645 during Qing Dynasty. The leader the one Mongolian tribe – Gushi Khan conferred Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen the name of Panchen Bokdo. Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen was the 4th generation disciple of Tsongkhapa and Gushi Khan controlled Tibet region at that time. Gushi Khan asked Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen to manage the south part of Tibet and helped him to subsequently confirm the 1st Panchen, the 2nd Panchen and the 3rd Panchen. He was the 4th Panchen and acted as the Great Master of Tashilhunpo Monastery. Later on, Panchen has successfully succeeded the Great Master of Tashilhunpo Monastery. In 1713, the 5th Panchen - Lobsang Yeshe was conferred as the Panchen Erdeni. Pan is Sanskrit, Chen is Tibetan language, and Erdeni is Manchu language.

Dalai Lama has been named since 1578 during the period of the 3rd Dalai Lama – Sonam Gyatso. When Sonam Gyatso preached Tibetan Buddhist scriptures in Qinghai Province, he successfully persuaded Altan Khan to believe in Buddhism. Altan Khan was conferred as the Shunyi King of Qinghai Province by Qing Dynasty after the invasion. Finally, Altan Khan got back to Inner Mongolia. Altan Khan presented Sonam Gyatso the name of Dalai Lama. Later on, it has been officially confirmed as the Dalai Lama by Qing Dynasty in 1587. Hence Sonam Gyatso was the 3rd Dalai Lama. The 1st Dalai Lama and the 2nd Dalai Lama have been both subsequently confirmed.

On the other hand, Dalai Lama is the said to be the reincarnation of the Avalokiteshvara and Panchen Erdeni is said to be the ruination of Amitabha.