Blo-bzang chos-kyi-rgyal-mtshan

Tibetan Buddhist

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June 22, 2026

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Blo-bzang chos-kyi-rgyal-mtshan was the first Panchen Lama, a high-ranking spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism. The title "Panchen Lama" means "Great Scholar" and traditionally refers to the head abbot of the Tashilhunpo Monastery. This lineage of reincarnated lamas is second only to the Dalai Lama in spiritual authority within the dominant Dge-lugs-pa (Yellow Hat) sect.1

The Panchen Lama is considered a manifestation of the buddha Amitabha. The fifth Dalai Lama declared Blo-bzang chos-kyi-rgyal-mtshan, who was already the abbot of Tashilhunpo, to be the first in this line of reincarnated Panchen Lamas. The Dge-lugs-pa school, founded by Tsong-kha-pa, emphasizes monastic discipline, logic, and meditation as paths to enlightenment.123

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Panchen Lama
…Lama declared that his tutor, Blo-bzang chos-kyi-rgyal-mtshan (1570–1662), who was the current Panchen Lama, would be reincarnated in a child. He thus became the first of the line of reincarnated lamas, reappearing as Blo-bzang-ye-shes (1663–1737), Blo-bzang-dpal-ldan-ye-shes (1737–80), Blo-bzang-bstan-pa’i-nyi-ma (1781–1854), Bstan-pa’i-dbang-phyug (1854–82), and Chos-kyi Nyi-ma (1883–1937). They were each regarded as…
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…Lama declared that his tutor, Blo-bzang chos-kyi-rgyal-mtshan (1570–1662), who was the current Panchen Lama, would be reincarnated in a child. He thus became the first of the line of reincarnated lamas, reappearing as Blo-bzang-ye-shes (1663–1737), Blo-bzang-dpal-ldan-ye-shes (1737–80), Blo-bzang-bstan-pa’i-nyi-ma (1781–1854), Bstan-pa’i-dbang-phyug (1854–82), and Chos-kyi Nyi-ma (1883–1937). They were each regarded as…
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