Who is Gyaltsen Norbu and why is he trending?
Gyaltsen Norbu is the Panchen Lama appointed by the Chinese government in 1995, who refused to accept the
Dalai Lama
's selected candidate, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. Born in 1990 in Tibet, Norbu was selected and groomed by Beijing to play the role of a representative of
Tibetan Buddhism
acceptable to Chinese state interests.
While he holds official positions and graces state functions, his spiritual leadership is spurned by the majority of Tibetans, who view him as a political appointee (Wikipedia). His role is significant, as the Panchen Lama has always helped to determine the next Dalai Lama, so Norbu holds the key to China's bid to monopolize Tibetan religious succession. His appointment, as reported, is seen as part of China's broader strategy to influence Tibetan Buddhism, particularly the future selection of the next Dalai Lama.
How is Zen Buddhism different from Tibetan Buddhism?
Zen Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana Buddhism), both stemming from the Mahayana tradition, diverge considerably in practice and philosophy. Zen centers on silent sitting (zazen), simplicity, and immediacy of insight. Tibetan Buddhism encompasses deep philosophical study along with ritual-saturated techniques like mantras, mandalas, and deity visualizations. While Zen is austere, Tibetan Buddhism is wealthy, symbolic, and mapped out via the sutra and tantra approaches.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua
IC Markets
Tìm hiểu thêm
Undo
While both of them share a common origin, their practices are a bit different. Tibetan Buddhism practices the Mahayana traditions, especially in regions like Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and parts of Himachal Pradesh (Dharamshala, Spiti Valley). While both traditions seek spiritual awakening, Chinese Buddhism often reflects cultural integration, whereas Indian Buddhism retains strong links to its historical and philosophical roots.
Spiritual legacy at a political crossroad
The story of Gyaltsen Norbu is not that of one monk, but of the future of Buddhism itself. Appointed by the Chinese state as the 11th Panchen Lama, this is a powerful attempt to redefine religious lineage through political control. As the Dalai Lama grows older, the outstanding issue of his successor has become a game of geopolitics. While China is trying to make Gyalsten Norbu a figurehead (potentially) in the choice of the next Dalai Lama, Tibetans in exile are not happy with this situation, holding on to centuries-old traditions.
At stake is more than leadership—it's the heart and soul of people, their faith, and the right to decide their spiritual path unencumbered.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Should Intel's treatment worry Silicon Valley's powerful Indian diaspora
According to President Donald Trump, the rise of Intel Corp.'s CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, is 'an amazing story.' That's as much payoff as Tan can expect from his emergency meeting with Trump, who last week had demanded he 'resign, immediately' because he was 'highly CONFLICTED.' We don't know if Intel will be able to convince the administration to view its CEO with less disfavor. Some in Washington are concerned about Malaysian-born Tan's long history supporting and investing in the Chinese tech sector. And questions about how Intel intends to live up to government controls on the export of high-end technology under his leadership are, given this history, not unreasonable. Take a step back and ask yourself: Is there anything inherently questionable about a tech firm appointing a CEO with an eye for innovative and effective startups? At his venture capital firm Walden International, Tan invested in more than 100 Chinese companies, including an early bet on Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. Normally, this would be a count in his favor. The problem is a fear, both in Washington and in Silicon Valley, that the US and Chinese tech ecosystems are not complements but rivals. This wasn't the case in 2001, when Walden put money in SMIC. But it's certainly the general feeling today. Indian tech leaders have managed to escape similar scrutiny precisely because the tech scene here is seen as providing low-end support to US industry, not high-value competition. But how long will that be true? And what happens if it changes? New Delhi is not happy being a supporting player in the AI revolution. The country has begun to stockpile chips — compute capacity has passed 34,000 GPUs in May, according to government officials — and has already selected national champions it intends to support. Given the relative dynamism of India's startups, its tech sector will at some point produce a few success stories that challenge the dominance of US companies. That's good news for Indians. But it might make things more difficult for Indian-Americans in Silicon Valley. Across corporate America, but particularly in Big Tech, people of Indian descent have been disproportionately successful as leaders, more so perhaps than their colleagues of Chinese heritage. Think of Alphabet Inc.'s CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft Corp.'s Satya Nadella, Adobe Inc.'s Shantanu Narayen and IBM Corp.'s Arvind Krishna, for example. As Intel's troubles following its choice of Tan demonstrate, this might partly be because their home nation is not considered a strategic competitor to the US. That image is slowly changing in the Trump era. Indians in Silicon Valley have already discovered that things are bit harder now. H1-B visas, for example, are a political hot-button issue, and provided the first wedge in the relationship between Trump and Elon Musk. Trump has already made it clear that he doesn't want his backing of Big Tech to mean any jobs for Indians: 'Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India and stashing profits in Ireland,' he said at a tech summit last month, adding: 'Under President Trump, those days are over.' So far, corporate leaders have not had to answer any questions about their distance from the sector back home. But the political environment will get more difficult to navigate as India's tech companies achieve greater autonomy and efficiency, and the Trump administration reworks policy. The 50 per cent tariff rate that New Delhi has been threatened with reveals how the president's mind works: He may not see India's trajectory as fundamentally different from China's, and his mercantilist soul rebels at the thought of collaborating with a future rival. An age of economic nationalism and competitive industrial policy will always be tough on cosmopolitan minorities. 'Dual loyalty' accusations gain no traction in an age of prosperous globalization, but have a long and dark history when populists seize power and turn back the clocks. The diaspora should not look at Tan's attempts to win over Trump with satisfaction or superiority. They might be next. Nor should they assume that they'll always be able to avoid similar accusations. The only reason they haven't faced them so far is that nobody thought their connections back home could ever be a problem. Here's the hard truth: India's success will mean the end of Silicon Valley's Indian-American golden age.
News18
12 minutes ago
- News18
In Tit-For-Tat Move, China Sanctions Two European Union Banks
The move came as a direct response to the EU's earlier decision to sanction two Chinese regional banks — Heihe Rural Commercial Bank and Suifenhe Rural Commercial Bank. In a sharp counter to European financial pressure, Beijing has imposed sanctions on two small Lithuanian lenders — UAB Urbo Bankas and AB Mano Bankas — barring them from conducting any transactions or cooperating with individuals and organisations in China. The measures, announced on August 13, 2025, were declared effective immediately by China's Ministry of Commerce. The move came as a direct response to the EU's earlier decision, effective August 9, to sanction two Chinese regional banks — Heihe Rural Commercial Bank and Suifenhe Rural Commercial Bank — under its July sanctions package over concerns that these institutions facilitated Russia-related financial activity. China, vehemently rejecting the EU's allegations as 'groundless," criticised the sanctions for undermining longstanding economic and trade cooperation with Europe. Beijing urged the European Union to reconsider its actions to protect bilateral ties in trade, economy, and finance. As diplomatic tensions simmer, EU officials indicated they are reviewing China's reaction and remain open to negotiations that might lead to reversing the sanctions, if a mutually acceptable solution is reached. At the heart of this standoff lies a tit-for-tat escalation in the realm of financial sanctions. The EU, aiming to tighten its grip on Russia by targeting enablers of its war efforts, included two Chinese banks in its sanctions list on August 9. Viewing this move as a direct affront, China promptly retaliated by hitting two Lithuanian institutions — symbolic actors but strategically relevant — as a signal that retaliatory measures would follow any aggression. This move reflects broader strains in EU-China relations, stoked by disagreements over trade imbalances, alleged Chinese support for Russia, and competing economic interests. With high-level meetings such as recent summits having failed to clarify common ground, the tit-for-tat banking sanctions underscore a deeper erosion of trust and growing readiness on both sides to leverage financial tools for geopolitical signaling. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tragic chapter of our history: PM Modi observes Partition Horrors Remembrance Day
Observing Partition Horrors Remembrance Day , Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid a tribute to the people who endured the "upheaval and pain" of the Partition of India. Sharing an X post, PM Modi called the Partition a "tragic chapter" of Indian history. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program "India observes #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay, remembering the upheaval and pain endured by countless people during that tragic chapter of our history. It is also a day to honour their ability to face unimaginable loss and still find the strength to start afresh," PM Modi wrote. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like He is our only child, we cannot see him suffer. Help us! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Giving a message on unity, he urged the public to strengthen the harmony in the country. The Prime Minister wrote, "Many of those affected went on to rebuild their lives and achieve remarkable milestones. This day is also a reminder of our enduring responsibility to strengthen the bonds of harmony that hold our country together." Live Events Earlier today, Union Health Minister and BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda called for national unity and "give a befitting reply to anti-national forces." Paying tribute to millions who while "enduring agony of displacement", sacrificed their lives, the senior BJP leader said in a post on X, "The dark day of 1947 reminds us of that cruel event when the citizens of the nation suffered the merciless pain of migration and, enduring inhuman torture, lost their homes, property, and lives." He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the tradition of observing this day to "keep the memory of the nation's partition alive is an important step toward nation-building." "Come, on this day, let us all citizens unite to pledge to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation and give a befitting reply to anti-national forces," the post added, calling for national unity. On August 14, India observes 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' to pay tribute to those who lost their lives and were displaced during the country's partition in 1947. India attained its freedom from British rule on 15th August, 1947. Independence Day , which is celebrated on 15th August every year, is a joyous and proud occasion for any nation; however, with the sweetness of freedom came also the trauma of partition. The birth of the newly independent Indian nation was accompanied by violent pangs of partition that left permanent scars on millions of Indians. The partition caused amongst the largest migrations in human history affecting about 20 million people. Millions of families had to abandon their ancestral villages/towns/cities and were forced to find a new life as refugees. The pain and violence of partition has remained deeply etched in the nation's memory. While celebrating our Independence, a grateful nation also salutes those sons and daughters of our beloved motherland who had to sacrifice their lives in the frenzy of violence. (ANI)
