Gendun Cheokyi Nyima turns 18 today, but he's been missing for about 12 years now. When he was six years old, the Dalai Lama recognized him as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second most important figure in Tibetan religion after the Dalai Lama.The Chinese authorities rejected his appointment, and soon afterwards, he and his parents were missing. The Chinese then appointed their own version of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu. This move is very important, as traditionally the Panchen Lama is the key to recognizing the reincarnation and the education of Dalai Lamas.
As the 14th Dalai Lama ages, a bigger crisis awaits the Tibetan community.
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