Mongolia Enthrones Its Dalai Lama
Dec. 5 – Mongolia has confirmed the ninth Bogd Jebttsundamba Khutughtus in a ceremony at the Gandantegchinlin Monastery in Ulaanbaatar. As the spiritual leader of Mongolian Buddhism, the ninth Bogd is the equivalent of the Dalai Lama in Tibet, although ranking below him in title. “Bogd Khan” loosely translates as “High King,” while “Genghis Khan” translates as “King of Kings.” Actually, “Bogd Khan Ul” is also the name of one of Mongolia’s highest and most holy mountains.
Mongolia’s Bogd Khans date back to the 1600s, when the first Bogd, the renowned artist monk Zanabazar, was recognized as such by the then-Panchen Lama and Dalai Lama of Tibet. Zanabazar remains a highly regarded figure in Mongolia, with an entire museum dedicated to his works. He was a superb craftsman, creating many priceless bronze carvings of Buddhas, and also invented (taking the form of written Uyghur script as the base) the first version of modern Mongolian written language – much of which is still in use today.
The Bogd Khans operated as defacto kings of Mongolia as well as the most senior cleric up until 1924, when the eighth Bogd Khan passed away. By then, Mongolia had become under the control of the Soviet Union, who promptly banned any further reincarnations of the linage. The eighth Bogd had been highly revered by the Mongolians, but also had a rather naughty streak – he suffered from syphilis, and regularly gave his subjects minor electric shocks as proof of his divinity, much to his amusement.
However, in 1936, the Tibetan regent Reting Rinpoche, acting during the gap between reincarnations of Dalai Lama’s in Tibet, recognized a four-year-old boy, Jampal Namdol Choiji Jantsan as the reincarnation of the eight Bogd, near to Lhasa. Due the complicated political situation at the time, his discovery was kept a secret, although the boy was educated as a Monk in the Potala Palace. When the current Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959, the boy travelled with him and has been based with him in Dharamsala ever since.
However, with the withdrawal of Russian troops from Mongolia in 1987, and the emergence of a democratic Mongolia, the political tide began to turn in favor of the return of the Bogd Khan to Mongolia. After agreements to separate politics from religion (unlike the situation in China), the Bogd Khan was able to travel to Mongolia for the first time in 1999, and eventually obtained Mongolian citizenship last year. He is now permanently based in the Gandantegchinlin Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, with a new center of Buddhism and a new Palace having been under construction for the past two years. The Bogd Khans official duties are to act as the spiritual head of Mongolian Buddhism and to continue with the preservation and revival of Mongolian customs and traditions.
The ceremony to reinstall the Bogd Khan as the ninth incumbent was carried out last month, and he was presented with the ancient and traditional golden seal of religion and confirmation papers. Although now aged 79, his return marks the end of an 87-year-old gap of Bogd Khans residing in Mongolia, and the new Bogd Khan has already suggested his reincarnation will be discovered in the country.
The enthronement of the ninth Bogd Khan is in direct contradiction to the position taken by China towards the Dalai Lama, who the Communist Party regard as “splittist” and do not manage to be able to separate as being the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism from involvement in political affairs. The rise of Buddhism throughout Asia in the wake of a softening of attitude from previously hardline regimes in Vietnam, Myanmar and elsewhere is starting to cause problems for China’s government as the history of Tibet under Communist rule continues to grate. A resurgence in mistrust of Chinese intentions within the region is beginning to develop as a result, being manifested most recently in the Chinese cancelling senior level meetings in India due to the presence of the Dalai Lama at a separate World Buddhist Congress at the same time. Indeed, it could be suggested that in the wake of Buddhism thriving in neighboring democratic nations such as India and Mongolia, the very nature of the apparent inability by China to separate state and religion has to be called into question as regards the continuing wisdom of this position. Clearly, democratic and governmental processes can survive and prosper in tandem with spiritual leadership, a situation that is not tolerable to the Chinese Communist Party. Apparently, the viewing of an alternative source of spiritual doctrine to that of the Party is in some way threatening, yet the opposite has proven to be the case elsewhere.
In the case of the Bogd Khan, the Mongolians seem to have been able to accomplish something their larger neighbor seems unable to do, despite their huge wealth and power. As China is surrounded by many countries with strong Buddhist beliefs, it remains to be seen how much longer the CCP can maintain its attitude towards the Dalai Lama. Strains appear to be showing in their ability to justify and maintain their current position, as conflicts with borders and regional ties seem to be growing, partly as a result of distrust towards Chinese intentions and their continued and perceived lack of respect towards one of Buddhism’s highest authorities.
Back in Mongolia, the Gandantegchin Monastery is Ulaanbaatar’s largest monastery and is home to some 400 monks; has a Buddhist university; three colleges of Buddhist philosophy; a medical and astrological college; a Kalachakra temple; a Jud Tantric College; and an Avalokiteshvara (Migjid Janraisig) temple. It is open to the public, with the ninth Bogd Khan regularly holding services each week. The Winter Palace of the eighth Bogd Khan is also in Ulaanbaatar and is now a museum, again open to the public.
Mongolia’s Bogd Khans date back to the 1600s, when the first Bogd, the renowned artist monk Zanabazar, was recognized as such by the then-Panchen Lama and Dalai Lama of Tibet. Zanabazar remains a highly regarded figure in Mongolia, with an entire museum dedicated to his works. He was a superb craftsman, creating many priceless bronze carvings of Buddhas, and also invented (taking the form of written Uyghur script as the base) the first version of modern Mongolian written language – much of which is still in use today.
The Bogd Khans operated as defacto kings of Mongolia as well as the most senior cleric up until 1924, when the eighth Bogd Khan passed away. By then, Mongolia had become under the control of the Soviet Union, who promptly banned any further reincarnations of the linage. The eighth Bogd had been highly revered by the Mongolians, but also had a rather naughty streak – he suffered from syphilis, and regularly gave his subjects minor electric shocks as proof of his divinity, much to his amusement.
However, in 1936, the Tibetan regent Reting Rinpoche, acting during the gap between reincarnations of Dalai Lama’s in Tibet, recognized a four-year-old boy, Jampal Namdol Choiji Jantsan as the reincarnation of the eight Bogd, near to Lhasa. Due the complicated political situation at the time, his discovery was kept a secret, although the boy was educated as a Monk in the Potala Palace. When the current Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959, the boy travelled with him and has been based with him in Dharamsala ever since.
However, with the withdrawal of Russian troops from Mongolia in 1987, and the emergence of a democratic Mongolia, the political tide began to turn in favor of the return of the Bogd Khan to Mongolia. After agreements to separate politics from religion (unlike the situation in China), the Bogd Khan was able to travel to Mongolia for the first time in 1999, and eventually obtained Mongolian citizenship last year. He is now permanently based in the Gandantegchinlin Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, with a new center of Buddhism and a new Palace having been under construction for the past two years. The Bogd Khans official duties are to act as the spiritual head of Mongolian Buddhism and to continue with the preservation and revival of Mongolian customs and traditions.
The ceremony to reinstall the Bogd Khan as the ninth incumbent was carried out last month, and he was presented with the ancient and traditional golden seal of religion and confirmation papers. Although now aged 79, his return marks the end of an 87-year-old gap of Bogd Khans residing in Mongolia, and the new Bogd Khan has already suggested his reincarnation will be discovered in the country.
The enthronement of the ninth Bogd Khan is in direct contradiction to the position taken by China towards the Dalai Lama, who the Communist Party regard as “splittist” and do not manage to be able to separate as being the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism from involvement in political affairs. The rise of Buddhism throughout Asia in the wake of a softening of attitude from previously hardline regimes in Vietnam, Myanmar and elsewhere is starting to cause problems for China’s government as the history of Tibet under Communist rule continues to grate. A resurgence in mistrust of Chinese intentions within the region is beginning to develop as a result, being manifested most recently in the Chinese cancelling senior level meetings in India due to the presence of the Dalai Lama at a separate World Buddhist Congress at the same time. Indeed, it could be suggested that in the wake of Buddhism thriving in neighboring democratic nations such as India and Mongolia, the very nature of the apparent inability by China to separate state and religion has to be called into question as regards the continuing wisdom of this position. Clearly, democratic and governmental processes can survive and prosper in tandem with spiritual leadership, a situation that is not tolerable to the Chinese Communist Party. Apparently, the viewing of an alternative source of spiritual doctrine to that of the Party is in some way threatening, yet the opposite has proven to be the case elsewhere.
In the case of the Bogd Khan, the Mongolians seem to have been able to accomplish something their larger neighbor seems unable to do, despite their huge wealth and power. As China is surrounded by many countries with strong Buddhist beliefs, it remains to be seen how much longer the CCP can maintain its attitude towards the Dalai Lama. Strains appear to be showing in their ability to justify and maintain their current position, as conflicts with borders and regional ties seem to be growing, partly as a result of distrust towards Chinese intentions and their continued and perceived lack of respect towards one of Buddhism’s highest authorities.
Back in Mongolia, the Gandantegchin Monastery is Ulaanbaatar’s largest monastery and is home to some 400 monks; has a Buddhist university; three colleges of Buddhist philosophy; a medical and astrological college; a Kalachakra temple; a Jud Tantric College; and an Avalokiteshvara (Migjid Janraisig) temple. It is open to the public, with the ninth Bogd Khan regularly holding services each week. The Winter Palace of the eighth Bogd Khan is also in Ulaanbaatar and is now a museum, again open to the public.
Comments
Post a Comment