The Panchen Lama (Tibetan: པཎ་ཆེན་བླ་མ།, Wylie: paN chen bla ma) is a tulku of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Panchen Lama is one of the most important figures in the Gelug tradition, with its spiritual authority second only to the Dalai Lama. Along with the council of high lamas, he is in charge of seeking out the next Dalai Lama. Panchen is a portmanteau of Pandita and Chenpo, meaning “great scholar”.
The successive Panchen Lamas form a tulku reincarnation lineage which are said to be the incarnations of Amitābha. The title, meaning “Great Scholar”, is a Tibetan contraction of the Sanskrit paṇḍita (scholar) and the Tibetan chenpo (great). The Panchen Lama traditionally lived in Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. From the name of this monastery, the Europeans referred to the Panchen Lama as the Tashi-Lama.
Rigden Jyepo (often spelled Rigden Djapo or Rudra Chakrin) is the 25th King of the legendary kingdom of Shambhala in Tibetan Buddhist and Kalachakra traditions. Believed to be an incarnation of the Buddha, he is the supreme protector of spiritual teachings and the harbinger of a future era of peace and enlightenment.
Kalachakra Tradition: According to Tibetan Buddhist prophecy, Rigden Jyepo will eventually emerge from the hidden realm of Shambhala to defeat the forces of ignorance and darkness, inaugurating a golden age.
Symbol of Primordial Wakefulness: In modern Shambhala teachings, the “Rigden” embodies awake, fearless, and compassionate leadership.
(Sk., “one who is like the coming”). He who is, like his predecessors (the Buddhas) and successors, the coming future Buddha or World-Saviour. One of the titles of Gautama Buddha and the highest epithet, since the first and the last Buddhas were the direct immediate Avatars of the One Deity.
