PBB Fellow Gaea Logan hosts Tibetan Spiritual Leader (part II)

By Betsy Payne, PBB Projects Officer

PBB Fellow, Gaea Logan provided additional information about Khen Rinpoche and the Tibetan spiritual leader’s history. According to Gaea, the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama and the Karmapa are the three highest ranking lamas in the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddism. Khen Rinpoche is the abbot of the Tashi Lhunpo monastery in exile, the relocated monastery of the Panchen Lama. The story of the Panchen Lama remains to be one of the most difficult issues facing Tibetan/ Chinese relations today especially as it is integral to the question of the selection of the next Dalai Lama. Historically it is the Panchen Lama who is said to recognize each next Dalai  Lama in a complex and hostorical process of selection.  However, the current Panchen Lama was abducted by the Chinese in 1995 at the age of 6 and is considered the worlds youngest political prisoner by supporters. His Holiness the Dalai Lama appointed Khen Rinpoche to the role of Abbot to his monastery, to stand in the role of the missing Panchen Lama while China appointed their own . The issue is a painful and delicate area of conflict for Tibetan /Chinese relations.

PBB Fellow Gaea Logan hosts Tibetan Spiritual Leader

By Betsy Payne, PBB Projects Officer

The second highest ranking Tibetan spiritual leader after the Dalai Lama and the abbot of the Panchen lamas monastery, Khen Rinpoche  visited Austin, Texas over the weekend where he blessed Barton Springs Pool and attended a fundraiser to raise awareness about a Tibetan culture. Khen Rinpoche’s trip was organized and supported by Gaea Logan who is a Psychology Beyond Borders Fellow. Gaea is an Austin based psychotherapist and professor at St. Edwards University brings her education and training expertise to PBB in her Fellow role. She has been active in the dialogue between Buddhism, trauma work and analytic psychotherapy for over thirty years. She has an extensive background in consulting with organizations providing mental health care to refugees, political asylum seekers and immigrants. Click here to read more and see the pictures that were captured in the Austin American Statesman about Khen Rinpoche’s visit.