"I have learned from the late Panchen Erdeni, diligently studied Buddhism and science, made remarkable progress in ethics, general knowledge and physics, and I have felt the greatness of the Communist Party of China and the warmth of the socialist family," said the 11th Panchen as the Year of the Iron Snake kicked off.

The reincarnated Panchen Lama ascended to the throne in 1995 at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region after approval by the central government and after a series of verifications.

A high-ranking monk of the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery said the 11th Panchen is intelligent and a good student. He can now recite more than 400 pages of sutras.

In addition, the 11th Panchen Lama is very interested in Tibetan calligraphy and computers.

His teachers have arranged a strict schedule for him. He rises at 6 am every day.

The 11th Panchen studies Buddhism in an environment of profound Tibetan culture. At the same time, the new era has introduced new aspects to his life, the monk said. "The 11th Panchen Lama will become a living Buddha with profound knowledge," the monk predicted.

Thousands in Lhasa, capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, flocked to temples and monasteries to pay homage to the Buddha on Saturday in celebration of the advent of the Tibetan New Year.

(Xinhua 02/26/2001)