The tenth Panchen Erdeni Choskyi Gyaltsen passed away on January 28, 1989 in Shigatse of Tibet. On December 8, 1995, the eleventh Panchen Erdeni, Choskyi Gyalpo (1989-), was recognized according to the principles of religious rituals, historical convention, the Drawing Lots from the Golden Urn, and approval by the central governments. The enthronement ceremony was held in Lhasa, Tibet.

On January 30, 1989, the State Council published an announcement that, based on historical convention, the democratic management commission of Tashilhunpo Monastery, the Buddhist Association of China and its Tibetan sub-association were in charge of the affairs of the searching for and recognition of reincarnated soul boys of the tenth Panchen Erdeni, which requires reporting to the State Council for approval.

(1) Approval of the Reincarnation

On August 19, 1989, the State Council replied the Tibetan government's Request for Instruction on Investigation and Recognition of Reincarnated Soul Boys of the Tenth Panchen Erdeni Choskyi Gyaltsen, and approved the leadership working group for searching for reincarnated soul boys. 

(2) Pray for the Reincarnation

From December 1990 to July 1993, various monasteries in Tibet and Tibetan regions in the four provinces and regions organized mass chanting activities, and prayed for the early reincarnation of the soul boy.

(3) Observation of the Lake

The direction and animal sign of the soul boy was recognized after taking pilgrimage to and sacrificing in the Yongzhalvcuo Lake in Rinbung County of Shigatse area and the Lhamo Latso Lake in Gyaca County of Lhoka area twice successively from June to July 1989 and in June 1991.

(4) Secret Investigation

From February 1994 on, through more than one years' secret search and investigation, 28 candidate soul boys were obtained in Tibet and Tibetan regions of Sichuan, with three boys being recognized as candidates of reincarnated soul boys after careful analysis and selection.

(5) Drawing Lots from the Golden Urn

On November 25, 1995, the State Council approved Tibet Autonomous Region Government's Request for Instruction on Determination of the Three Boys as the Candidates of the Reincarnated Soul Boys of the tenth Panchen Erdeni for Drawing Lots from the Golden Urn. On November 29, jointly presided over by State Councilor Luo Gan, Chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region government - Gyaincain Norbu, and Ye Xiaowen, Director of Religious Affairs of the State Council, the grand ceremony of Drawing Lots from the Golden Urn was held in Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa. With drawing lots by President of the Tibetan sub-association of the Buddhist Association of China, the member of investigation working group – Living Buddha Bommie Jampa Lodro (Fig. 23), Gyaltsen Norbu from Lhari County of Tibet was selected by the drawing lots. Later, Bommie Living Buddha tonsured for the soul boy and gave name "Jitsun Lozang Champa Lhundrup Choskyi Gyalpo Palzangpo". The grand conferring ceremony was held in the afternoon with Luo Gan, Representative of the State Council, reading The State Council's Reply on Approval for Gyaltsen Norbu, recognized by the Drawing Lots from the Golden Urn, Succeeding as the eleventh Panchen Erdeni (Fig. 24).

(6) Enthronement and Conferment

The grand ceremony of the enthronement of the eleventh Panchen Erdeni was held in Tashilhunpo Monastery on December 8, 1995 with presiding and overseeing by Li Tieying, representative of the State Council and member of the Chinese Communist Party's Political Bureau, Gyaincain Norbu, Special Commissioner of the State Council and Chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region government and Ye Xiaowen, Special Commissioner of the State Council and Director of Religious Affairs of the State Council. Li Tieying, on behalf of the State Council, read the conferment article and decreed the golden album and the golden seal to the eleventh Panchen Erdeni (Fig. 25).

Based on historical convention, the eleventh Panchen Erdeni came to Beijing to express gratitude soon and offered gifts after the enthronement (refer to Illustrations 99, 100). On January 12, 1996, President Jiang Zemin warmly received the eleventh Panchen Erdeni and group members for expressing gratitude from Tashilhunpo Monastery and cordially congratulated on his enthronement, encouraging him to inherit and carry forward the glorious tradition of loving both motherland and religion from the tenth Panchen Erdeni.

On February 3, 2005, President Hu Jintao warmly received the eleventh Panchen Erdeni's visit and expected him to adapt to the pace of the world development and the social progress, keep improving self-cultivation, and strengthen learning on religious and cultural knowledge to become a role model for loving both motherland and religion.