China did it again, and this time with Thailand’s faith. To mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the People’s Republic of China and embracing shared history, spiritual and cultural ties, China has sent a Buddha tooth relic to Thailand from Buddha relic tower, Mount Wutai, Xinzhou city, Shanxi province which will be enshrined at Sanam Luang for more than two months. However, the relic sent by China is a replica and has no religious connection.
There are several claimed Buddha tooth relics around the world totalling to a total of 31 tooths however as per Mahayana Buddhism, there were only four, which were the left upper & lower canine and right (upper & lower) canine tooths of Buddha, which were recovered from his funeral pyre in Kushinagar, India and displayed on the temple’s grounds. However, China itself claims 17 such tooth relics where 16 are believed to be animal tooths. Only one is unanimously recognized as the original one which is placed in Lingguang Temple in Beijing. The location of believed original tooth is more than 4 hours away from Mount Wutai from where the fake tooth relic has been sent to Thailand.
While China wants to use Buddha as a soft power to increase its influence in Thailand, it has brutally played with the faith of Thai people by sending the lower third molar of a cow. Beijing has not stopped here. It is further making money on a fake relic since it has demanded 40 million Thai Baht (Approx 1.15 Million US dollars) for bringing the relics including the premium of its insurance.
FAKE RELIC BROUGHT BY FAKE PANCHEN LAMA
Quite infamous among the Tibetan community is Gyaltsen Norbu (Chokyi Gyalpo) who is appointed as the 11th Panchen Lama by Chinese Communist Party. He has been sent by Beijing with the fake tooth relic to Thailand. Though, Panchen Lamas are known as the purest representatives of Buddha’s teachings foremost of which is TRUTH, this Chinese lama is on a mission to breach the trust of Thai people and Buddhists around the world.
HISTORY OF IMPOSTER GYALTSEN NORBU
After the 1959 riots in Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama fled to India. But the 10th Panchen Lama Erdeni Chokyi Gyaltsen remained in Tibet. However, dissatisfied with the problems caused by the People’s Republic of China in implementing reforms in Tibet, he openly spoke against the CPC after which in 1964, he was publicly humiliated at Politburo meetings, dismissed from all posts of authority, declared ‘an enemy of the Tibetan people and imprisoned and killed by slow poisoning. He died in Shigatse in 1989. The eleventh Panchen lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was abducted by Chinese government on 17 May 1995 and was replace by Gyaincain Norbu or Gyaltsen Norbu using the golden urn lottery system in November 1995. The same imposter has now brought the fake tooth relic of Buddha to Thailand.
WHY CHINA IS DOING THIS?
China is under tremendous pressure after India started opening up to south Asia with its Buddhist legacy. As the birthplace and eternal home to Buddha, India has always been the source of Buddha’s knowledge, India sent the original Buddha relics to Sanam Luang in Bangkok in February 2024 on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 6th-cycle birthday, or 72nd birthday and to mark Makha Bucha Day, which was on Feb 24. Nearly 1 million citizens of Thailand visited the site to pay homage to the Buddha’s relics. India did not charge anything from Thailand to send the relics as India understands the importance of shared faith between Buddha’s home and his disciples around the world. China on the other hand is considering it as a competition and not as a matter of faith. Sending a cow tooth to Thailand and even charging for it is highly obnoxious and will not go well with the people of Thailand.
