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The Panchen Lamas are considered to be emanations of Buddha Amitābha. The first in this Reincarnation Lineage was Khendup Geleg Namgyal Pelsang a student of Je Tsongkapa. Only later when the fourth Dalai Lama gave his teacher Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen the title "Panchen Lama" was this Reincarnation lineage officially established. For this reason two numbering systems of the Panchen Lama Lineage exist. Historically the Panchen Lamas are abbots of the Tashi Lhumpo Monastery and have in the past played an important role in the selection of new Dalai Lama incarnations. |