Born on April 25, 1989, Gedhun was quickly chosen as 1 of many children who stood a favorable chance of being the reincarnated form of the 10th Panchen Lama.

Then, "In January 1995, during His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Kalachakra teaching at Mundgod, India, His Holiness commenced the recognition process. A divination was done which revealed that among the potential candidates, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima...was an 'extremely good' candidate for the reincarnation of Panchen Rinpoche.

On 23rd January 1995, at Dharamsala, after making elaborate offerings before such exalted objects as the Kyriong Jowo, the Thangka of Palden Lhamo, etc., special prayers were performed invoking the names of the previous Panchen Lamas. A divination was then performed to determine whether the above mentioned child, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was the unmistaken reincarnation of Panchen Rinpoche. The divination comfirmed this."

Following this confirmation, the Chinese authorities reacted quickly and ruthlessly.

• First, they denounced and disputed the Dalai Lama's "authority to announce the discovery of the reincarnated Panchen Lama."
• Soon after this, Gendhun and his family were "reported to have been taken from their home to Beijing and their whereabouts have been unknown ever since."
• Along with the Chinese initiated abduction, 48 monks of the original search for the Panchen Lama were arrested and pressured to denounce the Dalai Lama's choice. "On the contrary, many of them voiced open support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. One monk rather than denounce His Holiness committed suicide."
• They then summoned "75 hand picked Tibetans" to a meeting in which the search for a new Panchen Lama was discussed. The discussion was tape recorded by the authorities and the participants were given the names of three boys who were shortlist as the final candidates to the post of Panchen Lama.

This second search for a Panchen Rinpoche has since yielded a Chinese chosen Panchen Lama.