The 11th Panchen Lama (C) is welcomed by Professor Ceyang (L) of Tibet University in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 9, 2010. The 11th Panchen Lama visited Tibet University and Tibet College of Tibetan Medicine in Lhasa on Wednesday. [Xinhua]

The 11th Panchen Lama urged students in Lhasa to study hard yesterday during a roundtable held at the University of Tibet.

The roundtable initiative was proposed by the 20-year-old Tibetan Buddhism leader during his visit to the Tibet Autonomous Region that has lasted a week.

"Life is too short, so you should seize every opportunity to study, to learn and then you will succeed," the bespectacled, maroon-robed Panchen Lama said while speaking before nearly 100 students in the university's assembly hall.

"A man without knowledge is a man without soul," he said. "The more knowledge you acquire, the more you will know there is still a lot to learn."

The 11th Panchen Lama, who was enthroned as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama in 1995, said he had been studying hard to learn Buddhism and other subjects since he was six.

"I cannot say I have achieved something great, but at least I have made progress," he said.

The Panchen Lama listened carefully as five students spoke on a variety of topics including research on Tibetan script software, the development of the university, the preservation of Tibetan culture and traditions and thoughts on how to develop Tibet's economy.

Built in 1985, the University of Tibet is now the largest university in the region with 14,000 students studying 64 subjects to receive Bachelors' degrees and 13 subjects for Masters' degrees.

While on campus, the Panchen Lama toured the university's library, a Tibetan language IT research institution and the arts college.

He also visited the Tibetan Traditional Medical College in Lhasa yesterday.

The Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, began his Tibet tour last Thursday.

He has visited a number of monasteries and participated in a variety of Buddhist events.

This year, for the first time, the Panchen Lama visited south Tibet's Shannan Prefecture, which is honored as the cradle of Tibetan civilization.

While there, the Panchen Lama held prayer services and visited rural households.

He also performed head-touch blessings to thousands of his followers.

Earlier this year, the Panchen Lama was elected vice president of the Buddhist Association of China and became a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body.

Since his enthronement while still a child, the Panchen Lama has spent most of his time in Beijing studying Buddhism.