Buddhist news

clipped from www.nytimes.com BEIJING, Oct. 16 — Chinese officials warned the United States not to honor the Dalai Lama, saying a planned award ceremony for the Tibetan spiritual leader would have “an extremely serious impact” on relations between the two countries. “Such a person who basely splits his motherland and doesn’t even love his motherland has been welcomed by some countries and has even been receiving this or that award,” Tibet’s Communist Party boss, Zhang Qingli, told reporters during the congress. “We are furious,” Mr. Zhang said. “If the Dalai Lama can receive such an award, there must be no justice or good people in the world.” The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile since the Chinese army crushed an uprising in his homeland in 1959, is revered as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate is scheduled to receive the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday after President Bush hosts him at the White House today.