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Spiritual Leader of Tibet, Dalai Lama Received US Congressional Medal
By KTM Metro Reporter
On Wednesday, October 17, 2007, President George W. Bush presented the Congressional Gold Medal - highest civilian honor to the Dalai Lama. The US president and members of Congress welcomed Dalai Lama with a standing ovation and called him a hero of the Tibetan struggle for freedom. Dalai Lama has been living in India since he left Tibet after the unsuccessful uprising against the Chinese rule in his homeland in 1959.
Voice of America (VOA) reported that it broadcast the award ceremony and the Dalai Lama's acceptance speech live to Tibet via radio, television, and the Internet on October 17, 2007.
VOA stated “In an interview with VOA yesterday, the Dalai Lama expressed support for the Burmese democracy movement, saying that he admired the recent efforts of Buddhist monks and adding that their cause was just. He urged Buddhist members of Burma's military government to remember the Buddhist teachings of "compassion" and "love" as they confront these situations.”
The Dalai Lama said that a group of senior monks or he would choose his successor rather than following the traditional method of reincarnation. In July 2007, the Chinese government made a law on choosing a new Dalai Lama by the government rather than by a spiritual leader or following the Tibetan tradition. The law also restricted a number of monks in monasteries.
