Dalai Lama wants to give up ceremonial duties

[BridgeTheGap]

The Dalai Lama wants to give up his lesser known role as the ceremonial leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, an aide said Tuesday, in what appeared to be another step in the aging leader's efforts to prepare his people for life after he dies.

However, he will remain the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and the focal point of Tibetan national aspirations, said spokesman Tenzin Taklha.

As head of the dominate Gelug branch of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is the top religious leader for Tibet. Many of his predecessors also served as Tibet's political ruler, and the Dalai Lama himself served as head of government there after Chinese troops marched into his Himalayan homeland in 1950.

Beijing claims Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the region was virtually independent for centuries.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/world/article_fb1a8a56-12e4-5284-8020-9f23baa303ef.html

[ZombieHorde]

1. Although Tibetan Buddhism is weird, the Tibetan Buddhists I know are all pretty cool people. nt