Crowds greet Dalai Lama on Tibetan leader's first visit to Mongolia in seven years

By AUDRA ANG

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia, Tuesday, November 05, 2002 (AP) -- Greeted by adoring throngs and serenaded by cymbals and horns, the Dalai Lama met with monks at Mongolia's largest Buddhist monastery Tuesday, kicking off his first visit to the northeast Asian nation in seven years.

Temperatures dropped to 5 degrees below zero as the leader of Tibetan Buddhism, wearing his traditional robe with one arm bare to the chill wind, made his way through Gandantegchillen Monastery in the Mongolian capital.

"We believe that the Dalai Lama is the Buddha. I am very happy and excited to be here," said Ananda, 19, a young man who uses only one name. He traveled from Russia this week to see the spectacle.

Hundreds of Mongolians, their faces bundled in fur against the cold, jostled and held up cameras in hopes of a glimpse of the Dalai Lama. When he arrived, he strode along a multicolored carpet flanked by legions of monks from the monastery, known commonly by its shorter name, Gandan.

Other monks prostrated in his path as he walked forward, shielded from the wind by a yellow silk umbrella and a hat. Horns blew, cymbals clanged and drums beat as he made his way toward a private meeting in the monastery.

"He is the Buddha of compassion," said Lhawang, a Tibetan monk who teaches at the monastery and has seen the Dalai Lama nine times. "I feel so strongly, I cry every time."

Both Tibetans and Mongolians follow the tantric school of Buddhism, which recognizes the Dalai Lama as a high spiritual authority. A 16th-century Mongol king is thought to have bestowed the first Dalai Lama title -- a designation that means "Ocean of Wisdom."

"It is cold on the street, but I feel warm inside because I'm going to see my great teacher," said Thubten Choenyi, a Buddhist nun who was waiting outside the airport. "I have been praying day and night since I heard he was coming."

Mongolia shares strong religious ties to Tibet and has been rediscovering its Buddhist heritage since the end of communist rule in 1990. Some 90 percent of Mongolia's 2.4 million people consider themselves Buddhists.

The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, has visited Mongolia five times, most recently in 1995. He had planned to come in September, but was blocked when Russia and South Korea refused him transit visas, possibly to avoid angering China. There are no direct flights to Mongolia from India.

Late Monday night, the Dalai Lama arrived in Mongolia and was greeted by hundreds of maroon-robed monks and members of the faithful who thronged the airport. The 12-mile route from the Ulan Bator airport to the capital city was lined with police, and some 200 to 300 officers stood guard at the airport.

The visit seemed likely to draw angry protests from China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a political schemer bent on ending Chinese rule in Tibet. Chinese communist forces occupied Tibet in 1951 and Beijing says the Himalayan region has been Chinese territory for centuries. The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India after a failed uprising in 1959 and travels frequently to conduct Buddhist ceremonies and seek support for his campaign for Tibetan political and cultural rights.

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Hundreds of faithful greet Dalai Lama in Mongolia

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Reuters, Tuesday, November 05, 2002

ULAN BATOR - Hundreds of admirers greeted Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on his arrival in mostly Buddhist Mongolia late on Monday, with chants, prayers and shouts of "Living God!"

"I am so happy he has come. People have come to receive blessings from him. They have come even from the countryside. This is a great occasion for us," said Moenkhochir, 21, a monk at a monastery in Ulan Bator.

Scores of other monks and nuns also turned out to see the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against China, arrive for his fifth visit to Mongolia despite the protests of neighbouring China.

A previous attempt to visit Mongolia was cancelled last year when Russia refused to issue a transit visa to avoid offending Beijing.

On Tuesday, the Dalai Lama was scheduled to visit Ulan Bator's Gandan Monastery and lead thousands of devotees in prayer. He had no plans to meet Mongolian government officials.

The Mongolia trip came after a small delegation from the spiritual leader visited Beijing and the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, for the first time in years in September, a sign strained relations between the Dalai Lama and China may be thawing.

But on Monday, Beijing said it was "resolutely opposed to him going to any country in whatever capacity to engage in political activities aimed at splitting China or damaging its ethnic unity".

Several countries have denied access to the Dalai Lama under pressure from China. He was banned from visiting South Africa for the Earth Summit that began in late September.

The Dalai Lama went to Australia in May to hold teaching seminars, but did not meet Prime Minister John Howard or opposition leader Simon Crean.

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Dalai Lama Visits Mongolian Monastery

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By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press Writer

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia, Tuesday, November 05, 2002 (AP) - The Dalai Lama gave a lesson to thousands of followers in Mongolia's largest Buddhist monastery Tuesday, where he was welcomed by overjoyed monks during a trip to the north Asian country that has raised Chinese protests.

"If you do good for others, goodness will return to you," he said before the crowd from a massive stage in front of the main temples of the Gandantegchillen Monastery.

Some people shoved their way to the front, while others shared steaming bowls of salted yak's milk tea to combat the cold. Vendors sold everything from chocolate and phone services.

The Dalai Lama spoke in Tibetan, his voice booming through a microphone, as the faithful thousands listened quietly to the Mongolian translation. At one point, he raised his hand and hundreds of others shot up to wave in response. He also led the group in chants.

"The Dalai Lama talked about praying together for peace. I liked the message. I think I will try to put this in practice in my life," said one believer, Sainaa, a Buddhist from Ulan Bator.

The Dalai Lama, the leader of Tibetan Buddhism, is expected to tour smaller monasteries, give more speeches and receive an honorary doctorate from a local university. He is scheduled to leave on Friday.

China considers the Dalai Lama a political schemer determined to end Chinese rule in Tibet. On Tuesday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan reiterated China's objections to travel and public appearances by the Dalai Lama.

"We are against his splitting efforts in this kind of forum," Kong said at a briefing. "We have asked Mongolia and other countries not to give this kind of forum to him."

Mongolia shares strong religious ties to Tibet and has been rediscovering its Buddhist heritage since the end of communist rule in 1990. Some 90 percent of Mongolia's 2.4 million people consider themselves Buddhists.

The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, has visited Mongolia five times, most recently in 1995. He had planned to come in September, but was blocked when Russia and South Korea refused him transit visas, possibly to avoid angering China. There are no direct flights to Mongolia from India.

Before the lesson, the Dalai Lama met with monks at the monastery. Temperatures fell to 5 degrees Fahrenheit as the Dalai Lama, wearing his traditional robe with one arm bare in the cold, made his way through the compound.

"We believe that the Dalai Lama is the Buddha. I am very happy and excited to be here," said Ananda, 19, who was perched on a wall. He traveled from Russia this week to see the spectacle.

Hundreds of Mongolians, their faces bundled in fur coats, jostled and held up cameras in hopes of a glimpse of the Dalai Lama. When he arrived, he strode along a multicolored carpet flanked by legions of monks from the monastery, known commonly by its shorter name, Gandan.

Other monks prostrated in his path as he walked forward, shielded from the sun by a yellow silk umbrella and a hat. Horns blew, cymbals clanged and drums beat as he made his way toward a private meeting in the monastery.

"He is the Buddha of compassion," said Lhawang, a Tibetan monk who teaches at the monastery and has seen the Dalai Lama nine times. "I feel so strongly, I cry every time."

Both Tibetans and Mongolians follow the tantric school of Buddhism, which recognizes the Dalai Lama as a high spiritual authority. A 16th-century Mongol king is thought to have bestowed the first Dalai Lama title - a designation that means "Ocean of Wisdom."

Chinese communist forces occupied Tibet in 1951 and Beijing says the Himalayan region has been Chinese territory for centuries. The Dalai Lama fled to India after a failed uprising in 1959 and travels frequently to conduct Buddhist ceremonies and seek support for his campaign for Tibetan political and cultural rights.

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China Warns Mongolia on Dalai Lama Visit

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VOA News, 04 Nov 2002

China has warned Mongolian officials against meeting with the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.

China's foreign ministry issued a statement Monday saying Beijing is opposed to officials from any other country meeting with the Tibetan leader. The Dalai Lama is planning to visit predominantly Buddhist Mongolia this week.

The statement from Beijing say Tibet's spiritual leader is engaged in activities aimed at splitting China and damaging the unity of its nationalities.

The Dalai Lama canceled a trip to Mongolia in September because South Korea declined to issue him a transit visa. This time, he will go there by way of Japan.

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Crowds in Mongolia greet the Dalai Lama

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ULAN BATOR, Mongolia (AP) -- Maroon-robed monks and chanting nuns greeted the Dalai Lama on Monday, his first visit in seven years to Mongolia, which shares strong cultural and religious ties to Tibet and has been rediscovering its Buddhist heritage since the end of communist rule.

Hundreds of faithful waited in subfreezing temperatures to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama. Monks and nuns waved incense-burners and bright yellow prayer scarves as the Tibetan leader walked out of the airport at midnight to cheers and applause. He waved and clasped his hands in a gesture of prayer to the crowd, then climbed into a black limousine and drove away in a motorcade led by police cars.

''Because we are Buddhists, we believe that when we see the Dalai Lama, we have seen a living god. That brings peace and joy in our minds,'' said Erbenebat, a monk from Ulan Bator who waited in 10 degree temperatures.

Communist rule ended in 1990 in Mongolia, and some 90 percent of its 2.4 million people consider themselves Buddhists.

The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, has visited Mongolia five times, most recently in 1995. He had planned to come in September, but was blocked when Russia and South Korea refused him transit visas, possibly to avoid angering China. There are no direct flights to Mongolia from India.

This week's visit is likely to draw angry protests from China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a political schemer bent on ending Chinese rule in Tibet. As of Sunday, though, Beijing had issued no public statements on the visit.

Chinese communist forces occupied Tibet in 1951 and Beijing says the Himalayan region has been Chinese territory for centuries. The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India after a failed uprising in 1959.

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Mongolian crowds mob Dalai Lama lecture

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By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press Writer

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 - Mongolian Buddhists by the thousands jammed a convention center on Wednesday to hear the Dalai Lama lecture, while hundreds more huddled in the snow outside and listened on loudspeakers as he summoned them to apply their beliefs to everyday life.

The exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader's appearance came on the second day of his first visit in seven years to Mongolia, whose people share centuries-old religious and cultural ties with Tibet.

Mongolia's powerful neighbor China, which has long denounced the Dalai Lama as a Tibetan separatist, criticized the visit. A Chinese embassy official said China had been in touch with Mongolia's Foreign Ministry but didn't elaborate on what was said.

Inside the year-old Ulan Bator Palace, the Dalai Lama sat on a gold-trimmed throne decorated with Buddhist motifs. Speaking in Tibetan with Mongolian translation, he discussed the Buddhist philosophies contained in one of his many books. Several lamas - Tibetan Buddhist priests - sat on a dais below him. In the audience, about 5,000 monks and ordinary Mongolians listened intently.

"If you are a good believer, you will feel good inside and in your mind. The book alone cannot teach you," the Dalai Lama said.

Outside, police pushed unruly crowds back to checkpoints about 500 meters (1,600 feet) from the hall. The crowd, many bundled in fur and wool-lined traditional Mongolian gowns, huddled in doorways or stood in clusters beneath the loudspeakers. Many were annoyed they couldn't get closer.

"If I can see him, everything will be good. Because he is the top god, my wishes will come true," said Nuymaa, an 82-year-old woman from Ulan Bator sitting on a stool in the snow.

Ganbat, a policeman on duty, said people began arriving at 6 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday). The lecture was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. (0200 GMT). "Some people were very angry because they wanted to see him and couldn't," Ganbat said.

Both Tibetans and Mongolians follow the tantric school of Buddhism, which recognizes the Dalai Lama as a high spiritual authority. A 16th-century Mongol king is thought to have bestowed the first Dalai Lama title - a designation that means "Ocean of Wisdom."

The Dalai Lama has visited Mongolia five times, most recently in 1995. He had planned to come in September but was blocked when Russia and South Korea refused him transit visas, possibly to avoid angering China. There are no direct flights to Mongolia from India. Chinese communist forces occupied Tibet in 1951. Eight years later, the Dalai Lama fled to exile in India after an abortive uprising.

Wang Kangfu, a counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ulan Bator, said China had expressed its opposition to the visit to Mongolian Foreign Ministry officials.

"The Dalai Lama gets involved in politics no matter what country he is in. He talks about separation, so China is fully against this," Wang told The Associated Press in an interview. "We've requested the government not give the Dalai Lama a stage for talking about separation."

During his trip, the Dalai Lama is expected to tour smaller monasteries, give more speeches and receive an honorary doctorate from a local university. He is scheduled to leave Friday.

While their government has yet to publicly respond, many ordinary Mongolians said they resented China's interference in the visit.

"The Chinese government did not need to make problems for him. He is the most important monk in the world," said Sangaadorg, a monk from Ulan Bator, who was among the crowd outside the conference hall.

"It's extremely wrong that China gave him problems. He wanted to come to Mongolia, and that has nothing to do with China," said another Mongolian named Batsukh. "He has so many believers here. That's why he had to come."

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Mongolian leaders wary of meeting Dalai Lama, China blocks trains

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ULAN BATOR, Nov 6 (AFP) - Mongolian leaders shunned meeting the visiting Tibetan religious leader, the Dalai Lama Wednesday, as China showed its wrath over the trip by blocking trains, sources and witnesses said.

However, the Dalai Lama was put up at the capital's Ikh Tenger area where top Mongolian leaders live and non-official sources said a meeting with Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar could not be ruled out.

When he was culture minister in 1995, Enkhbayar, a fervent Buddhist, had successfully pressed for the last visit by the Dalai Lama to Mongolia that year, despite China's opposition.

The Dalai Lama, who arrived on Monday, is expected to depart on Friday.

Beijing has showed its wrath over the ongoing visit by blocking railway traffic at the border since Tuesday. About 500 passengers were stranded at Mongolia's southern border station, Zamiin-Uud Wednesday, railway officials said.

The Dalai Lama addressed a religious meeting of 5,000 Buddhists inside Mongolia's biggest cultural centre, the Ulan Bator Palace, with an equal number of lay public massed outside.

Many of the Buddhists at the meeting and those outside had come from as far away as Hohhot in Chinese-ruled Inner Mongolia and Ulan Ude in Russia to see the Tibetan leader who is revered as a god-king.

China on Monday warned Mongolian officials against meeting the Dalai Lama. "China is opposed to officials from any country meeting (the Dalai Lama) in whatever capacity and whatever form," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a faxed statement. The statement said China believed the ostensibly spiritual activities of the Dalai Lama might also serve a political purpose.

"The Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaged in activities aimed at splitting the motherland," its statement said. "China resolutely opposes him going to whatever country in whatever capacity to engage in political activities aimed at splitting China and damaging the unity of its nationalities," it said.

The Dalai Lama canceled a planned trip to Mongolia in September after South Korea's Asiana Airlines refused to issue him with a ticket. The airline expressed fears for the Dalai Lama and other passengers' safety if he traveled via Seoul. The Dalai Lama travelled via Japan this time, sources said.

China has ruled Tibet in an often brutal fashion since 1951. The Dalai Lama fled Tibet after an abortive uprising in 1959 and established a government-in-exile in India.