WASHINGTON — Thousands of Buddhists from around the world are expected in Washington next week, including some of the most senior teachers in Tibetan Buddhism, to see the Dalai Lama receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the United States’ highest civilian honor.
Advocates close to the exiled Tibetan spiritual and political leader say the award, which will be presented Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda, is the most significant tribute to the Dalai Lama since he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. President Bush will attend the ceremony, the first time a sitting U.S. president has met in public with the Dalai Lama, whom Chinese officials consider a secessionist agitator for his work to give Tibetans more autonomy.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., a longtime advocate of the Dalai Lama’s, will host the Rotunda ceremony.
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