China allows visits with the Dalai Lama

It is being widely reported on the internet today that the Chinese government has allowed at least 200 Chinese nationals and as many as 10,000 Tibetans attend one or more prayer gatherings with His Holiness The Dalai Lama in India. When exactly this, or these, event(s) took place is a bit unclear (Jan 20th according to the Tibetan Gov. In Exile web site), but it is evident that it is a change in policy for the Chinese government.

"We're very encouraged to see more and more Chinese coming to India to make pilgrimage to Buddhist sites and explore their growing interest in Buddhist spirituality," said the Dalai Lama's secretary, Tenzing Takla. - from the news.telegraph web site.

Tibet's government-in-exile in Dharamsala reported Friday that about 200 ethnic Chinese and as many as 10,000 Tibetans attended the Kalachakra, an initiation ceremony for Buddhists, in Amravati, South India last month.

Read more about this at the:
• Tibetan Government In Exile web site
• News.Telegraph web site
• China Post web site