Dalai Lama to give mass teaching at US Capitol

Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will Saturday deliver a talk on world peace near the US Capitol, with organizers expecting large crowds for the widely revered monk. The Dalai Lama is in Washington for a 10-day Buddhist ritual known as the Kalachakra. Devotees need to pay for entry to the rite at a sports arena, so the Dalai Lama has offered Saturday's mass lecture for free to the public. On the West Lawn of the Capitol -- near where US presidents are inaugurated -- the Dalai Lama will be introduced by actress Whoopi Goldberg before offering a talk about peace and taking questions from the audience. The Dalai Lama, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize enjoys a wide following around the world including the United States, with thousands attending the Kalachakra ritual. But China protests his frequent visits and meetings overseas, accusing him of being a separatist. The Dalai Lama, a pacifist, says he is only seeking greater rights for Tibetans and accepts China's rule. US lawmakers led by House Speaker John Boehner welcomed the Dalai Lama on Thursday to the Capitol. But the White House has stayed mum on whether President Barack Obama will meet the monk, amid warnings from China.