海角大神

China is beset by a moral crisis, widespread corruption and lawlessness, leading millions of Chinese to seek solace in Buddhism,聽Tibet's exiled Buddhist leader, the聽Dalai聽Lama, said on Monday.

The聽Dalai聽Lama聽was in聽London聽to receive the $1.7 million Templeton prize for his work affirming the spiritual dimension of life.

Speaking to reporters before the award ceremony at St.聽Paul's Cathedral聽in聽London, he said millions of young Chinese were showing an interest in spirituality.

"Look at聽China聽now, the moral crisis, corruption - immense," he said, adding that聽China聽had "no proper rule of law".

A survey two years ago found that 200 million Chinese followed Buddhism, including many who followed Tibetan Buddhism, he said.

"Tibetan Buddhist culture I think [is of] immense benefit to millions of Chinese who are really passing through a difficult period like that," he said.

In the most tumultuous upheaval in聽China's leadership in decades, the聽Communist Party聽banished its most controversial politician,聽Bo Xilai, from its ranks in April and detained his wife over the murder of a British businessman.

China聽has ruled聽Tibet聽since 1950 when Communist troops occupied the country. The聽Dalai聽Lama聽escaped to live in exile in聽India聽after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

The聽Dalai聽Lama, who won the Nobel peace prize in 1989, said he would donate $1.5 million of the Templeton prize money to support British charity聽Save the Children's work to combat malnutrition among children in聽India. The rest will go to scientific causes.

CAMERON MEETING

British Prime Minister聽David Cameron聽will meet the聽Dalai聽Lama聽later on Monday, Cameron's office said. However, the meeting will not take place at Cameron's officialDowning St聽residence in a gesture to Chinese sensibilities.

China聽voiced "strong dissatisfaction" after Cameron's predecessor as prime minister,Gordon Brown, met the聽Dalai聽Lama, also away from聽Downing St, in 2008.

Tibetan protests against Chinese rule have intensified in recent months. At least 32 Tibetans have set themselves on fire, mostly in聽southwestern China, since March 2011 to protest against Chinese rule in聽Tibet, according to Tibetan rights groups. At least 22 have died.

The聽Dalai聽Lama聽has angered the聽Chinese government聽by refusing to condemn the protests and accusing聽Beijing聽of overseeing a "cultural genocide" against Tibetans.

The聽Dalai聽Lama聽refused to say on Monday whether the self-immolations should stop or continue.

"I think that is quite a sensitive political issue. I think my answer should be zero," he said, noting that he had devolved political power to an elected leader last year.

The聽Dalai聽Lama聽waded into a sensitive British political issue by saying that he might have joined anti-capitalist protesters who staged a four-month protest outside St Paul's Cathedral if their motives were sincere and justified.

Police and bailiffs cleared the protesters' camp in February.

The聽Dalai聽Lama聽told a British newspaper on Sunday he feared聽China聽might have plotted to kill him by training female agents with poison in their hair. But he said on Monday he did not know if the allegation was true as he had no way of checking.

Asked what spiritual advice he would give to British people suffering from economic turmoil in the country, which is going through austerity and recession, the聽DalaiLama聽said: "Please don't feel helpless or hopeless... Work hard."

(Additional reporting by聽Tim Castle; Editing by Maria Golovnina)