Delegates from the Tibet's government-in-exile visiting the United

States say the Dalai Lama has asked them to study the American

tradition of church-state separation with a view to leaving him out of governing a future autonomous Tibet, according to National Catholic Reporter. More than 40 years after China annexed Tibet, the Dalai Lama remains spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and head of the government-in-exile. The Chinese have so far refused to discuss withdrawing from Tibet.