Published by World Tibet Network News - Wednesday, March 26, 1997

TAIPEI, March 24 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama on Monday called for a free exchange of views between Tibetan and Chinese Buddhists saying they could learn from each other.

About 100 Buddhist leaders from across Taiwan gathered in a conference room at the Howard Plaza Hotel to hear the exiled Tibetan leader voice his views about the development of Buddhism.

"There is something in Tibetan Buddhism which Chinese Buddhism does not have" and vice versa, he told the televised meeting, adding that an exchange of views is "mutually beneficial."

"Chinese Buddhists might have difficulty to go to Tibet to learn the essence of Tibetan Buddhism, but they can go to India where Tibetan Buddhism now exists," he said speaking in Tibetan, via a Chinese translator.

"And I also hope that the Tibetan Buddhist masters can come to Taiwan to exchange views on the spirit of Buddha."

He also told the group he was keen to set up a system of nuns, known as Bhikhuni, which has only been properly developed in the Chinese Buddhist system.

"I hope that all the sects will discuss it and reach consensus to thoroughly pass down this tradition. For men and women are equal and can both accept Buddha's teachings on an equal basis."

Monday was the third day of the Dalai Lama's historic visit to Taiwan and he was due to hold further meetings with leaders of other religions, before holding a press conference in the afternoon.

It lighter programme than on Sunday when he addressed 50,000 people in a packed stadium in the southern city of Kaohsiung, 340 kilometres (210 miles) south of Taipei and visited two temples.

On Thursday he is due to meet with President Lee Teng-hui for the first time, in a move sure to infuriate China which has already dubbed the visit a meeting of splittists.