His Holiness’s office put out a statement concluding:

[The Dalai Lama] has stated that, as someone in a leadership position, it is his responsibility to speak out against the damaging consequences of this kind of spirit worship. Whether or not his advice is heeded, His Holiness has stated, is a matter for the individual. However, since he personally feels strongly about the negativity of this practice, he has requested that those who continue to propitiate Dolgyal, do not attend his formal religious teachings which traditionally require the establishment of a teacher-disciple relationship.

Meanwhile the Olympic torch is due to arrive in Lhasa in just over two weeks.

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