KPAX

Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:11 PM
Updated: Mar 22, 2010 7:38 AM

MISSOULA - The man responsible for bringing the Dalai Lama to Montana next year believes the visit will help bring peace to the entire region and the garden he's building north of Arlee will become an international draw.

Western Montana media greeted Tibetan Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche Friday in downtown Missoula. Rinpoche is the man behind the Ewam Garden of 1,000 Buddhas in Arlee.

So far Montanans have made 500 Buddhas for the garden. Rinpoche wants to have it done in time for the Dalai Lama's blessing, scheduled for the fall of 2011.

A translator helped Rinpoche communicate at the conference, since he speaks Tibetan.

Rinpoche said the Dalai Lama's visit will mean a lot, spiritually, for the region.

"He's the embodiment of compassion," Rinpoche said through the translator. "He's the reincarnation of the Buddha of compassion and so his mere presence in Montana at our site we hope will have the capacity to bring about peace and compassion in the region."

The past five years Rinpoche and the Ewam Montana sangha have hosted peace festival in Arlee and this year's events will help work as a fundraiser to completing the garden.

There is still no set date for the Dalai Lama's visit.