The Dalai Lama who is seen as a spiritual leader, said that gay sex is a "vice" and a "bad action" under Buddhist ethics; and other sexual activities including oral sex and masturbation are "wrong" and against the Buddhist way of life.

However, the exiled Tibetan leader who is currently in the US to discuss human and religious values also added that he thinks homophobia is wrong.

While in the US, the Dalai Lama met President George Bush, members of Congress and other top State Department officials. The religious leader's visit, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of Beijing's military takeover of the Tibetan capital, drew criticism from China.

China sees Tibet as part of its territory and the Dalai Lama as a supporter of independence for Tibet. The Dalai Lama repeated his position that he was seeking a measure of autonomy and complete religious freedom in Tibet, but not independence.

The Bush administration sought to ease tension with China by saying it was meeting with the Dalai Lama in his capacity as a religious leader, rather than as political leader of Tibet.