Dalai Lama donates award honorarium

MEMPHIS, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Dalai Lama said he is donating the $50,000 honorarium the received for his 2009 International Freedom Award to a civil rights museum in Memphis.

The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal reported Thursday the Buddhist spiritual leader donated the money that accompanies the award to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

"Every conflict should be resolved through non-violent way," the Dalai Lama said via a translator while accepting the freedom award Wednesday.

"Totalitarianism itself is always changing," the peaceful leader added when asked about totalitarian regimes.

The Commercial Appeal said the Dalai Lama toured the museum before Wednesday's award ceremony along with the Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles, singer India.Arie and Benjamin L. Hooks, a former director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

During the tour, the Dalai Lama placed a white scarf on a wreath dedicated to slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.