Members of the local Tibetan community are making painstaking preparations for the Twin Cities visit by the Dalai Lama in early May. Tenzin Gyatso (Ten-zin Gee-aht-SOE), the fourteenth Dalai Lama, is considered by some to be the living buddha. In northeast Minneapolis, Tibetan painter and craftsman Rinchen Dorjee has transformed his small, low ceilinged basement into a busy workshop for construction of a ceremonial throne. The throne is more than half complete, painted white, gold and powder blue. Dorjee intricately draws Tibetan designs for wood carvings that will be placed upon the platform. Local monks, have adapted their technique of sculpting in butter to create dozens of little roses out of modeling clay that will adorn the chair's back. The Lama will sit upon a cushion of silk fabric brought over from India. Dorjee explained through fellow Tibetan Tsultim Tsagong (Sul-Tim SAY-Gong) that he has limited time to complete this sacred job: