In a CNN article put up online today, they answered the question, “Why do Americans love the Dalai Lama?”

Less than .3 percent of the US population associates themselves with the Tibetan Buddhism the Dalai Lama preaches, yet he has a 56 percent approval rate in the US. This approval rate is just three percent behind the pope and one percent behind Billy Graham.

Why do we love him? Because he promotes an image of peace. In such turmoil and unease in our world today, the Dalai Lama holds true to the very core of the Buddhist religion: peace, wisdom and love. Americans need a peaceful icon to look up to, model their lives after and respect because of his values.

The Dalai Lama considers himself just a, “simple monk,” but to many Americans he represents so much more.

The Dalai Lama will be on CNN’s Larry King Live tonight starting at 8 p.m. CST. To read the article, click here.