Upon their arrival in New Zealand, the first news from home the group heard was of the crackdown in Tibet.

It just got worse when one of the monks, Sonem Toshi, 33, found his master had been killed in the violence and his younger brother arrested for the March 10 protest.

"It is only our Buddhist belief in reincarnation, and the teaching of compassion and forgiveness, that is keeping us going."

"We prayed not only for those who have lost their lives in the unrest, but also for the Chinese authorities, that they may have a little compassion for the Tibetan people," Gen Lama said.

"Unlike Westerners [who see] demonstrations and protest as their right, this could be a death sentence in Tibet," said Gen Lama, who has lived in exile for 50 years.

"In fact, the utterance of the word 'Free Tibet' can land one a life sentence, so you can imagine how much the Tibetans must be suffering for them to have the courage to stage this protest."