The Dalai Lama commented on Tiger Woods' sex scandals yesterday, saying self-discipline is among Buddhism's highest values, one day after Woods said he had strayed from his Buddhist faith.

Tibet's exiled spiritual leader told The Associated Press in a brief interview in Beverly Hills that he had not heard of Woods, but when the circumstances were explained to him he said that when it comes to adultery, "all religions have the same idea."

"Whether you call it Buddhism or another religion, self-discipline, that's important," he said. "Self-discipline with awareness of consequences."

Woods said Friday that he was raised Buddhist but needed to focus anew on finding balance between his religion and professional life.

RICE WILL TICKLE IVORIES TO HELP SCHOOL

Officials with a San Joaquin Valley, Calif., nonprofit group say former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has agreed to perform the piano at a benefit concert to raise funds for a local school.

The Salida Performing Arts Foundation says the concert at a private residence March 27 will also include cellist Michael Reynolds and tenor Dennis McNeil.

Salida Performing Arts Foundation co-founder Brad Friley says he hopes to use the money to purchase additional violins for fourth-graders at Salida's Sisk Elementary School.

Rice, who was secretary of state under President George W. Bush, is an accomplished pianist. She is now a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.

POLANSKI WINS BERLIN LAURELS IN ABSENTIA

The Turkish film "Bal," or "Honey," won the top Golden Bear award yesterday at the 60th annual Berlin film festival, whose jury also crowned Roman Polanski best director.

Polanski, whose "The Ghost Writer" debuted at the festival, was unable to attend because he is under house arrest in his Swiss chalet in Gstaad.

Producer Alain Sarde, who accepted the prize on Polanski's behalf, said the director told him he would not have attended the festival even if he had been free, "because the last time I traveled to accept an award I landed in jail."

Polanski was arrested when he arrived in Zurich on Sept. 26 to receive a lifetime achievement award from a film festival. The Swiss must decide whether to extradite him to the U.S. to face possible further sentencing in a 32-year-old sex case.

REALITY STAR'S ACCUSED STALKER ARRESTED

Police say they have arrested a man prohibited from contacting Audrina Patridge outside the reality star's Los Angeles home.

Los Angeles police Sgt. Kyle Kirkman says Zachary Loring was arrested Friday morning. Officers arrived at "The Hills" star's Hollywood Hills house after Loring was spotted knocking on her door.

Patridge obtained a three-year restraining order against Loring, 24, in September. She testified that she was afraid after he repeatedly came to her house and gave her disturbing drawings.

— Advertiser News Services