Posted on 04/13/2008 5:02:15 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Dalai Lama draws 50,000 to Seattle stadium
By Laura Myers
Sat Apr 12, 7:27 PM ET
Tens of thousands of people packed a Seattle sports stadium on Saturday to hear the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, call for nonviolence and to make the 21st century a "century of dialogue."
Drums played, American Indian chiefs wearing feathered head-dresses danced and organizers said about 51,000 people -- many of them families -- listened under sunny skies to the Dalai Lama speak about compassion.
Sitting in a red chair under a canopied stage on the stadium field, the robed leader made no reference to recent turmoil in Tibet nor to suggestions that world leaders should boycott the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The Dalai Lama said on Friday he did not support a boycott of the Beijing Olympics. He has rejected Chinese claims that he orchestrated deadly rioting across Tibet last month over a campaign for independence.
On Saturday, the official Xinhua Chinese news agency reported the arrests of nine Buddhist monks suspected of bombing a government building in Tibet.
Saturday's mass gathering in Seattle was the largest of a five-day community event to promote compassion in every day life organized by the group Seeds of Compassion.
"I don't expect to hear any political message. I am not viewing this as a religious event, but it seems like a unique opportunity," said small business owner Patrick Burningham, 42, who was in the crowd.
A 1,000-person cultural procession of people wearing Chinese, Japanese, African-American, Native American and other national dress kicked off the festivities to an accompaniment of more than 100 drummers.
In his wide-ranging, 45-minute address, the Dalai Lama called for the elimination of nuclear weapons and spoke of the role of women in nurturing compassion. He also discussed the need for nonviolence and said the 21st century should be a "century of dialogue."
Student Derek Albietz, 21, said he had always been interested in the Dalai Lama's views.
"It is my first opportunity to see him in person. I want to hear his thoughts on compassion and science and how to help the world," Albietz said.
Ping!
It was unbelievable, how all of Seattle was a-twitter over that world-class hypocrite.
I guess I’ve never seen the hype behind the guy. The fact that liberals seem to like him makes me suspect...
“He has rejected Chinese claims that he orchestrated deadly rioting across Tibet last month...”
Well hello dalai, you riot instigator.
***It was unbelievable, how all of Seattle was a-twitter over that world-class hypocrite.***
NO, it’s not unbelievable, it’s Seattle.
Other than the fact that he is a symbol of a group deserving sympathy, I don’t see where he brings much useful to the table.
He is a nobody, saying nothing. But at least he doesn't spew anti-Jew venom like Jimmah Carter or Desmond Tutu.
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Always good to hear him on compassion.
the Dalai Lama is the Asian Al Gore.
So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.
Care to explain your comment?
Ah, the poor DL was kidnapped as an infant, spirited off to be sequestered and reared by a bunch of old monks, then when he was scarcely more than a babe, he was kicked out of the mountain range which was the only home he had ever known. And yet, though but a lad, and a stranger in a strange land, he got his lines straight and has been in vaudeville for better than fifty years now, and still wows the crowds in the larger towns and smaller cities. And nobody know his real name is Isidore.
I have trouble with people indulging in all-expense-paid jet-sets around the world...tooling up to 5 Star hotels in limos...suckering people into hero worship with cheap regurgitations of the Dhammapada and - ultimately - claiming to be a Buddhist.
The Dali Lama is stuck with his lot in life. As long as China continues to oppress Tibet, he’s making money and the day they stop he’s out of cash.
Luckily for him, they never will stop.
Why is it the ones that like to run their mouths about the Dali Llama and how much of a huckster he is, know the least about him and Buddhism in general?? I am getting married to a full Tibetan and believe me, I am plugged into all things Tibetan. Suffice to say the people spewing foolishness on this thread only betray their stunning ignorance of a man who has devoted his life to compassion and understanding.
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