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Dalai Lama draws 50,000 to Seattle stadium (skyrocketing popularity)

Reuters ^ | 04/12/08 | Laura Myers

Posted on 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.



TOPICS:

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KEYWORDS:

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Comment #1 Removed by Moderator

To: TigersEye; indcons; tanuki; nuconvert

Ping!



by 2 posted onby TigerLikesRooster (kim jong-il, chia head, ppogri, In Grim Reaper we trust)

To: TigerLikesRooster

It was unbelievable, how all of Seattle was a-twitter over that world-class hypocrite.



To: TigerLikesRooster

I guess I’ve never seen the hype behind the guy. The fact that liberals seem to like him makes me suspect...



by 4 posted onby GOP_Raider (Let's Get Cup Crazy! Let's Go Sharks!)

To: TigerLikesRooster

“He has rejected Chinese claims that he orchestrated deadly rioting across Tibet last month...” Well hello dalai, you riot instigator.



To: Psycho_Bunny

***It was unbelievable, how all of Seattle was a-twitter over that world-class hypocrite.*** NO, it’s not unbelievable, it’s Seattle.



To: TigerLikesRooster





To: Psycho_Bunny

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.



To: Past Your Eyes

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.



To: TigerLikesRooster

All material from The Morning Call must be excerpted and linked. Please make note of it. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1111944/posts



To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

Great picture of him, thanks. Always good to hear him on compassion.



by 12 posted onby tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)

To: TigerLikesRooster

the Dalai Lama is the Asian Al Gore.



To: Libertina; angry elephant; snowsprite; American in Israel; Gator113; Horusra; rahbert; luckymom; ...



Say WA? Evergreen State ping



FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.



Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.



if you want on or off this ping list.if you see a Washington state related thread.

by 14 posted onby sionnsar (trad-anglican.faithweb.com |Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)

To: Psycho_Bunny

"He ... said the 21st century should be a "century of dialogue." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.



To: Psycho_Bunny

Care to explain your comment?



by 16 posted onby steel_resolve (I stand with the Tibetans.)

To: GOP_Raider

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.



To: steel_resolve

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.



To: TigerLikesRooster

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.



by 19 posted onby jerod (They were pro-abortion, for gun control & wanted a cleaner environment at all cost - The NAZI party)

To: TigerLikesRooster

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.



by 20 posted onby steel_resolve (I stand with the Tibetans.)

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