The doors opened at 1:30 pm and the Dalai Lama didn’t speak until nearly two hours later. Talk about chaos! Melissa and I could barely make it to our seats without being crushed. Mark Tewksbury, former Gold Medalist in diving, was the MC. I thought he was an odd choice but he spoke enthusiastically and with spirit. Toronto Tibetan artist Amchok Gompo and a group from the Tibetan Cultural Association of Montreal performed.
I heard that the Dalai Lama is fond of giggling but I wasn’t prepared for his sense of humor. He was so entertaining. From the beginning when he removed his shoes and put on a visor to be more comfortable, he kept the packed Civic Centre intent on his every word.
The theme today was Global Citizenship yet he talked about everything from happiness, inner peace, to George Bush and the wars around the world. I felt good being in a venue with so many people hearing the same messages of compassion, love and peace.
