Dalai Lama begins US visit in Seattle amid turmoil over Tibet; set to speak on compassion.
Dalai Lama Misses appointments this morning because he doesn’t own an alarm clock. Oh the joy of being a Buddist Leader. Awake when nature causes you to arise, yeah tell that to the Seattle Times!
SEATTLE — Flanked by security personnel, the Dalai Lama made his way through a downtown hotel lobby as fellow Tibetans bowed and raised their voices in song.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader was to anchor a five-day conference on compassion that begins Friday in his first visit to the United States since the recent turmoil in Tibet.
As he arrived at the Grand Hyatt Seattle hotel Thursday, the Dalai Lama said he supports nonviolent demonstrations but was saddened by this week’s protests in San Francisco, where authorities had to reroute the Olympic torch run after human rights activists scuffled with pro-Chinese crowds.
In Tibet, the recent protests against five decades of Chinese rule have been the largest and most sustained in almost two decades. China has accused the Dalai Lama of being involved in the uprising. He has said that he wants greater autonomy for the remote mountain region but is not seeking independence.
Organizers of the five-day Seeds of Compassion conference in Seattle say the Dalai Lama’s visit is expected to draw more than 150,000 people.
The conference will feature dozens of workshops on various subjects, beginning with a panel discussion Friday with the Dalai Lama on “The Scientific Basis for Compassion: What We Know Now.”
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels planned to present the visitor with a key to the city and the University of Washington will present him an honorary degree.
Source: www1.whdh.com via politisite
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