I walked into today’s festivities at Qwest Field without expectation. It’s a good thing, too, because the first thing the Dalai Lama said was (paraphrasing), “Don’t expect much today. I’m an old man whose words are mostly empty.”

It began, though, with color and pageantry that seemed quite out of place in the ¾ full stadium. I’d only ever been to Qwest Field for football and soccer games so it was odd to see so many stern, focused, and sober people gathered.

King 5’s Carolyn Douglas was the emcee and her awkward, overly fawning introduction set the tone for some 40 minutes worth of speeches before the Dalai Lama said a word. Perhaps the best speech, surprisingly, came from Governor Gregoire. She was decidedly apolitical in her remarks about the importance of caring for children and her introduction of the Dalai Lama was appropriately respectful and tinged with just the right amount of gravitas.

Finally, the Dalai Lama was introduced to a standing ovation from the estimated 45,000 in attendance. He ambled slowly toward the front of the stage, his posture and gait not belying his age of 73. He smiled and bowed toward the audience several times and with a dismissive wave and a laugh urged everyone to sit down. Then he walked back to his seat, the Governor to his right and his interpreter to his left, and began to talk.

The next 40 minutes he spoke non-stop about compassion. He talked about compassion in the family, in the workplace, between nations, and especially toward the underprivileged. It was difficult to catch every word as the sound echoed throughout the stadium and his accent was thick. However, his message wasn’t lost. It being that there is another way and compassion is its primary component. The loudest applause came when he remarked about how we are all connected.

“The very concept of ‘we’ and ‘they’ no longer there. Whole world should consider part of you. Therefore, according to that reality, concept of war is outdated.”

I went today merely because I was curious. I’m not religious and am pretty cynical about celebrity – so, the idea that a religious celebrity could win me over seemed absurd. But the Dalai Lama is a charismatic guy who seems completely genuine in his advocacy for compassionate living. After hearing him speak in person, it was hard to walk away without feeling good that he’s in the world.

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