dalai

The Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, head of the world's 350 million Buddhists and leader of the Tibetan government in exile, arrived in Portland on Sunday and addressed a huge crowd at Pioneer Courthouse Square (which included an estimated 25,000 people).
Gov. John Kitzhaber introduced the Dalai Lama, noting that more attention is paid today to violence than to its prevention. He said the Dalai Lama has stressed prevention and nonviolent conflict resolution to thousands of people in his speeches, an attitude he compared to that of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
The celebration was preceded by a Mother's Day peace march in Portland in which about 3,000 took part.
The Dalai Lama's 15-minute speech capped a sun-drenched afternoon festival in the plaza that featured Asian drummers, dancers and other entertainment.
It was an eclectic crowd, a cross-section of Portland that ranged from the spiked-hair and tattoo set to the couple next door. There were dogs, babies in arms, a Bible-waving evangelist and the savory smoke from charcoal-fired food stands.
The Dalai Lama stressed that happiness goes beyond material well-being.
"It is essential to know that to be a happy person, a happy family, a happy society, it is very crucial to have a good heart, that is very crucial," he said.
"World peace must develop from inner peace," he added. "Peace is not just the absence of violence but the manifestation of human compassion."
Courtesy: KGW/AP

Dalai Lama (center) speaks, Portland Mayor Katz (right) looks at the crowd.
Courtesy: KOIN
After welcomes from Gov. John Kitzhaber and
Portland Mayor Vera Katz, the Dalai Lama
began speaking at about 4:30 p.m. He offered
greetings in Tibetan, with a translator repeating in English, then leaned both elbows on the lectern overlooking the square.
"Those are my formal thanks," he said in English. "Now I just want to talk."
Courtesy: SHELBY OPPEL and Nancy Haught of The Oregonian staff

An estimated 25,000 people gathered in
Portland's Living Room (a.k.a. Pioneer
Courthouse Square) to greet the
spiritual leader.
Courtesy: KOIN

Below:
Overhead shot of Pioneer Square as
Dali Llama speaks.
Courtesy:
(Bruce Ely/The Oregonian)