I was three rows away from His Holiness on Wednesday, and I still can’t comprehend that.

The Dalai Lama’s speech titled, “A Global Challenge: Creating a Culture of Peace,” covered a wide range of topics including nonviolence, education, environmentalism, and mindfulness. The content was nothing out of the ordinary, but the way he delivered his message was effective in that his voice and tone reminded me of the way my grandparents would talk to me. Instead of speaking to a mass, I felt as if he imparted wisdom to each of us individually in that large convention center. His universalist views combined with his unrestrained laughter throughout the lecture make him seem like such a personal and easygoing man. It’s not hard to see how he gained so much respect internationally.

Nothing I say in the next few sentences could describe the way his spiritual energy permeated the room that afternoon. The way that the frail 77 year old was able to overwhelm me spiritually was amazing. And it’s impossible to describe how I felt, but I can tell you that I almost started crying before he even spoke a word.

Of all the things he said that day, maybe this quote stuck the most with me.

Let the 21st century be a century of dialogue.

Check out the full lecture here.

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