His Holiness the Dalia Lama rocked the house

me and greg were 2 of 12,000 people that packed the erwin center to hear the Dalai Lama speak yesterday. he walked onto the stage....pulled his drumsticks from beneath his orange robe and unleashed the most wicked drum solo i've heard since the San Antonio ZZ Top concert in the 80's. he was so very humble. he walked out, bowed several times to the crowd, then sat down and took off his shoes and sat crossed legged. he said: good, now i am comfortable. he spoke for a couple hours i think, and took questions. much of what he talked about was concerning compassion, inner peace and joy. he said each of us has to start there. from within. he talked about thinking more about others than ourselves - the new reality being: one entity, one unity. how we are all interconnected. we are all the same. he spoke about non-violence - but acknowledged that wars are 'part of this world'. however, he emphasized that world leaders should respect and listen to each other more. that once violence begins, the path is very uncertain. he was really funny too and had a wonderful sense of humor. he said he talks to so many people around the world. and even with our differences, he finds us all to be the same. with the same desires. a happy life. peacefulness. love. he said though that the Brits do not laugh at his jokes. ha. the last question, someone asked him what kind of music did he listen to. he thought for a while and laughed and said, for him...all the thump thump he heard while trying to sleep in Berlin one nite was like a mosquito - a bit of an irritation. he said he knows music is a wonderful thing and brings many people happiness - but for him....turn the bass down a little -- the dalai lama likes to hit the sack early. :-) he called himself a simple monk. that he was just like all of us. that he is nothing special. however, for me....it was a very special thing to hear him talk. his humbleness and approachability was endearing and heartfelt. he has been through much in his 70 years and i am grateful to have heard him speak. i consider him wise and loving, even if he prefers not to plug into a iPod. ha.

• Daily Texan article and photo
• KUT.org recorded it also! Dalai Lama talk on MP3

here is 12,000 people from my little toy camera phone.