In a excellent mood and full of energy, even after been awaken at 2 a.m., Dalai Lama talked to the press on Friday, at the WTC. "I am speaking only as one among seven billion human beings," he began. During his speech, he stressed that all men are created equal and that differences such as religion and nationality are secondary. "You want a happy life, I want a happy life, our intentions are the same," he said.
* Between one joke and another, the Dalai Lama explained that he has three commitments to humanity: to create awareness of the equality of human beings, to promote harmony among religions and to spread the importance of this new consciousness.
* The spiritual leader went on to say that he has friends from all religions and doesn’t take offense when, for example, a Catholic friend addressed him as "a good Christian." "My response is that he’s a good Buddhist," he laughed. And most importantly for him, is that people print in their routine the values of religion. "It’s no use praying and leaving all believes locked in the meditation room".
* Unlike his first three visits to Brazil, during which he was secluded to Zu Lai Buddhist temple in Cotia, this time the Dalai Lama is staying at the Sheraton WTC, next to the building where the talks are taking place – and should stay there until his time to go on Saturday night. With an entourage of six members, he refused the presidential suite and made a point to stay on the hotel’s simplest floor where a room is booked for meetings and meditation and for two other federal police officers who care for the leader’s safety. His demands? Lots of hot water all the time, to take plain or with tea, and breakfast served at 4 o’clock. And even if there’s a cook in his entourage, the Dalai Lama’s food is nothing special. On the contrary, he doesn’t refuse anything that’s offered him – except for money, since he doesn’t accept donations, not even on behalf of the Tibetan people.
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