Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – To some Central New Yorkers, the Dalai Lama’s visit has become a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Those who saw the spiritual icon deliver his message on Monday said that they were inspired, moved, and, in some cases, even surprised.
The Dalai Lama agreed to visit Syracuse after a university trustee extended an invitation.
“He was just a pleasure to watch. His sense of humor made us as students able to relate to him more,” said SU student Anjorie Jhaveri.
Another student, Alex Olbrych, had similar sentiments.
“He’s so happy and he’s infectious and you see it in the crowd and when he speaks you listen and really understand and you end up with a smile on your face,” Olbrych said.
Other students were inspired by the gravity of the Dalai Lama's message.
“In the world, there’s so many troubles,” said Domenica Rana. “Oh I’m just a student in the world. It was nice to put it into context – ‘this is what I can do day to day.’”
Security will be tight on Tuesday for the second part of the Dalai Lama’s visit.
Approximately 24,000 people are expected to attend.
The Dalai Lama will make a public address and will be joined by numerous performers, including Dave Matthews, Counting Crows, Nas, Cyndi Lauper, Engelbert Humperdinck, Roberta Flack, David Crosby and Nelly Furtado.
Proceeds from the concert will go toward a scholarship named for a Syracuse University graduate student who was killed filming a documentary on the violence in his homeland, Syria.
