His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed a sold-out crowd at a sweltering Electrical Services Stadium on Monday afternoon, after the spiritual leader inaugurated the adjacent new Buddhist Community Centre and monastery.
Over 6000 people wished the Dalai Lama a happy 80th birthday (which he celebrates on 6 July) and listened to his speech entitled ‘Buddhism in the 21st Century’ which espoused a life of love, forgiveness, tolerance and self-discipline.
Preceding the good-humoured lecture were several demonstrations of traditional Nepalese dancing and a specially-composed song welcoming His Holiness to Aldershot for the second time.
