The Emerald City welcome the Dalai Lama

Saturday's event at Seattle's Qwest field was the largest of the five-day Seeds of Compassion conference and unlike the smaller panel discussions and workshops, it was a colorful gathering and a multicultural and intergenerational celebration. Participants included hundreds of people wearing traditional costumes representing the various cultures and traditions now living in the state of Washington , Native American elders who performed a witnessing ceremony and 1,800-member choir of parents and children singing songs of peace and compassion. But from the dozens of organizations in a resource fair beforehand to a number of speeches from the podium at the event, the emphasis was on putting compassion into action with many examples of the varying forms such action could take.

The highlight of the event was the Dalai Lama's address entitled the Heartbeat of Humanity. He urged people to use nonviolent means to resolve problems, whether at the family, community, national or international level saying that this should be a "century of dialogue." He reminded us that nonviolence is not just the absence of violence, but facing problems with determination, vision and a wider perspective, while deliberately resisting the use of force. To do that, "external disarmament" is needed, he said, advocating elimination of all nuclear weapons, but he also pointed out that people need "inner disarmament," in order not to let emotions like suspicion and fear take control. Simply praying or meditating isn't enough, he continued, compassion has to be promoted and from a young age.