Published by: World Tibet Network News, Saturdsay, August 3, 1996

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) July 30, 1996 -- Thousands gathered at the Civic Auditorium Tuesday for the first day of religious teachings by the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet.

The widely revered Dalai Lama, who is on a five-day visit to California, plans three days of Buddhist sessions on ``Three Principles of the Path.''

The auditorium, which seats about 3,000 people, is sold out for all the sessions, which conclude Thursday.

``Parking is absolutely overflowing,'' said Veronica Calvillo of public relations at the Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau. ``There's a lot of monks walking around the city, a lot of buzz and activity.''

The Dalai Lama is teaching at the request of Chinese-American Buddhist students who visited him in India, where he lives in self-exile.

Session participants have come from as far away as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Tibetan Buddhist monks visiting the nearby Pacific Asia Museum are also crafting a traditional sand painting, known as a mandala, to commemorate the arrival of the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama told KABC-TV, Los Angeles that he advocates a ``more compassionate society'' that ``definitely can reduce this violence.''

According to Richard Barr, manager of the Civic Auditorium, Tuesday's audience was a mix of Caucasians and Asian-Americans.

``There's much reverence around him, everything's very respectful and focused,'' Barr said.

``We're always looking to become better people,'' action star and Buddhist supporter Steven Segal told KABC-TV outside the event. ``(We) try to take the wisdom that we can get from those who are wiser than us to make us better people and the world a better place.''

During the session, the Dalai Lama sat on a gold cushion atop a raised platform on the stage, which was decorated with embroidered religious tapestries. About 100 monks and nuns surrounded him on the stage.

The Dalai Lama spoke in Tibetan that was translated into Mandarin Chinese, English and Vietnamese. About half the audience wore radio headsets to listen to the translations, Barr said.

The Dalai Lama has made numerous trips to the United States in the last decade. His most recent visit was last September, when he met with President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

His tour this time also included stops in Kentucky, Indiana and Chicago.

The spiritual leader went into self-exile in 1959 when communist Chinese troops invaded Tibet. Since then, the Nobel peace laureate has traveled the world and advocated the non-violent liberation of Tibet.

His teachings will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day through Aug. 1.

On Tuesday night, the Dalai Lama was scheduled to be presented with a symbolic key to the city of Pasadena from Mayor William Paparian at a City Hall event and reception.