The Dalai Lama hugs a Koala

On Wednesday was fortunate enough to hear the Dalai Lama speak at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast or Australia. As part of National Kindness week, it was opportune to have him visit a location where kindness to and the protection of animals is such a focus.

His presentation was very relaxed and humorous at times, and you certainly felt you were in the presence of something greater than one individual. The Animal Planet Crocoseum was filled to capacity and being part of such a positive crowd certainly had its effect on me too.

The Dalai Lama spoke of the need for compassion both towards fellow human beings and to animals. He also spoke of the benefits of being a vegetarian and how he had as a young man brought animals in Tibet to save them from the butcher.

The news media covered the story extensively too with a large number of reporters from around the country and the world attending.

Terry, young Bob and Bindi Irwin were on hand to host him and came on stage holding a Koala bear. The Dalai Lama presented each of them (including the Koala) with a silk scarf.

For myself visiting the Dalai Lama and seeing him speak first hand has been one of the things I had included on my 100 things to do before I die list and so it was also nice to tick that one off. But it’s not really a done deal, as I am sure I will make the effort to see him again one day.

My new friend Tracey Woolley has taken some photographs and these can be viewed on her Inspire Your Day website . Tracey is not only known for her outstanding landscape photography but also for her Inspire your day business that focuses on Inspiration, Wellness, Empowerment, Nutrition and Wealth. Well worth a look