DHARAMSHALA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama concluded his two-day visit to Syracuse university in New York by joining a group of famous artists at the “One World Concert” on Tuesday night.
According to WSTM, an estimated 24,000 people filled the Carrier Dome for the concert that wrapped up a two-day peace conference at the Syracuse University (SU). The conference featured panel discussions with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King III, and former ambassador Andrew Young among others. The conference started on Monday and was focused on promoting peace throughout the world.
Tuesday night’s concert also featured popular musicians like Nelly Furtado, Natasha Bedingfield, the Dave Matthews Band, Cindy Lauper, Counting Crows, and Roberta Flack. The event that was also hosted by Whoopi Goldberg.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama urged the crowd to help one another for the sake of a better collective society. A healthy heart translates to a healthy mind and society’s problems are man-made and can be fixed through compassion, understanding and peace, he said.
Before the concert, singer Natasha Bedingfield told WSTM, the power music can have. She said, “In the music, I feel like we kind of open a window to inspiration.”
When His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with the media before the concert, he was asked if he had any special music he was looking forward to from the many great artists collected in Syracuse to spread the message of peace and harmony.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama laughed, declaring, “I am not much interested in music and these things. At the same time, I respect and admire them.” Mentioning modern music in particular, he laughed and plugged his ears.
Yet he said he did have a message when he met with many of the musicians and artists in a dressing room before addressing the media.
“Using music they can send message of peace and conciliation,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama said. “Their profession is very powerful, to reach millions of people.”
One World Concert was produced by World Harmony Productions, which is headed by SU trustee and local businessman Samuel Nappi. SU announced Common Ground for Peace in late August. Nappi invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Syracuse during a private visit with the international Buddhist leader in India. World Harmony Productions spokesman Mark Emery said all of the One World Concert musicians performed for free.
