An unusual question, “Do you carry a brief case and if so what’s in it?” drew unexpected answers. His Holiness picked up his maroon cotton shoulder bag saying it is what he always carries with him. Then he went through what was in it. Pulling out two chocolates that he’d been give on the flight to Los Angeles, he gave one to Ann Curry and the other to Sharon Stone. He showed his toothbrush and paste and his spare glasses, and explained that he also carries a statue of the Buddha. Sharon Stone asked if they could see it and he said it was wrapped up. He explained that a Buddhist monk is given a statue of the Buddha at the time of his ordination and that he had a larger, heavier one when he left Tibet, but that it was not convenient to travel with it. The present statue was made of clay by Smrtijnanakirti an Indian pandit who came to Tibet centuries ago. When his translator died he had no way to teach or even tell people who he was and spent some time as a shepherd. While looking after his flock, he modelled images of the Buddha and the statue His Holiness carries is one of those. He explained that he had asked his tutor to bless it for the purpose. 

As the meeting ended, Gray Davis, former Governor of California offered thanks to His Holiness for coming, to everyone else who had taken part, to the California Science Center for hosting the event and Kusho Tenzin Dhonden for facilitating it. Mrs Oschin, wife of the founder of the pavilion that houses Endeavor, concluded proceedings by offering a proclamation to His Holiness from the City of Los Angeles.