MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is spending two days in Vermont.
The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists has talks scheduled at Middlebury College.
Sporting a Middlebury visor, the 77-year-old spoke to students, staff and faculty with a sense of humor Friday. He spent a lot of his time talking to the biggest group in the crowd of nearly three-thousand.
"Young people, students you are our hope," says His Holiness.
The Dalai Lama's speech focused on religion and the path to happiness. He says education should be more than just studying facts.
"Smart brain, good heart, then you yourself become happier person," says His Holiness.
His Holiness says anger is a sign of weakness and he believes words, not war, should be the way to solve problems.
"Through that we can build this century, century of peace," says His Holiness.
The Middlebury visit is part of the Dalai Lama's two-week speaking tour of the U.S.
In Middlebury, Tibetan flags lined Main Street in advance of his visit. This is his third visit to the college.
The school says it simply sent an invitation for him to visit. But the stop has taken years of preparation.
Students say the speech was one of their best experiences at school.
"Amazing, I've been waiting so long to see him. I grew up with him in my household and it was just an incredible, incredible experience," says Kento Mizuno, Middlebury College student.
"Forgiveness and compassion were pretty key and I thought that's something that a lot of people at least I know and I know myself could work on," says Molly Hubbard, Middlebury College student.
On Saturday, the Dalai Lama will talk to the public. That is sold out.
You can watch the speech live online and video from Friday's speech by CLICKING HERE.
From Middlebury, the Dalai Lama heads to Boston to continue his tour.
