As proud Rhode Island residents, we are excited to announce that the Dalai Lama visited Providence  today. His Holiness delivered the 86th Stephen A. Ogden Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs: “A Global Challenge: Creating a Culture of Peace” at Brown University. In his speech (that was also on live video stream), His Holiness gave a public talk on the importance of creating a culture of peace, success, hope and inner peace.

Very Dalai Lama-esque, if you ask me. But of course, everything His Holiness spoke about was not only thought-provoking, but called on our youth to take personally responsibility not only for themselves, but for the world community as a whole. Here are a few of our most favorite quotes from his speech today:

“Practice and use compassion and love not to conquer the world, but the fickle human mind.”

“Any action motivated by a genuine concern for others’ well being will ultimately be a constructive action.”

“You can be a good human being without a religious faith, it’s possible.”

“We are part of humanity. Their problem is my problem. Their happiness is my happiness.”

“The younger generation must look beyond their own family, community, country…they must look at the whole world.”

At a time when compassion is more important than ever for our future (have you witnessed the political debates lately?)–It’s so refreshing to listen to words of solidarity and community.