SOMERSET, England, June 28 (UPI) -- The Dalai Lama attended the Glastonbury music festival on Sunday, when he appeared onstage with American rocker Patti Smith and praised the "festival of people."
The Tibetan spiritual leader, who turns 80 next month, was welcomed onto the Pyramid stage, where Smith read a poem she wrote in his honor and led the audience in singing "Happy Birthday."
"Dear sisters and brothers," he told the crowd. "I really appreciate so many people's expressions of warmth, and I very much reciprocate it."
"I have dedicated my body, speech and mind to the well-being of others in my daily practice, so when people show these warm feelings, that gives me more enthusiasm," he said.
"These singers and musicians, most of you, have white hair," the Dalai Lama said of Smith.
"But the voice and the physical action looks very youthful. So that gives me encouragement myself. I'm now 80, but I should be more active like you," he added.
Earlier in the day, the Dalai Lama gave a speech at the festival's Peace Garden, where he called Glastonbury a "festival of people, not governments or politicians."
