At a talk given by The Dalai Lama in a crowded meeting room at the monastery in Dharamsala. Dozens of crimson-robed monks knelt on one side of the room, heads near the floor, peering up at their leader. Tibetan refugees recently escaped from Tibet comprised the rest of the audience, many of them in their best clothes, many of them weeping. "It has been an extremely difficult time for Tibetans," he told them. "Even so, in these difficult times, you must not lose hope. Never lose faith in the truth. In the end, everything will be all right." Later, as he greeted them individually, some were overcome with emotion and sagged to the floor.

In another scene, a young monk who had traveled a great distance to see The Dalai Lama wept copiously upon meeting him. The Dalai Lama pulled the boy's head to his chest and patted him, saying, "There, there." Later, as the monk knelt at his side, the holy man rubbed first the boy's ear and then his head as if he were a favored nephew. An aide said, "This is very common. Ordinary people look up to him with tremendous hope and inspiration, expectation and reverence. When they come face to face with him, there is huge emotion, and he tries to respond to that. He is extremely giving. He is always trying to do things that benefit Tibetans in a real way, whether it's rebuilding monasteries, starting schools or providing housing or health care. And that can translate into a very powerful exchange."