Dalai Lama Faces Tough Questions on Women, Gays at A-List Hollywood Gathering

Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP

Beneath the hulking fuselage of the Space Shuttle Endeavor, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama imparted hope, wisdom and humor at a luncheon event held Wednesday at the California Science Center.

Lupita Nyong'o, Naomi Watts and Jeremy Renner were among the crowd of several hundred who'd gathered for some afternoon enlightenment, hanging on to the Tibetan spiritual leader's every word as he responded to questions lobbed at him by moderatorAnn Curry. Also seated nearby wasSharon Stone, who had introduced the Dalai Lama, saying, "We have such incredible gratitude for all the goodness that you do."

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In traditional saffron robes and matching visor -- colors that corresponded nicely with the nearby University of Southern California's -- the Dalai Lama offered ruminations on a number of serious topics, including his thoughts on materialism, faith, same-sex relationships and a woman's place in the Buddhist clergy. On the latter point, he stressed that Buddhism has a long tradition of female monks, and saw no reason why one couldn't eventually take his place.

Which isn't to say there were no laughs. The impish humor of the man born TenziGyatso in 1935 kept creeping out throughout the hour-long conversation. He was escorted onstage by Larry King, and insisted the former CNN host take the chair of honor, explaining, "I'm younger." Later, obliging the wish of an audience member to learn the contents of his bag, he revealed that it contained two mini Toblerones, a toothbrush, a thermometer, two pairs of glasses and a wrapped sculpture of the Buddha dating to the 11th Century.

"Can we see it?" Stone asked. "No," he deadpanned.

Humor came from the audience as well. After a lengthy response in which he defined the true nature of human aggression ("90 percent mental projection") and implored humanity to forego self-absorption in favor of adopting "a sense of oneness among 7 billion human beings," the Dalai Lama playfully dared anyone to say otherwise. Jim Carrey was game, hamming it up from his table with a contentious, "Well, I know a guy..." With the audience in hysterics, the mock-confrontation built to the point where Carreystood up and held out his dukes.

Later, the Dalai Lama looked directly at the Oscar-nominatedNyong'o, who until then had been sitting perfectly still in rapt fascination, stunning as always in an orange-and-blue sun dress. "Where are you from?" he asked, and she responded, "Kenya." That led him to speak fondly of South African Bishop Desmond Tutu, whom he called "a wonderful person," adding that since Tutu's 2011 retirement, "we always feel something missing."

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