The Dalai Lama spoke about Tibet and the need for peace with China at an informal speech in Rochester Monday, while in town for a checkup at the Mayo Clinic.

Nearly 500, many of them Tibetans from the Twin Cities area, heard him speak for 40 minutes at the Saint Mary's Hospital chapel, said the Rochester Post-Bulletin.

He spoke in Tibetan, but Tenzin Samten of Edina summarized the speech for the paper.

While much of the talk was about serious topics such as Tibet's relationship with China and the importance of younger generations staying away from alcohol and drugs, he had the standing-room-only crowd laughing, clapping and cheering several times.

It was motivation for everyone to do more, Samten said of the speech. Even though many are protesting and donating money to the cause, the Dalai Lama encouraged those there to be "more proactive," Samten said.

"I feel blessed I could be here," Samten said. In 1996, at the age of 16, Samten immigrated to Minnesota from India. His family originally is from Tibet.