World peace will come from individual compassion and affection for others, the Dalai Lama told a large crowd at Toronto's Rogers Centre Wednesday.

"Whether you love others or not, your existence depends on them — that's a reality," said the 72-year-old exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

"Many problems, essentially man-made problems … are created due to the demarcation of 'we' and 'they.' On that basis, the whole concept of war happens."

He warned anger, jealousy and fear are bad for one's health and a form of "suicide."

The crowd applauded and waved Canadian and Tibetan flags as the Dalai Lama sat cross-legged on a couch for his hour-long speech, called "The Art of Happiness."

Organizers said they had sold 15,000 tickets, but it appeared fewer people than that were in attendance.

The Dalai Lama's visit has raised the ire of China in spite of his attempts to keep his visit non-political.

The Dalai Lama insists the purpose of his trip is not to forward the cause of a free Tibet. He calls his trip to Canada "non-political."
 
Still, the Chinese government has been sharply critical of the attention being paid to the Dalai Lama's visit and says it could affect the economic relations between Canada and its second largest trading partner.

"I'm here just one simple person," he told reporters. "Of course morally we have obligation to serve people inside Tibet."

He was welcomed to Toronto Tuesday by Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns chanting on the sidewalk outside the Fairmont Royal York hotel.

For many, the Dalai Lama is the embodiment of peace, compassion and respect.

Helmut Wegner came from Hamburg, Germany, to hear him speak. Wegner said he's here to hear him talk about "freedom and peace, to feel good, and to feel love."

On Wednesday morning the Dalai Lama blessed a new Canadian-Tibetan Cultural Centre housed in a transformed former plastics factory in Toronto's Etobicoke borough.

For Migmar Tsering, the opening of the centre is a way to keep the Tibetan langauge and culture alive.

"What this means is His Holiness emphasizes preservation of Tibetan culture. So in exile it's a Tibetan's duty to preserve our centuries-old culture," he said.

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India for five decades, but he says the exile community in Canada has now found a home.
 
The Dalai Lama said that along with his honorary Canadian citizenship, Toronto will have special significance for him.

"Eventually I might find another home here," he joked.