The Dalai Lama came to Britain's famous Glastonbury festival to speak of peace and call for world demilitarization and got more attention that Kanye West.

"If the Dalai Lama was the most talked-about appearance at the festival, then Kanye West was the most controversial," wrote columnist Jan Mohr in the Daily Mail, at the 900 acre pastureland sit in southwestern England.

During his appearance on June 27 Kanye West shouted, 'You are now watching the greatest living rock star on the planet," but the stage was invaded by a heckler.

Some of the diverse crowd said they were unhappy with the decision to make the American rapper the headlining act of the five-day music festival and at least 15,000 signed a petition to cancel his slot, CNN reported.

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama was on stage a week ahead of his 80th birthday and he thanked the thousands of well-wishers as the crowd of young and old sang "Happy Birthday."

China had condemned Europe's biggest pop festival for hosting the spiritual leader after it announced his attendance.

China resolutely opposes any country, organization, body or individual giving any kind of platform to the 14th Dalai Lama to engage in anti-China splittist activities," said Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, The New York Times reported.

IS ATRCOCITIES 'UNTHINKABLE'

The Dalai Lama joined international condemnation of the Islamic State, describing its atrocities as "unthinkable" as violence continued to persist in areas where the extremists are seeking to control.

Speaking on June 28 at Glastonbury, the Buddhist leader described the problem caused by the IS in Africa and some parts of the Middle East as "man-made."

"A lot of problems we are experiencing are our own creations. Violence is being created this very moment in Syria, Iraq and Nigeria," he told the throngs of people.

"Humans killing each other in the name of religious faith; unthinkable," he continued. "Carry the message of love and tolerance and forgiveness."

He pointed out that a person's faith sometimes excludes the very essence of religion, as people become more attached to secular beliefs.

"There is nothing wrong with religious beliefs but some supporters of religions have a lack of moral principle and conviction," the Dalai Lama explained. "Yes, I'm Buddhist and Asian and I am his holiness the Dalai Lama but we are the same human being."

The Dalai Lama reiterated his campaign against the overhaul of the global education system, which he described as skewed towards materialism.

He said the effort to address the education problem could help tackle other pressing concerns such as protecting the environment and spreading peace among peoples.

"Whether you agree or not, I think the modern education system - and many scientists all have the same view - is very orientated around material values and external wealth," the religious leader addressed the crowd.

"The gap between rich and poor is not only morally wrong but also the source of all problems," he noted.

"We need more money, so if the world demilitarized, the money freed up could be used to reduce this gap, as well as freeing up funds to help the environment."

Although some of his aspirations "will not be achieved in my lifetime," the Buddhist leader said, "the younger generation of the 21st century could make this a more peaceful world."