They were two of the world’s best-known spiritual leaders and forged a deep friendship.
“I don’t know that you wake up in the morning and say ‘I’m going to become a friend to the Dalai Lama.’ It just happens,” Tutu once said.
“Scientists will come afterwards and analyse it. But I don’t think that he woke up either — at three — and said, 'I think I’m going to be friends with that large-nosed black man from Africa.’
“I think it was a communication of the heart. When we kept quiet, our hearts discovered that they were kindred spirits.”
When his fellow Nobel peace laureate failed to get a visa to attend his 80th birthday, Tutu famously lashed out at the Zuma administration, warning the president the people would start praying for the ANC government’s removal.
The two men spent a week discussing a single burning question: how do we find joy in the face of suffering?
— the Dalai Lama
Between them, Tutu and the Dalai Lama endured exile, violence and oppression. Yet despite all of this they radiated compassion, humour and joy.
To celebrate the Dalai Lama’s birthday Tutu travelled to his home in Dharamsala. The two men spent a week discussing a single burning question: how do we find joy in the face of suffering?
Together they wrote The Book of Joy, outlining the eight pillars of happiness.
“The ultimate source of happiness is within us,” said the Dalai Lama. “Not money, not power, not status, which fail to bring inner peace. Outward attainment will not bring real inner joyfulness. We must look inside.”
Tutu added: “Sometimes life can be challenging and we can feel lost. But the seeds of joy are born inside each of us.”
Never able to resist a wisecrack, Tutu once said of his dear friend: “He’s a fantastic guy. I’m not jealous, but we were together in Seattle recently, and they had to find the largest site, and there were 70,000 people.
"Can you imagine, 70,000 people came out for someone who can’t even speak English properly?”
“You imagine when the Dalai Lama gets to heaven and knocks on the door and St Peter — and God — say, ‘You know, Dalai Lama, you are such a lovely person, you are so serene. What a pity you are not a Christian!’
“It’s weird. Look at Mahatma Gandhi. He inspired Martin Luther King. Do we really seriously believe that virtue is the preserve of Christians?”
— TUTU ON THE DALAI LAMA
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