The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu – The Better of Non secular Pals

His Holiness The Dalai Lama and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who handed away on Sunday, December 26) have been two of the world’s best-known non secular leaders, and expensive, expensive pals as effectively. It was a friendship rooted in a shared sense of pleasure, and of function: to foster and unfold that pleasure across the globe, in an effort to tackle and counter its despair. Right here, from The E book of Pleasure, their e book with Douglas Abrams, we get an inside have a look at this one-of-a-kind non secular friendship.

The Dalai Lama mentioned, “I used to be very unhappy to overlook your birthday. Once I discovered that you simply may come right here, I used to be actually stunned. I knew your well being was not good and that you simply have been additionally very previous, and to achieve right here isn’t simple.”

“Sure,” the Archbishop mentioned, “that’s fairly proper.”

“However,” the Dalai Lama continued, “once I heard that every little thing was finalized and the date and hour was approaching I actually felt blissful and excited.  I actually respect your friendship and your sense of duty to do what you’ll be able to for a greater humanity.”

Earlier within the week, the Archbishop and the Dalai Lama had mirrored on what was so particular about their friendship with attribute humor.

“He’s at all times teasing me,” the Archbishop laughed. “Nearly the primary time we met—do you keep in mind? Perhaps the primary time you have been slightly reserved, however by the second time you have been taking my cap off my head. I don’t know that you simply get up within the morning and say I’m going to develop into a buddy to the Dalai Lama.  It simply occurs. Scientists will come afterwards and analyze it. However I don’t suppose that he wakened both—at three—and mentioned, “I believe I’m going to be pals with that large-nosed black man from Africa.  I believe it was a communication of the center. Once we stored quiet, our hearts found that they have been kindred spirits.

The Dalai Lama erupted right into a stomach snicker after which started pointing on the Archbishop. “His face, his face,” he mentioned, gesturing to the Archbishop’s bald head. “He seems to be like a monk now, doesn’t he?”

“I love him enormously. Oh, he’s going to get proud. However I at all times say to folks, after being in exile over 50 years what number of would present the identical serenity, the identical pleasure, and the eagerness to unfold goodness and compassion on the earth.

“I believe I might be very sulky, and I believe there’d be part of me that was at all times unhappy and it might present in my face. It doesn’t in his.  I imply I’m simply saying, he’s there for us as a beacon to inform us you could, actually, overcome a few of the most horrendous circumstances, and, and emerge on the opposite facet, not damaged. So he’s a really nice reward to the world. And perhaps the Chinese language, with out intending it, have given the world an exquisite reward.

“Thanks,” the Dalai Lama mentioned quietly, maybe humbled by the reward.

“Pay me, pay me,” the Archbishop mentioned.

“I’ll pay. I’ll pay with a number of good phrases.”

“At our first assembly I discover this particular person. I at all times have a look at folks, firstly, human stage, so I don’t contemplate significance of their rank or place.  So, on the human stage, this particular person very good, humble, I believe very, very, very, joyful.

He was holding the Archbishop’s arm. “After which, you see, when you join on the human stage, you develop into shut pals and that friendship by no means adjustments.  However on one other stage, this particular person is a really humorous particular person,” he mentioned slapping his arm playfully. “I really like that. He’s at all times teasing me, and likewise I’m teasing him. So, we actually develop into one thing fairly particular.

“And at last, proper from the start, you at all times communicate out in regards to the reality and the justice of the Tibetan trigger. As a Tibetan, I very a lot respect.

“At any time when he’s at Nobel laureate conferences, they’re filled with pleasure. The ambiance is one thing totally different. Then lately due to his age and likewise his bodily situation, you see, he couldn’t attend. In fact, many different Nobel laureates and plenty of different Nobel laureates are great girls—“

“You’re a monk, keep in mind?” the Archbishop scolded.

“However if you end up not there, one thing lacking, actually. Actually, actually. The opposite Nobel laureates additionally really feel that, I believe. So the connection is one thing distinctive and one thing very particular.”

“Thanks. I paid him,” the Archbishop mentioned, as if pretending to stage whisper.

The Dalai Lama erupted right into a stomach snicker after which started pointing on the Archbishop. “His face, his face,” he mentioned, gesturing to the Archbishop’s bald head. “He seems to be like a monk now, doesn’t he?” Then the Dalai Lama drew his hand into the form of a watch.  “Once I see your eyes—” Then he squeezed his nostril playfully, “—and, in fact, your nostril—”

The Archbishop couldn’t assist however giggle on the point out of his nostril.

Then the Dalai Lama’s playful tone modified, as he pointed on the Archbishop’s face warmly.  “This image, particular image.”  Then he paused. “I believe, at time of my demise…” The phrase demise hung within the air, his phrases a prophecy. “…I’ll keep in mind you.”

I may hear everybody within the room, even the digicam operators, gasp. The Archbishop appeared down and hummed deeply, clearly humbled and moved by the Dalai Lama’s phrases. Might there be a more true signal of affection: to see one other’s face on the time of demise.

“Thanks.  Thanks,” was all of the Archbishop may say, all that may very well be mentioned.

“So maybe,” the Dalai Lama mentioned, “based on your spiritual custom, we could meet in heaven within the presence of God. You as an excellent Christian practitioner, you go first.” The Archbishop now chuckled heartily and the room appeared to breathe once more. “Chances are you’ll assist me and produce us collectively.” We laughed imagining the Archbishop bargaining with St. Peter on the pearly gates making an attempt get particular admission for the Dalai Lama.

“However from the Buddhist viewpoint,” the Dalai Lama continued, “as soon as in a life, you develop some form of particular shut connection, then that form of influence will carry life after life. That’s Buddhist viewpoint. So perhaps even then. However now, I’m wanting ahead to a different event to see you once more—someplace that solely God is aware of.”

 

Reprinted from The E book of Pleasure by association with Avery Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random Home Firm. Copyright © 2016, The Dalai Lama Belief, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Abrams