Dalai Lama, Tutu laugh a lot as they explore joy

Two "spiritual brothers" -- elderly Buddhist monk the Dalai Lama and South African leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu who devoted his life to anti-apartheid struggle -- on Monday laughed a great deal as they explored what joy is in terms of happiness, love and compassion.

"His Holiness met with Archbishop Tutu at his residence here to hold the first of several conversations that Doug Abrams plans to shape into the 'The Book of Joy'," an official statement by the Dalai Lama's office said.

The book will be co-written by Abrams, who has worked with Tutu on previous books. He will conduct their interviews.

Tutu on Saturday reached this north Indian hill station to meet his long-time friend and fellow Nobel laureate the Dalai Lama.

The new book will be modelled on the earlier 'Book of Forgiving' that the Archbishop wrote with his daughter Mpho.

During the meeting, Archbishop Tutu pointed out that despite the pain involved in giving birth, mothers cradle the newborn with joy.

He challenged the Dalai Lama to explain how he remains so joyful in the face of trouble and he replied by quoting the Indian philosopher who said that "you need to assess the situation and if something can be done, there's no need to worry".

"What you need to do is take action. And if there's nothing to be done, worrying won't help," the Buddhist monk said.

"I am so thrilled to be with my dear friend, often things and people try to keep us apart but the love that we have for each other and the goodness of God's universe ensures that we will meet," Tutu said on reaching here.

He denounced the current South African government for denying visa to the Dalai Lama and also expressed amazement over the Chinese government's apparent deep sense of insecurity over the Dalai Lama.

In a gesture of deep friendship, the Buddhist monk specially visited the Gaggal airport, 15 km from his official palace at McLeodganj, to receive Tutu.

This is Tutu's second visit to the Central Tibetan Administration's headquarters here since 2012.

Speaking to reporters at the airport, the Dalai Lama hailed the Archbishop as "genuine good human being".

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since he fled Tibet during a failed uprising in 1959. He favours "greater autonomy" for Tibetans rather than complete independence.

Chinese leaders have, however, called him a separatist who wants Tibet to secede from China.