Summary

The week of dialogue begins with Abrams asking the Dalai Lama to share his hopes for the leaders’ time together. In an eloquent answer, the Dalai Lama acknowledges humankinds’ focus on materialistic, external sources to define happiness, when truly, happiness comes from within. He believes “everyone has the responsibility to develop a happier world” (30), which Archbishop Tutu exemplifies perfectly. He compliments Tutu by saying he is “always laughing, always joyful,” which “is a very positive message” to those who look up to him as a moral leader (31). Archbishop Tutu responds not by disagreeing, but by deepening the Dalai Lama’s argument, noting that “joy subsumes happiness” (32). He compares joy to the feeling of unconditional love that a mother feels for her child.

Abrams dissects the idea of joy further by citing the writings of a friend of the Dalai Lama...