The Dalai Lama has written Archbishop Desmond Tutu's daughter, Rev Mpho Tutu, a letter of condolences in which he praises the archbishop for being a "genuine humanitarian" and a determined advocate for human rights.
"We have lost a magnificent man who lived a genuinely important life with his demise," the Dalai Lama stated from his home in Dharamsala, northern India.
"He was devoted to the service of others, particularly the less fortunate. I am certain that the best homage we can offer him and keep his spirit alive is to do as he did and look for ways to serve others in the same way he did."
The two men had a long and strong friendship and met on several occasions, most notably in 2015 when Tutu spent a week in Dharamsala, where they discussed how to improve world peace and joy.
The talks resulted in the publication of the Book of Joy the following year.
The Dalai Lama was denied a visa to enter South Africa three times, the most recent time in 2014, when he was scheduled to attend the 14th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, which Tutu was also attending.
Fellow participants notified Tutu that if the Dalai Lama was not granted a visa, they would cancel their appearances.
