The Dalai Lama has long enjoyed an avid following among Western musicians and, as he turns 80, both new and veteran stars are offering songs to spread his message.
Dalai Lama asked for a visa to attend next week's first ever summit of Nobel laureates in Africa, Zuma's government demurred and the Tibetan cancelled his trip.
The Dalai Lama has called for democracy in China and offered prayers for victims of the Tiananmen crackdown ahead of the launch Thursday of a new campaign for autonomy in his Tibetan homeland.
A Tibetan man in China burned himself to death on Tuesday, overseas media and a rights group reported, the latest in a string of self-immolation protests in recent years.
The celibate Dalai Lama has thrown his considerable moral weight behind gay marriage, condemning homophobia and saying sex was fine as long as it was consensual.
The Dalai Lama said Friday he would miss his "dear friend" Nelson Mandela, who he hailed as "a man of courage, principle and unquestionable integrity" in a letter sent to the South African icon's family.
An envoy of the Dalai Lama said Wednesday that Tibetans would likely end a wave of self-immolation protests if China reopened dialogue with the exiled spiritual leader to address grievances.