A good number of us filled the Tui Room armed with our ice creams to enjoy the movie Mission Joy: Finding Happiness in a Troubled World.

 Inspired by the Book of Joy, this film was filmed over a week with Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, two great spiritual leaders and wise men. Together they are quite the pair, they tease one another, laugh together, and are described as having the energy of 8-year-old boys. But they also share a great respect for one another. Desmond Tutu's laugh is very infectious and he exudes joy despite the hardships he has endured in his personal life as well as the hard times he has faced in his country of South Africa. The Dalai Lama also endured much when he had to escape Tibet when it was taken over by the Chinese and now lives as a refugee. 

The film is not only peppered with their joyous laughter but also old film clips of Tibet and scenes from the apartheid days of South Africa. And you can hear how these events have shaped their lives. Desmond Tutu suggests that

 "in some ways suffering and maybe intense suffering is a necessary ingredient for developing compassion."

Having compassion is the necessary ingredient for having joy. They both say that a joyful life is about helping others, giving out of yourself can bring you joy. They say that reframing the way you see the world can help liberate you from resentment and bitterness and lead you to freedom and joy.

Everyone agreed that there were lots of things from the film to go away and think about. Both Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama are inspirational people and I hope that the film can inspire us all to be more joyful in our work and lives.

Don't be sad if you missed seeing this film as it is now available to watch on Netflix. 

Ice creams are compulsory with it though!