US actor Richard Gere says the Dalai Lama's teachings are worth travelling all the way to Australia for, after the pair touched down at Sydney Airport.
Gere, who is a devout Buddhist, travelled with the Tibetan spiritual leader, who began a 12-day visit to Australia on Thursday.
The Pretty Woman actor had nothing but praise for the 79-year-old monk.
"It's a very rare teaching that His Holiness is giving. Very high teaching - experiential, something extraordinary," he said.
"So it's worth coming this far."
Hundreds of people were at the airport to greet the Dalai Lama, who is now in the Mountains and will also travel to Brisbane, Uluru and Perth as part of his trip to Australia.
The Dalai Lama plans to give talks on forgiveness and compassion during his Ocean of Wisdom tour, which is his 10th visit to the country.
"Australia, also part of 7 billion human beings. We are the same. Emotionally, mentally, physically," he said.
The Dalai Lama is staying at the Fairmont Resort in Leura whete he will teach for five days.
However the Nobel peace laureate may not receive such a warm welcome there, as a group of Buddhists have threatened to protest against his visit.
The group have called on him to end what they say is a campaign of persecution against Shugden Buddhists.
International Shugden Community spokesman Nicholas Pitts claims Shugden Buddhists have been harassed and mistreated in Tibetan exile communities because the Dalai Lama has discouraged their practice.
"He has created an atmosphere of religious hatred within his own community," Mr Pitts said.
"His community is now completely segregated.
"The people who choose to keep their faith are banned from government positions, they are refused services in shops, restaurants and even in hospitals and medical facilities."
The group has also called on the Dalai Lama to allow all Shugden monks and nuns who have been expelled to return to their monasteries and nunneries.
The Dalai Lama has been confronted by Shugden protesters on recent international trips, including in February in Switzerland, when they rallied outside his hotel.
"Yes, there are people out there shouting at me. They are exercising their freedom of expression," he said at the time, according to news website Inquisitr.
The website reported that the Dalai Lama had previously said that "the people manipulating these demonstrators and protesters, who are not fully informed, do so for their own reasons. I feel sorry for them in their ignorance.
"Buddhism does not force its beliefs on anyone," he said, explaining his use of the term of "ignorance".
He added that the Shugdens' beliefs are "far from Buddha's intent".
The Dalai Lama will hold a public talk at Katoomba Public School on Monday.
Fairfax Media with AAP
