"In the animal world there are fights but in general they live in peace. But man does not, we are dissatisfied, we want more and more, and that generates stress," the Nobel laureate told the gathering.

"If we are full of annoyance, we do not sleep, while positive emotions, like love or compassion, not only do they bring to us peace but they are also good for our health," he added in comments broadcast on Spanish radio.

The Dalai Lama, whose worldly name is Tenzin Gyatso, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent campaign against Chinese rule in Tibet. He has lived in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala since fleeing Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. India is now home to hundreds of thousands of Tibetans.

In recent years, he has backed off from pushing for Tibetan independence, campaigning instead for the Himalayan region to have "genuine autonomy." The Dalai Lama arrived in Spain on Sunday for a three-day visit.