The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetans, has issued an apology after a video surfaced on social media showing him asking a young boy to “suck my tongue” at a public event in India. The video has since gone viral and has garnered over one million views on Twitter alone. The incident has sparked outrage among social media users, who have called it “disgusting” and “absolutely sick”. The Dalai Lama’s Twitter account, which has 19 million followers, issued a statement on Monday apologizing for the incident and acknowledging that his words may have caused hurt to the boy and his family, as well as his friends across the world.
The statement also clarified that the Dalai Lama often teases people he meets “in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras”. The video shows the Nobel laureate apparently giving the boy a peck on the lips in the presence of an audience, who are heard clapping and laughing while a man captures the moment on a phone.
This is not the first time that the Dalai Lama has come under fire for his comments. In 2019, he had to apologize for saying that if his successor were to be a woman, she would have to be “attractive”. The comments were widely criticized around the world and were made during an interview with the BBC.
The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, is regarded by Beijing as a “dangerous separatist”. He has made the Himalayan town of Dharamshala his headquarters since fleeing from Tibet and has worked for decades to draw global support for linguistic and cultural autonomy in his remote, mountainous homeland.
India considers Tibet to be part of China, though it hosts Tibetan exiles. The Dalai Lama’s efforts to gain autonomy for Tibet have been met with resistance from China, which has accused him of seeking to split the country. Despite this, the Dalai Lama remains a revered figure among Tibetans and has won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to promote non-violent resistance against Chinese rule in Tibet.
The incident has once again brought attention to the Dalai Lama’s controversial comments and behavior. While some have defended him, saying that he was merely being playful with the boy, others have criticized him for his inappropriate behavior. The incident has also raised questions about the role of spiritual leaders in society and the responsibility they have to set an example for their followers.
In conclusion, the Dalai Lama’s apology for his comments and behavior towards the young boy is a step in the right direction. However, it is important for spiritual leaders to be mindful of their words and actions, especially in public settings. While the Dalai Lama remains a revered figure among Tibetans and many others around the world, incidents like this can damage his reputation and undermine his efforts to promote peace and non-violence. It is important for him to reflect on his actions and strive to set a positive example for his followers.