The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leader, is under backlash after a video of him making an unusual request went viral. He can be seen kissing a little boy on the lips before telling him to "suck my tongue" in the footage. The Dalai Lama also issued a public apology.
The incident occurred at the Dalai Lama's temple in Dharamshala, India, in late February.
The statement said that the Dalai Lama wishes to apologize to the boy, his family, and his friends worldwide for the words he used.
The statement clarified that the apology is for the hurt caused by his words, not his actions.
The viral video on social media made many individuals express their displeasure at the religious leader's behavior.
According to the Dalai Lama's office, he enjoys innocently and playfully everyone he encounters, even in public and in front of cameras.
The Dalai Lama has been accused of "pedophilia" after reportedly asking a young boy to "suck his tongue."
This isn't the first time the Dalai Lama has faced controversy. In 2019, he apologized for saying that a female Dalai Lama must be more attractive.
The Dalai Lama faced controversy for remarks he made in 2018 about immigration, suggesting that refugees should return to their native countries, and in Indian politics, criticizing Jawaharlal Nehru and suggesting that India and Pakistan would have remained united if Muhammad Ali Jinnah had become first prime minister.
He also criticized Donald Trump for lacking moral principles, garring mixed reactions. He also expressed his disappointment in Trump’s “America First” Policy
According to the BBC, sticking out one's tongue is a traditional greeting in Tibet dating back more than a thousand years to the ninth century.
Longer video footage of the incident shows the boy not going through with the tongue-sucking request and the pair hugging afterward.
Despite the outrage, some people have come to the defense of the Dalai Lama, arguing that the request was innocent and taken out of context.
Some online have called for the Dalai Lama to be stripped of his title following the incident.
The Dalai Lama has been the 14th spiritual leader of the Tibetan people since 1940. His motive is to spread love and peace all around the world.
He assumed his full political duties at age 15 following the failed uprising in Tibet against the Chinese occupation in 1959.
The Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India since the uprising. Due to China's anti-religious laws, followers of Tibetan Buddhism experienced persecution. The oppressed group sporadically protested for years until a widespread rebellion erupted in March 1959. As Chinese forces crushed the uprising, the Dalai Lama was compelled to flee.
Dalai Lama has a keen sense of the contradictions between the materialistic, globalized world he encounters on his travels and the more esoteric ideas about reincarnation at the heart of Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
The office explained that sometimes, off-the-cuff remarks, which might be amusing in one cultural context, lose their humor in translation when brought into another.
Although some have called for him to be stripped of his title, it appears that there will be no change in the status of the 14th Dalai Lama.
