The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, issued an apology after a video went viral on social media showing him kissing a child on the mouth and then asking the boy to “suck my tongue.” The video caused an uproar among netizens who criticized the Dalai Lama’s actions as inappropriate and disgusting.
In response to the incident, the Dalai Lama’s office released a statement apologizing to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused. The statement claimed that the Dalai Lama often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras.
The video was taken during an event in McLeod Ganj, a suburb of Dharamshala city in northern India, on February 28. The boy’s identity is unknown, but he was attending the event with the M3M Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Indian real estate company M3M Group.
Twitter users called out the Dalai Lama, with many expressing shock and disgust at his behavior. Some users highlighted the importance of protecting children from any form of abuse, while others pointed out that such behavior is not acceptable, even if it is part of Tibetan culture.
This incident is not the first time the Dalai Lama has faced criticism in recent years. In 2019, he apologized for saying that if his successor were to be a woman, she would have to be “attractive.” The previous year, he made comments suggesting that Europe should be kept for Europeans and that the continent should not become a Muslim or African country.
Despite these controversies, the Dalai Lama remains a respected figure and a symbol of the movement for Tibetan autonomy. He is the best-known living Buddhist figure in the world and is revered by millions as the reincarnation of his 13 predecessors. The Dalai Lama has been based in India since 1959, following an unsuccessful Tibetan uprising against Chinese occupation forces.
In conclusion, the video of the Dalai Lama kissing a child on the mouth and then asking him to “suck my tongue” has caused outrage among netizens. The Dalai Lama’s office has issued an apology, but this incident has raised concerns about the appropriate behavior of spiritual leaders and the need to protect children from any form of abuse. Despite these controversies, the Dalai Lama remains a respected figure and a symbol of the movement for Tibetan autonomy.
