The Dalai Lama received backlash in his attempt to provide clarity on a disturbing video clip where he is heard asking a child to suck his tongue.
‘Suck my tongue’ was a joke, Dalai Lama claims
Tenzin Gyatso was at the centre of controversy when a clip from earlier this year surfaced on the internet, showing his bizarre interaction with a young boy.
As reported by BBC News, the 14th Dalai Lama hosted more than 120 students at his sacred temple in Dharamshala, India, for a meet-and-greet organised by M3M Group’s foundation.
While the Daila Lama appeared in a series of photos engaging with kids, one video clip, in particular, sent chills across the internet. In the video, which you can watch below, the Dalai Lama is seen coaching the young boy through several kisses, first on his cheek and then his lips.
Then, things get disturbing when Gyatso, touching heads with the boy, sticks his tongue out and explicitly asks the kid to suck it.
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In a statement that followed, the Dalai Lama’s office downplayed the bizarre moment as a playful joke he regrets.
“His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident,” the statement read.
The Dalai Lama also apologised to the boy, his family and the world “for the hurt his words may have caused.
Here’s how social media reacted to the Dalai Lama incident:
The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional head of the Tibetan government.
His Holiness is considered to be the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Avalokitesvara, and is believed to embody the compassion and wisdom of all the Buddhas.
The current Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso, who was born in Tibet in 1935 and was recognised as the 14th Dalai Lama at the age of two. He assumed full political power in 1950 and became the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959.
The Dalai Lama is known for his advocacy of non-violence, human rights, and interfaith dialogue. He has received numerous awards and honours for his work, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
