The 14th Dalai Lama has found himself at the centre of a controversy. A video of the most revered leader of Tibetan Buddhism went viral on social media in which he was seen kissing a child on the lips and then asking him to suck his tongue.
The video, which has been widely circulated, shows the Buddhist spiritual leader extending his tongue towards the child and asking him if he can suck it.
The footage has been widely criticised on social media, with many users terming it “creepy” and “disgusting”.
Many viewers were also disturbed by the actions of the others in the video, who were seen clapping and smiling. Many also pointed out that the child in the video appeared to be extremely uncomfortable with the act.
However, there are many who tried to defend the 82-year-old leader, saying that there might be a religious connotation for The Dalai Lama’s behaviour in Tibetan culture.
They also cited a BBC article that stated that sticking out one’s tongue is a customary way of greeting in Tibet, dating back to the 9th century.
Some users suggested that the lack of outrage from the people around at the time suggested that there may not have been anything offensive about the Dalai Lama’s actions.
This is not the first time that the Dalai Lama has found himself in hot water. In 2019, he triggered an outcry when he suggested that if a woman were to succeed him, she should be “attractive”.
The comments were made during a 2019 interview with a British broadcaster. The comment drew widespread condemnation from across the globe. The Dalai Lama later apologised for his remarks.
The institution of the Dalai Lama, however, remained unchallenged and unblemished in Tibetan Buddhism despite the recent controversies of the octogenarian.
In a recent development, the 14th Dalai Lama has recently identified an 8-year-old Mongolian boy born in the United States as the reincarnation of a prominent spiritual leader. The boy has been recognised as the reincarnation of the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche, the third most significant leader in Tibetan Buddhism.
The recognition of the young boy as a reincarnation of a prominent spiritual leader is significant, given that the Chinese government has been claiming that it should have the power to decide on the reincarnation of the present Dalai Lama. The Tibetan government in exile has strongly resisted the move, with important Lamas of Tibetan Buddhism playing an important role in finding the next Dalai Lama.
With the Dalai Lama’s recognition of a US boy as the reincarnation of an important Lama, it has opened up the possibility that Tibetan Lamas who used to reincarnate in Tibet may now reincarnate in other parts of the world.
This has significant implications for the future of Tibetan Buddhism and the succession of the Dalai Lama, which is likely to remain a contentious issue in the years to come.