PARDON, YOUR HOLINESS?

The Dalai Lama’s ‘suck my tongue’ comment has outraged many – and it’s not the first time he’s courted controversy

- MAXINE PETERS

HE’S one of the most- revered religious leaders in the world, an advocate of world peace, a symbol of unity, a crusader for everything from women’s rights to the poor. 

His words of wisdom appear regularly on social media timelines, promoting non-violence, spiritual enlightenment and compassion. But the Dalai Lama (87), the foremost leader of Tibetan Buddhism, has been making headlines for a different reason lately. 

Scandalous, disgusting and abusive are some of the words that have been used to describe His Holiness’ actions, which were captured on a video. Footage shows the Dalai Lama being approached by a young boy at Tsuglagkhang Temple in Dharamshala, India, where the holy man lives.

The child was one of 100 young people attending a skills training course run by an Indian initiative that supports kids in sports and the arts and a visit to the temple was one of the highlights of the event. 

The Dalai Lama first asks the boy to kiss him on the cheek, then points to his lips and holds the boy’s face as he briefly plants a kiss on his mouth. The pair press their foreheads together, but just as the child pulls away, the old man says, “And suck my tongue.” 

The boy appears nervous as he inches towards the protruding tongue and the audience laughs and applauds as the two then withdraw from each other. There are a few more hugs before the old man tells the boy to seek out “good human beings who create peace and happiness”. 

But little peace or happiness has followed the interaction.