The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism's Gelug school. The title is passed down from leader to leader. Each subsequent individual chosen as the Dalai Lama is believed to be the reincarnation of the last. Reincarnation is a core tenant of Buddhism and the search for the Dalai Lama is done incredibly rigorously.
The currently serving Dalai Lama is the 14th individual to hold the name. He was born in 1935, took the title in the same year, and was officially enthroned in 1950. He currently lives in India as a religious refugee, after fleeing Tibet due to the increasing threat to Tibetan sovereignty from the Chinese government. The 14th Dalai Lama is widely considered one of the more popular world leaders. However, he has been forced to issue an apology after a viral incident raised more than a few eyebrows.
Dalai Lama Apologizes For Tongue-Sucking Comment
In a now-viral Indian media clip, the Dalai Lama is seen greeting a young Indian boy. They stick their tongues out at each other and touch foreheads before the religious leader appears to try and suck on the tongue of the child. As the child recoils, the Dalai Lama can be heard asking if he can suck on the boy's tongue. The presentation of the tongue is a common greeting in Tibet. It stems from a folkloric tradition to check that someone is not the reincarnation of a cruel, black-tongue Tibetan king. However, the attempt to suck on the boy's tongue went too far for some people.
A brief statement released on social media channels said that the Dalai Lama "apologizes to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt that his words may have caused." The statement goes on to say that the leader "regrets the incident". However, it also notes that "His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful manner". The incident is likely a traditional greeting taken too far in the wrong context. Despite this, it does not take away from the shock that millions felt as the footage made its way across social media.
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