The Dalai Lama’s Apology: Understanding the Controversial Incident

On Monday, the Dalai Lama issued a public apology after a video of him interacting with a young boy sparked outrage online. In the footage, the Tibetan Buddhist leader is seen kissing the child on the lips and asking him to “suck my tongue,” before sticking his tongue out while others in attendance can be heard laughing.

The incident took place at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala, India, in late February, according to media reports. However, the apology did not clarify which words the spiritual leader used during the interaction.

In the apology statement, the Dalai Lama expressed regret for any hurt his words may have caused, and apologized to the boy, his family, and friends worldwide. The statement also explained that the Dalai Lama often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras, and that he regrets the incident.

The controversy around the incident stems from the request made by the Dalai Lama, which many people found inappropriate. However, longer video footage of the incident shows the boy did not actually go through with the spiritual leader’s tongue-sucking request, and the pair hugged afterward.

This is not the first time the Dalai Lama has apologized for causing offense. In 2019, he apologized for comments he made during an interview about the potential successor to his position, in which he suggested she should be “more attractive.”

The apology statement for that incident explained that the Dalai Lama has a keen sense of the contradictions between the materialistic, globalized world he encounters on his travels and the complex, more esoteric ideas about reincarnation that are at the heart of Tibetan Buddhist tradition. However, off-the-cuff remarks that might be amusing in one cultural context can lose their humor in translation, and he regrets any offense that may have been given.

The Dalai Lama has been the spiritual leader of Tibet since he was enthroned as the 14th Dalai Lama in 1940 at the age of 5. Following the failed uprising in Tibet against Chinese occupation in 1959, he has lived in exile in India.

Dalai Lama’s apology for the incident with the young boy offers insight into his approach to teasing and his understanding of the cultural differences that can arise when interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. While the incident itself was controversial, it provides an opportunity for dialogue about what is and is not appropriate behavior when interacting with others.

Also Read:

The World's Most Controversial Celebrity Feuds