The office of the Buddhist spiritual leader stated that the 87-year-old “often innocently and playfully teases people he meets,” but that he “regrets the incident.”
The Dalai Lama issued an apology after a video surfaced of him kissing a young boy on the lips and instructing him to “suck my tongue.”
The office of the Buddhist spiritual leader stated that he wished to apologize to the youngster and his family “for any pain his words may have caused.”
According to the report, the 87-year-old “often innocently and playfully teases people he meets,” but he “regrets the incident.
The footage was captured on February 28, when the Dalai Lama addressed a group of students at the Tsuglagkhang temple in northern India’s Dharamshala.
In it, a young boy approaches a microphone and asks the Dalai Lama, “May I hug you?”
The Nobel Peace Prize recipient invites the boy on stage, saying “First here” and pointing to his cheek, which is kissed by the boy, before saying “Then I believe finally here also” and indicating to his lips.
He then draws the child’s chin towards him and kisses him on the lips.
The video features sounds of laughter and applause.
The two then touch heads, after which the Dalai Lama says, “And suck my tongue,” and extends his tongue.
Later in the video, when the two embrace, the Dalai Lama tickles the young child under the arms.
He regrets the occurrence.
In a statement, the Dalai Lama’s office said, “A video clip depicting a recent meeting in which a young boy implored His Holiness the Dalai Lama for a hug has been circulating.
“His Holiness apologizes to the lad and his family, as well as to his numerous friends around the world, for any pain his words may have caused.
Even in public and in front of cameras, His Holiness frequently engages in innocent and playful teasing with the people he encounters. He laments what happened.”
In the Dalai Lama’s native Tibet, sticking out one’s tongue is a form of salutation.
Previous contention
The Dalai Lama is no stranger to controversy.
In 2019, he issued an apology for stating that if his successor were a woman, “she should be more attractive.”
Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama, was born in Tibet but has been a refugee in India since 1959 when he fled his homeland following a failed rebellion against Chinese authority.
