Dalai Lama apologizes for saying female successor would need to be attractive.

Pedro_P

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The Dalai Lama apologized Tuesday after he ignited criticism by reiterating past remarks that a female successor would need to be “more attractive.” (Manish Swarup/AP)
▼  The Dalai Lama apologized Tuesday after he ignited criticism by reiteratingpast remarks that a female successor would need to be attractive.
Quizzed by a BBC interviewerlast month who asked him if the key qualification of the Dalai Lama was about internal characteristics rather than physical appearance, the spiritual leader, 83, laughed and said, “Yes, I think both.”
The Dalai Lama’s office issued a statement seeking to clarify his stance, casting the eyebrow-raising remark as a joke that lost its zing in transition across languages and cultures.
The statement said that “it sometimes happens that off the cuff remarks, which might be amusing in one cultural context, lose their humour in translation when brought into another."
The statement added that the Dalai Lama "regrets any offence that may have been given.”
Lhamo Thondup was designated the 14th Dalai Lama in 1940.
During the interview with BBC correspondent Rajini Vaidyanathan, he also criticized President Trump for a “lack of moral principle” and said he favored the United Kingdom staying in the European Union. He also urged that Europe should be kept “for Europeans.”
When asked about his past comments on the need for a female reincarnation of the Dalai Lama to be attractive, he responded: “If female Dalai Lama comes, she should be more attractive.”
There has never been a female Dalai Lama. According to the tradition of Tibetan Buddhists, each Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of their predecessors.
The statement from the Dalai Lama’s office said he was “deeply sorry.”
“For all his long life, His Holiness has opposed the objectification of women, has supported women and their rights and celebrated the growing international consensus in support of gender equality and respect for women,” the statement from the Dalai Lama’s office said. “His Holiness has frequently suggested that if we had more women leaders, the world would be a more peaceful place.”

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Manikant Kant

This is an apt example for the wise saying - One has to be careful with the words one chooses.  

Jbnast

A quote from the Dalai Lama “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck“.

asr335704

Now that Dalai Lama has taken his words back, things should be OK. Dragging the controversy too long will not help any one. Let the world be more peaceful.

themaskeditor

Well I dont see in anything wrong in what he said. It should be taken lightly in a good spirit.

Let's be practical everyone is smitten by glamour, Even the female species should take it lightly.

Are we moving towards a intolerable society ?

ssangra

I see no reason for the media  to throw a tantrum on his statement. Its common knowledge that a person with physical beauty is considered better than a better one with not so good looks. Tibet is in turmoil and China is dying to have a stake in the advanced knowledge of the ancients that is known only to the Dalai Lama. As a result China is naturally creating tensions for the Dalai and his followers. In such a case a pretty person who is diplomatic may help ease the tensions somewhat and this must be at the back of his mind. Though how far it will be successful where a huge  technology jump  and leadership of the world is concerned is something that the world needs to ponder abt more than what he said.

Buddha480

Just a joke that went wrong perhaps ?