The Tibetan spiritual leader has apologized after the broadcast of a video dating back to February 28 in which he asks a child to “suck his tongue”.
The Dalai Lama’s actions were “innocent” and have been misinterpreted, Penpa Tsering, head of the Tibetan government, said Thursday from New Delhi. The Tibetan spiritual leader has been at the heart of a controversy for several days, since the resurgence of a video sequence dating from February 28 which shows him kissing a child on the mouth, before asking him to “suck his tongue”.
According to Penpa Tsering, whose remarks were reported by CNNthe controversy over the video has “hurt” the leader’s supporters.
“His holiness has always lived in holiness, (following the life of) a Buddhist monk, including celibacy. His years of spiritual practice went beyond sensory pleasures,” he said, regretting that the Dalai Lama is now “labeled with all kinds of names”.
The head of the Tibetan government, in exile in India, also accused “pro-Chinese sources” of having broadcast the video, which had gone unnoticed until then. “The political angle of this incident cannot be ignored,” he added, though he did not provide evidence for his allegations.
“His Holiness often teases the people he meets”
Via a statement, the Dalai Lama apologized “to the boy and his family, as well as to his many friends around the world, for the harm his words may have caused”.
“His Holiness often teases the people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and in front of the cameras. He regrets the incident,” the document also reads.
