The Dalai Lama’s Kiss Video Forces The Tibetan Leader To Issue Public Apology

The Dalai Lama’s video kissing the boy could be a turning point for the worse for the spiritual leader. After the video circulated online and social media made his holiness issue a public apology following the incident.

You can also find his statement on the Dalai Lama’s website.

According to the Associated Press (AP), this incident took place in February at the Tsyglagkhang Temple in Dharamsala. It is where the leader is currently exiled. Compared to the short clip that has been edited to emphasize the “kissing” and “suck my tongue”, the boy prior to the interaction asked if he could hug the Dalai Lama.

The video clip has triggered a massive backlash and uproar. Social media users have characterized the behavior as inappropriate, disturbing, and a strong case of pedophilia.

Response From Twitter Users About The Incident To My Article

I engaged the twitter community by posting a comment and my analysis about it in a thread. I can say that right away the tone and attacks were instantaneous about my analysis, which some skimmed through it instead of asking more questions.

Let’s be perfectly clear about abusive or unacceptable conduct from adults towards others. For instance, suggestive or inappropriate behavior from an adult towards a child, a minor or any other vulnerable person is unacceptable, and punishable by law when found guilty of a crime. However, some of the commentators from this thread wanted to quickly associate me with the Dalai Lama.

As an educator there are laws, regulations and practices we must adhere to because the safety is the number one priority for students. So, when people online make suggestions or unfounded connections you must keep calm. Why? These conversations on Twitter are the majority of the time toxic and not very grounded because they feed on hateful rhetoric.

A point made about this is it can be a cultural difference. How western countries perceive certain interactions involving physical contact can be interpreted very differently in a country outside of this hemisphere.

A Fox News report confirmed this finding about the misunderstanding of Tibetan culture. As I pointed out in my previous article, sticking out a tongue towards another person is a sign of respect or affirmation of person’s culture, per the University of California at the Berkeley Institute of Asian Studies. In addition, it is an old custom considered to be playful in nature.

Takeaways and conclusions

This will certainly not be the last time you hear of this incident. Whether an investigation follows or reveals something we did not know before time will tell us.

But users need to be mindful of their words, accusations and remarks to quickly condemn something because a different perspective has been offered.

There was never any suggestions from my first post or this current article to say his actions were justified. It is about piecing together the incident and uniting the facts about the Dalai Lama’s poor judgment.

The accusations made towards the Dalai Lama are a matter of opinion that everybody is free to share, but not a fact. If and when an investigation, trial or prosecution is launched with compelling evidence then we can discuss the ramifications of it.

Finally, more information to come about what the family will decide to do and whether a comment has been issued given the unfortunate, and uncomfortable encounter.