Dalai Lama on successor: 'If it is a female, the face should be very attractive'. or 'not much use

[Liberal_in_LA]

The Tibetan spiritual leader, a self-declared feminist, stunned a BBC interviewer by saying that were a woman to eventually take over his position, she would be unsuitable if she was ugly.
"That female must be attractive, otherwise it is not much use," he said.

The ageing Buddhist monk made his remarks during a nine-day visit to London, where he is promoting the concepts of compassionate and considerate behaviour. However, his views on the qualifications for whoever eventually takes over his role may damage his standing among female followers.

Interviewed by the veteran BBC TV journalist Clive Myrie, he was asked first whether it was possible that a woman could take over his role in the first place. He confirmed enthusiastically that it was, and then said that in a previous interview years ago, he had told a French woman reporter that a woman Dalai Lama would be a good thing "in our troubled word", as she would have "biologically more potential to show affection and compassion".

He then leaned forward to Myrie with a smile and added: "Then I told that reporter: 'If it is a female, the face should be very attractive'."

Myrie retorted: "You are joking, I am assuming. Or you're not joking?"

The Dalai Lama then made it clear he was not. "It's true," he replied.

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/asia-pacific/dalai-lama-any-woman-successor-must-be-pretty-31554001.html

[Matariki]

1. Given that he believes his successor is himself reincarnated...

[fedbazar]

2. Bad News

If true, bad news for the dalai- lama. I hope it is not true and that it is his detractors from China who planted it.

[Dorian Gray]

3. huh?

You hope it's not true that he will have a female successor who is attractive?

Or you hope it's not true that he spoke such words in a televised interview?

[Codeine]

6. Planted? He said it on The Beeb.

Let's dial down the paranoia a bit.

[Orrex]

4. A pampered celebrity makes a boneheaded statement? Impossible!

[jberryhill]

5. "You are joking?"

https://m.

[LiberalElite]

7. I love Australian accents - but maybe

he should have tried




I read somewhere that becoming one with everything is more a Hindu concept than Buddhist, though. So maybe it doesn't matter that the DL never heard of pizza. (and probably hot dogs too)

[restorefreedom]

10. i agree

i think it is more hindu/panentheism and to a tiny degree perhaps jainism than buddhist. i think the point in buddhism is spiritual and physical detachment.

[Chan790]

8. Who believes in reincarnation and wants to come back as an ugly person? n/t

[KittyWampus]

9. Attractive People Are More Successful:

http://www.businessinsider.com/attractive-people-are-more-successful-2012-9

I wonder if there will even be a next Dalai Lama, except whomever the Chinese Govt decides to install as their puppet.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. I love the Big D. but

I don't think he knows much about women. He's lived in a monastery most of his life and he's celibate. He's probably not the best person to ask.

He's an expert on Buddhist philosophy and practice and a very wise man. But he's probably wrong about women.