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cleanhippie

(19,705 posts)
Wed Sep 23, 2015, 11:23 AM Sep 2015

Dalai Lama: A Female Dalai Lama Must Be Attractive, 'Otherwise Not Much Use'

On Monday, the BBC posted an edited interview with the Dalai Lama in which, among other things, the highest-ranking Tibetan Buddhist expresses some unexpectedly fucked-up opinions about women and their “use.”

Around 4:50 in the video, journalist Clive Myrie asks if there will be a 15th incarnation of the Dalai Lama after him—and if so, could the next Dalai Lama be a woman?

“Yes!” he replied. “The female biologically [has] more potential to show affection... and compassion.”

The Dalai Lama said that a reporter in Paris had asked him the same question awhile back, and he had responded similarly.

“Today in a more troubled world, I think females should take more important roles, and then I told that reporter, if a female Dalai Lama comes, their face should be very attractive.”

“So you can only have a female Dalai Lama if they’re attractive? Is that what you’re saying?” asked Myrie, trying valiantly to let him take it back.

“I mean if female Dalai Lama come, then that female must be very attractive, otherwise not much use.”

“You’re joking, I’m assuming,” says Myrie. “Or you’re not joking?”

“No. True!”

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Dalai Lama: A Female Dalai Lama Must Be Attractive, 'Otherwise Not Much Use' (Original Post) cleanhippie Sep 2015 OP
So? He just told the truth. DetlefK Sep 2015 #1
And the world is racist, so a minority Dalai Lama needs to be deferential to be effective? zazen Sep 2015 #3
You said it. (nt) enough Sep 2015 #6
I'd think that the Dalai Lama would be quck to embrace Ghandi's thoughts on the matter cleanhippie Sep 2015 #4
These thoughts? rug Sep 2015 #7
Like you, he seems to not follow his own advice. cleanhippie Sep 2015 #11
"seems"? rug Sep 2015 #12
Fortunately we have our iNews 5000 WiFi Headline Translator. longship Sep 2015 #2
Whatever translation one chooses to use... cleanhippie Sep 2015 #5
As English is far from his first languge... gcomeau Sep 2015 #8
The iNews 5000 only translates headlines, not language in general. longship Sep 2015 #9
At least he gives the strong possibility that it can happen Lordquinton Sep 2015 #10
If Dawkins had said this there would be no debate. Warren Stupidity Sep 2015 #13

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
1. So? He just told the truth.
Wed Sep 23, 2015, 11:39 AM
Sep 2015

- Attractive people are more successful on the job.

- We get endless media-coverage about the looks of Palin, Fiorina and Clinton.

- During a press-conference of russian cosmonauts, the male cosmonauts were asked technical/scientific questions about life in zero-gravity. The female cosmonaut was asked how she does her make-up in zero-gravity.



The world is sexist. And a female Dalai Lama would have to be attractive to be effective on the job. It's not sexist to admit that.

zazen

(2,978 posts)
3. And the world is racist, so a minority Dalai Lama needs to be deferential to be effective?
Wed Sep 23, 2015, 11:57 AM
Sep 2015

"His Holiness" seems to be operating out of a helluva lot of the conditioning he's supposedly the exemplar of transcending.

I can't say I'm surprised. I've encountered plenty of sexism among some Western Buddhists. It's insidious because of how the language of non-dualism can be used to proactively silence dissent (e.g., if we call out a sexist comment we're just acting out of "ego" or something.)

cleanhippie

(19,705 posts)
4. I'd think that the Dalai Lama would be quck to embrace Ghandi's thoughts on the matter
Wed Sep 23, 2015, 12:24 PM
Sep 2015

As in "Be the change you want to see in the world."

But sexism is just a part of our reality that we need to accept?

No thanks. I'll keep trying to change it.

 

rug

(82,333 posts)
12. "seems"?
Wed Sep 23, 2015, 04:14 PM
Sep 2015

Once again, you have demonstrated that are incapable of placing a post on Democratic Underground that does not have a personal comment in it.

longship

(40,416 posts)
2. Fortunately we have our iNews 5000 WiFi Headline Translator.
Wed Sep 23, 2015, 11:39 AM
Sep 2015

It is often difficult to discern the message from DU headlines. Luckily we have our iNews 5000 WiFi Headline Translator. Let's fire it up and feed it a headline...

Dalai Lama: A Female Dalai Lama Must Be Attractive, 'Otherwise Not Much Use'

Spring, sprong, bing, bong, boingggg, DING!

Translation: Dalai Lama expresses sincere devotion to the men rights movement.


 

gcomeau

(5,764 posts)
8. As English is far from his first languge...
Wed Sep 23, 2015, 02:04 PM
Sep 2015

....I will allow the possibility we have an actual translation issue here.

Lordquinton

(7,886 posts)
10. At least he gives the strong possibility that it can happen
Wed Sep 23, 2015, 02:31 PM
Sep 2015

What are the chances the 277th Pope will be a woman? How about the 500th Pope?

 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
13. If Dawkins had said this there would be no debate.
Wed Sep 23, 2015, 06:25 PM
Sep 2015

He would be universally denounced for his overt sexist idiocy, and rightly so. But the beloved Dalai Lama inserts his foot into his mouth and the devotees perform gyrations 'splaining why it is just fine.

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