Dalai Lama: A woman must be pretty to succeed me

THE Dalai Lama has been accused of being sexist after insisting that if a woman succeeds him as Tibet’s spiritual leader she must be ‘very, very attractive’.

The 80-year-old Buddhist, known by followers across the world for his compassion and wisdom, made the remarks in an interview during his recent visit to London.

When asked if it was possible that a woman could succeed him, he replied: ‘Yes. Why not? Today in a more troubled world, I think females should take more important roles.’

But he went on to add: ‘If a female Dalai Lama comes, the face must be very, very attractive. Or else not much use.’

The Dalai Lama’s startled interviewer, BBC presenter Clive Myrie, laughed along with him and asked: ‘You are joking, I am assuming. Or you’re not joking?’ But the Tibetan spiritual leader insisted: ‘It’s true’.

There were suggestions that the Dalai Lama’s comments were in keeping with his ‘humorous’ personality, but even some followers accused him of sexism.

The process of ‘finding’ his successor is steeped in tradition, with followers believing that upon his death he will be reincarnated as a new-born child. When the current Dalai Lama dies the Tibetan government and High Lamas may spend years searching for his reincarnation.

When they believe they have found the child, they conduct tests to determine his or her identity – such as placing the previous Dalai Lama’s possessions among others and seeing if the child selects them. It is usually many years later that the successor assumes full powers.