In a recent interview to BBC, the Dalai Lama eloquently said that European countries are wrong in refusing to admit refugees in the name of religion, but the highlight of the spiritual leader’s interview is another remark. When BBC’s journalist Clive Myrie asks if the next Dalai Lama could be a woman, he said, "The female must be very attractive, otherwise not much use.”
He also added, “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 a while 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 to let him take it back, but the Tibetan leader was quite clear in what he meant. “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, and asks “Or you’re not joking?” And the response, “No. True!”
He then laughs at his own joke that his success is largely due to his attractiveness.
He has been criticized for his earlier remarks about a woman Dalai Lama would be useful because of the sex’s trademark compassion. He has also said that same-sex relationships (as well as oral sex and masturbation) are “misconduct” in Buddhism, but can be “enjoyable and harmless,” for society.