Over 10,000 from the local Buddhist community in Tawang organised a peaceful protest in solidarity with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama against media outlets for false allegations over an edited viral video.
The Dalai Lama is perceived in various ways across the globe. For many Tibetans, he embodies goodness and represents a symbol of hope for the preservation of their culture. However, in the Western world, he is often seen as a curiosity and a subject of polarized views. This article aims to examine some of the cultural misunderstandings and controversies surrounding the Dalai Lama.
In recent years, the Dalai Lama has made headlines for comments about Europe belonging to Europeans and the attractiveness of a potential female Dalai Lama. While both incidents initially sparked outrage, the cultural context behind the statements was eventually brought to light, diffusing the situation.
The most recent controversy involves a video of the Dalai Lama playfully interacting with a young boy, asking him to “suck my tongue.” Social media exploded with accusations, while some suggested the video was a “deep fake.” The Dalai Lama’s office issued an apology for any hurt his words may have caused, but the situation remained unresolved.
The full video of the interaction provides the necessary context, showing the playful nature of their exchange. It was later revealed that the Dalai Lama’s actions were part of a traditional Tibetan game played between grandparents and grandchildren, which involves the phrase “eat my tongue.”
While cultural context is important, it’s also crucial to recognize the realities of those who have been offended. The Western world has witnessed waves of racism, nationalism, and misogyny, making it even more important for those providing context to acknowledge the concerns of those who are upset.
The cases of well-known religious figures accused of sexual misconduct have created a backdrop of suspicion and mistrust. As a result, the defences of the Dalai Lama may seem like echoes of past incidents to some victims of abuse and those familiar with the history of misconduct within religious communities.
Understanding cultural differences is a challenge for scholars, media organizations, and the public. We must strive to balance respect for a revered religious figure and the embattled Tibetan people with the very real concern about abuse and historic power imbalances. To achieve this, we should listen to victims of abuse and members of communities feeling under attack, without allowing one group to overshadow the other. Life is rarely black and white, and we must approach such situations with sensitivity, care, and openness.