The term "Dalai Lama" translates to "ocean of wisdom" in Mongolian, or as per the Royal Spanish Academy, it denotes the "Supreme spiritual and political leader of Tibet." This title has been bestowed upon spiritual leaders of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism since the 17th century. Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama at 87 years old, assumed this title at the age of four, becoming the fourteenth Dalai Lama. Following the Chinese invasion of Tibet's capital, Lhasa, in 1959, he was forced into exile and currently resides in India. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy for religious freedom and the Tibetan cause.
However, on April 10, a disturbing incident involving the Dalai Lama came to light during a month dedicated to fighting child abuse. A viral video depicted the spiritual leader kissing a child on the mouth and making inappropriate comments like "suck my tongue," placing the child in a vulnerable and humiliating situation. The onlookers' laughter in response to this misconduct adds to the gravity of the situation, suggesting a disturbing acceptance of such behavior.
The Dalai Lama issued an apology through a statement on his office's Twitter feed, directed at the boy, his family, and friends. However, the apology focuses solely on the inappropriate "words," conveniently overlooking the offensive gestures made towards the child. What is particularly distressing is the justification provided by the office, describing the Dalai Lama's actions as "innocent" and "playful," even in public and in front of cameras. This explanation raises concerns about a lack of awareness regarding the severity of the incident.
Regrettably, the repercussions of the transgressions committed by such figures extend beyond the individuals involved. Institutions or entire religions often bear the brunt of this generalization, as blame is unfairly cast upon all members or faithful followers for the crimes or complicity of a few.
Mahatma Gandhi's wisdom, "If you want to change the world, change yourself," underscores the need for introspection and accountability in the face of such grave issues. It is crucial to recognize that child abuse is a pervasive aberration transcending boundaries of religion, country, social status, profession, or institution—it plagues every corner of the world.
The recent unfortunate incident casts a shadow on the Dalai Lama's reputation. Titles confer no immunity in the eyes of public opinion, and in the absence of justice for abuses of influence, social condemnation looms as a formidable consequence.
Making light of sexualized gestures involving children is not only inappropriate but also dangerous, as it contributes to the normalization of such reprehensible actions. Beyond cultural nuances, a child is a child whether in the West or the East, and adults share an imperative and unassailable duty to shield them from harm. This situation is unequivocally unacceptable—leave children alone!
