Dalai Lama has issued an apology after a video surfaced showing him asking a young boy if he wanted to suck his tongue, and then kissing the child on the lips. His office expressed regret for any hurt caused by his words and actions, stating that he often teases people in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras.

The video, which was filmed at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala on 28 February during an event organized by the M3M Foundation, has drawn widespread criticism on social media for being inappropriate and disturbing.

Watch the video:

In the video, the boy asks if he can hug the Dalai Lama, and the leader motions to his cheek, where the boy kisses him and gives him a hug. The Dalai Lama then motions to his lips, saying “I think here also”, and kisses the boy on the lips. He also sticks out his tongue, saying “and suck my tongue”. Although some people laugh, the boy withdraws slightly, as does the Dalai Lama, before more hugs and a longer conversation between the two.

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As a spiritual leader and exile from Tibet, the Dalai Lama’s actions and words carry significant impact, and his recent apology reflects an acknowledgment of the concerns raised by the video.