Tibetan woman regarding scandal video
“The ‘suck my tongue’ was a joke by the Dalai Lama”
The Dalai Lama’s tongue video is making waves. For the Tibetan Tapa Sonamtsang from Zurich, the scene is no reason to doubt the Buddhist monk.
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That’s what it’s regarding
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A video that one Interaction between the Dalai Lama and a boy shows causes outrage.
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He allegedly asked the boy to suck his tongue.
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The Tibetan spiritual leader has apologized for the incident.
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This caused an uproar in the Tibetan community in Switzerland.
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Now a Swiss-Tibetan spoke to 20 minutes.
The Tibetan community in Switzerland has been in turmoil since their Dalai Lama made headlines around the world. In numerous letters to 20 minutes, Tibetans support their senior teacher. They believe that it was the victim of a Chinese conspiracy. The fact that the Dalai Lama asked a boy to suck his tongue is nothing more than a joke or a misunderstanding.
The Tibetan Tapa Sonamtsang (22), who has lived in Switzerland since 2019, sees it that way. The international criticism of the Dalai Lama hurt her personally. She explains the shitstorm with a fundamental lack of understanding of Tibetan culture and the nature of the Dalai Lama in the western world.
“He has a humorous personality”
«To all of Tibet he is both a god and a father. He is very friendly, kind and open,” says Solantsang. He also has a humorous personality, he likes to have fun. “It’s an honor to be hugged or kissed by him.” You have already met the Dalai Lama in person.
Sticking out one’s tongue in greeting is an old Tibetan tradition. “The ‘suck my tongue’ was a joke by the Dalai Lama.” With his humor, the Buddhist monk often tries to take away the nervousness of believers at a meeting. “He had neither evil intentions nor pedophile intentions,” Sonamtsang is convinced. However, it is fundamentally important to set limits: “Unwanted contact is never okay.”
“Taken out of context”
When asked if it would be different if it was a Catholic dignitary, she replies: “It is essential that the boy approved of the interaction. I can’t talk regarding other religions or cultures.”
From a video interview with the person concerned following the encounter, she concludes that the boy described the interaction as positive followingwards. “The media took the scene out of context.”
The Dalai Lama has apologized
The Dalai Lama’s tongue-in-cheek action had caused a storm of indignation. For example convicted Niklaus-Samuel Gugger, EPP National Councilor and one of the co-presidents of the Switzerland-Tibet friendship group, the behavior of the Dalai Lama sharply. “It doesn’t work like that. If that was a joke, it was a very tacky one.” Any situation that violates a person’s personal or sexual integrity crosses a line. The Dalai Lama himself had apologized for the action following the criticism.
