First the pope, now the Dalai Lama…it seems religious leaders are getting political these days.
The Dalai Lama stirred up quite a controversy in a recent interview he gave on BBC.
The Tibetan Buddhist leader, whom the left have long regarded as the champion of progressivism, made an enemy of both political parties.
He criticized Trump and also gave some politically incorrect thoughts on the state of Europe’s migrant crisis, which sparked leftists to cry hypocrisy, since the Dalai Lama himself is a refugee in Tibet.
Watch that part of the interview here:
But, the thing that sparked the most outrage was the Dalai Lama's out-there comment that a woman could be his successor only if she was attractive.
News of the Dalai Lama's controversial interview is blowing up on Twitter.
Take a look at what people are saying about it:
Liberals are especially furious about what the Dalai Lama said both about women and migrants.
Here are some tweets expressing their anger over it:
Although, some other Twitter users took to criticizing BBC for their handling of the interview:
CNN had the following to say about BBC's interview with the Dalai Lama:
The Dalai Lama said Donald Trump lacks "moral principle." He suggested Europe should be kept for Europeans. And should a woman succeed him, he said, she'd have to be "more attractive."
The spiritual leader of the Tibetan people made those comments in a wide-ranging interview with the BBC that touched on Trump's tenure, African migrants, his potential successor and his relationship with China.
The Dalai Lama, who describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk, criticized Trump for his "America First" motto, calling it "wrong," and said the United States should "take the global responsibility." He also called Trump's emotions "a little bit too complicated."
"One day he says something, another day he says something, but I think (there's a) lack of moral principle," the Dalai Lama told the BBC.
He also weighed in on Brexit, saying he thinks it's better for Britain to remain in the European Union.
Asked about rising levels of African refugees and migrants entering Europe, the Dalai Lama said Europe should take them in and offer them education and training. But ultimately, he said, the migrants should return to "their own land," with only "a limited number" allowed to stay on the continent.
"The whole Europe (will) eventually become Muslim country? Impossible. Or African country? Also impossible," he said, adding that it's better to "keep Europe for Europeans."
Similar comments he's made in recent years have sparked anger.
The Dalai Lama also commented on who might succeed him after his death.
"If female Dalai Lama comes, then (she) should be more attractive," he said with a laugh. He then made a distorted face, according to the BBC, and said that if a female Dalai Lama looked a certain way, "then people, I think, prefer not see ... that face."
Asked whether that might be perceived as objectifying by contrast with a person's intrinsic value, the Dalai Lama responded, "I think both."
Metro also commented:
The Dalai Lama has claimed Europe could become ‘African or Muslim’ if refugees do not return to their home countries.The 83-year-old, who has been living as a refugee from Tibet since 1959, said he thinks only a ‘limited number’ of people should be allowed to remain in their adopted countries.He told the BBC that he thought European nations should be obliged to take in those who are fleeing their home countries and need help, but should ultimately be taught skills to return with.He said: ‘European countries should take these refugees and give them education and training, and the aim is – return to their own land with certain skills.’When he was asked what should happen to anyone who wishes to stay in the country they have settled in he added: ‘A limited number is OK.
‘But the whole of Europe [will] eventually become Muslim country – impossible. Or African country, also impossible.’The Buddhist spiritual leader has previously said that he thinks ‘Europe is for Europeans’ at a speech last year in Malmo, Sweden.He said: ‘Receive them [migrants], help them, educate them, but ultimately they should develop their own country. I think Europe belongs to the Europeans.’
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