The Dalai Lama has apologised after an unsettling video appeared on social media in which he kissed a young Indian boy on the lips before asking him to ‘suck’ his tongue.

Footage of the uncomfortable incident showed the moment the Tibetan spiritual leader invited a young Indian boy on stage during a charity event held by India’s M3M Foundation at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala in February. 

In the video, the boy asks the Dalai Lama ‘can I hug you?’, to which Tenzin Gyatso responds, okay – come!’.

The spiritual leader first asks the boy to kiss him on the cheek, before pointing at his lips. He holds the boy’s face as they briefly kiss, then the pair press their foreheads together. 

Just as the boy goes to pull away, the Dalai Lama instructs him: ‘And suck my tongue’ – prompting the young boy to slowly inch forward towards the 87-year-old’s outstretched tongue. 

The Dalai Lama has apologised after a unsettling video appeared on social media in which he kissed a young Indian boy on the lips before asking him to 'suck' his tongue

The Dalai Lama has apologised after a unsettling video appeared on social media in which he kissed a young Indian boy on the lips before asking him to ‘suck’ his tongue

Some supporters of the Dalai Lama sprang to his defence, claiming their leader was simply 'joking around'

Some supporters of the Dalai Lama sprang to his defence, claiming their leader was simply 'joking around'

Some supporters of the Dalai Lama sprang to his defence, claiming their leader was simply ‘joking around’

Others went as far as to describe the Dalai Lama as an 'insidious false prophet' while one user called for him to 'be arrested for paedophilia'

Others went as far as to describe the Dalai Lama as an 'insidious false prophet' while one user called for him to 'be arrested for paedophilia'

Others went as far as to describe the Dalai Lama as an ‘insidious false prophet’ while one user called for him to ‘be arrested for paedophilia’

Attendees of the event can be heard laughing as the boy sits awkwardly in front of the aged Tibetan Buddhist leader and nervously follows his orders.

Before letting the child go, the Dalai Lama imparted some wisdom, telling him to ‘look to those good human beings who create peace, happiness’ and not to ‘follow those human beings who always kill other people’.

Some supporters of the Dalai Lama sprang to his defence, claiming their leader was simply ‘joking around’. 

But the clip has sparked outrage on social media, with commentators branding the Dalai Lama’s actions ‘scandalous’, ‘disgusting’ and ‘absolutely sick’.

Others went as far as to describe the Dalai Lama as an ‘insidious false prophet’ while one user called for him to ‘be arrested for paedophilia’. 

‘Utterly shocked to see this display by the #DalaiLama. In the past too, he’s had to apologise for his sexist comments. But saying – Now suck my tongue to a small boy is disgusting,’ wrote user Sangita.

Another poster, Rakhi Tripathi, said: ‘What did I just see? What that child must be feeling? Disgusting.’

In this file photo taken on December 29, 2022, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama waves during his first day of teaching session at the Kalachakra Ground in Bodhgaya

In this file photo taken on December 29, 2022, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama waves during his first day of teaching session at the Kalachakra Ground in Bodhgaya

In this file photo taken on December 29, 2022, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama waves during his first day of teaching session at the Kalachakra Ground in Bodhgaya

The office of the spiritual leader posted a formal statement on social media today apologising for his actions.

‘His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused,’ the statement read.

‘His Holiness often teases the people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras,’ it added. 

‘He regrets the incident.’

The Dalai Lama remains the universally recognised face of the movement for Tibetan autonomy.

But the global spotlight he enjoyed after winning the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize has dimmed and the deluge of invitations to hobnob with world leaders and Hollywood stars has slowed, partly because the ageing leader has cut back on his punishing travel schedule, but also due to China’s growing economic and political clout.

Beijing accuses him of wanting to split China, and has referred to him as a ‘wolf in a monk’s robe’.

In 2019, the Dalai Lama apologised for saying that if his successor were to be a woman, she would have to be ‘attractive’.

The comments, which were criticised around the world, were made in an interview with the BBC.

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