The Dalai Lama Believes A Female Successor Has To Be Attractive, "Otherwise It Is Not Much Use"

Well, this is unfortunate.

Beloved spiritual leader and humanist the Dalai Lama has kinda-sorta stepped in it by saying that, if a woman were to take over his role, she'd have to be good looking.

The out-of-character comment came during an interview with the BBC, in which he was asked if a woman could ever become the Dalai Lama.

First, the good news. He says yes! This means a woman is more likely to hold the position of Dalai Lama in the near future than play Dr. Who.

But, here’s the kicker:

“That female must be attractive, otherwise it is not much use,” he added.

When pressed by interviewer Clive Myrie as to whether or not he was joking, the Dalai Lama stated, “It’s true.”

Now, it could have been that he was simply confirming the veracity of an anecdote he'd relayed earlier in the interview, about the time he told a French reporter that a female Dalai Lama would have “biologically more potential to show affection and compassion,” but that, “the face should be very attractive.”

Or, he could have been commenting on the sexism of the world at large; suggesting that only an attractive woman would be given as much respect and attention as he has been afforded. (This would echo comments he's made in the past.)

Either way... this is particularly dicey comic territory, even for the famously jocular Buddhist.

At 80 years of age, Tenzin Gyatso is expected to remain Dalai Lamai for some time still. Tibetan Buddhist tradition dictates, however, that at age 90, he and other Buddhist leaders should begin considering successors.

Given his reputation as a self-proclaimed “feminist” who has spread messages of love, equality and compassion across the globe, we're inclined to think this might simply be a case of misunderstanding (or, at most, a dumb and seriously off-brand joke).

What say you? Do comments like that, regardless of the source, simply not pass muster in 2015?