by Julia Watermouth
Do you really need to keep your children away from the Dalai Lama? A recent viral video showing the 87 year-old Nobel Peace Prize recipient asking a young boy to “suck my tongue” at a temple in India shocked the world and made people ask themselves, “Is the Dalai Lama a creep or was this just a cultural misunderstanding?”
The Dragonfly Report asked our Asian correspondent Julia Watermouth to let our readers in on three Tibetan customs that could be misinterpreted by people in the west.
In Tibet, sticking out one’s tongue when meeting someone is a sign of respect. There was a cruel king in the 9th century who had a black tongue. Showing a person your tongue up close lets that person know that you are not a reincarnation of this horrible king. Sucking the tongue demonstrates even more respect and trust. In the west, we are told to never stick our tongue out at strangers and sucking somebody’s tongue is only done during sex.
Grabbing and fondling the sex organs of an acquaintance is a way to help one focus on their sacral chakra which is located below the navel. This chakra is considered the center of sensuality and essential for your spiritual well-being. It is extremely important and is connected to family, taste, and sexuality. Concern for a friend’s sacral chakra is a sign of respect but obviously this custom could get you into big trouble in the west.
Licking and fondling someone’s ears is a way to help one experience what some call the eighth chakra’s many healing benefits. When licked properly it is said that one can hear beyond the material world and have closeness with the spiritual realm. Often ten or more people will sit side by side licking each other’s ears. It is said that some participants even report seeing rainbows during these sessions. This can go on for hours and lead to exploring other chakras. I can think of no equivalent to this in the west but this tradition may be misconstrued as some sort of orgy where I grew up.
What do you think about the Dalai Lama’s tongue sucking request? While you’re here, check out our other stories accessible through the home link.