aNewDomain — The Dalai Lama is a funny guy. And these days he has us cracking up about the afterlife.
The Dalai Lama, 80. recently said he’s not so sure if he will be reincarnated, but if he does come back, he’ll reappear as a blue-eyed blonde girl. Such a striking religious leader would be hard to deny, he says.
An Asian cartoonist jumped on this concept, and drafted some surprising renderings of what this future Dalai Lama could look like. Check it out below.
It’s clear that this cartoonist does not fear religious outrage for these somewhat scandalous images. There are more images, too, and a growing audience is forming a fan base.
It isn’t usually noted, but there is huge gap between Buddhist capability to joke about itself, leaders included, even when contrasted with the strictness of other religious cultures, especially extremist Islam.
I’ve always felt that a belief that has the ability to give and receive humor is often more sane, and induces less extremism.
If you can’t joke about yourself, you’re a lost case for me.
Oh, and just so you know, I was in the audience once when the Dalai Lama cracked a joke at his own expense in front of an audience of about 3,000 people. He was the first to laugh.
Seriously, Though
The Dalai Lama didn’t just joke about becoming a blue-eyed female holy person in the next life. He has also said he may not be reincarnated at all.
“In case majority of Tibetan people feel this centuries-old institution no longer relevant, then automatically cease,” he said.
This statement has some wit, clearly, but his holiness gave another reason his reincarnation might not go through: the Beijing government’s plan to meddle with the reincarnation of the 15th Dalai Lama.
LOL.
For aNewDomain, I’m David Michaelis.
Image credits: Rabbit Ji
