Dalai Lama says Chinese hardliners have 'parts of their brain missing' and claims he could be the last of the spiritual leaders in a US interview

  • Chinese hardliners have 'parts of their brain missing' says the Dalai Lama
  • The Tibetan spiritual leader made the claims to US talk show host John Oliver
  • The comments came after suggestions China could choose their own Dalai Lama
  • In response the Dalai Lama claims he could be the last in his line

By Rod Ardehali For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Chinese hardliners have parts of their brains missing according the Dalai Lama.

In an interview with talk show host John Oliver, the Tibetan spiritual leader made the comments which are likely to infuriate the country's Communist leaders  - who view him as a dangerous separatist.

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, denies encouraging violence, claiming he only wants autonomy for Tibet.

In an interview with US talk show host and comedian John Oliver, the Dalai Lama claimed that China's Communist leaders have parts of their brains missing - specifically referring to them lacking common sense

In an interview with US talk show host and comedian John Oliver, the Dalai Lama claimed that China's Communist leaders have parts of their brains missing - specifically referring to them lacking common sense

The wide-ranging interview touched on the Dalai Lama's life as well as his conflicts with the Chinese government - the atheist regime he fled in 1959 following a failed uprising

The wide-ranging interview touched on the Dalai Lama's life as well as his conflicts with the Chinese government - the atheist regime he fled in 1959 following a failed uprising

Speaking in India's northern town of Dharamsala, where the exiled Tibetan government is based, he also said he might be the last Dalai Lama.

'Very possible,' he said. 'If I become the last Dalai Lama, I feel very happy.'

The animosity between the two sides centres on control over Tibetan Buddhism - with reincarnation at the heart of the debate.

Tibetan Buddhism holds that the soul of a senior lama is reincarnated in the body of a child on his death.

The person who appoints the re-birthed Dalai Lama is the Panchen Lama - while the reincarnated Panchen Lama is appointed by the Dalai Lama.

The revolving cycle of successors has continues to ensure leadership within the religion.

However the reincarnated Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was last seen 20 years ago when he was a six year old boy.

Shortly after vanishing, the Chinese government named their own Panchen Lama. 

Meaning there is a fear among Tibetan monks that the Chinese government could appoint their own obedient Dalai Lama when the current one dies. 

Tibetans fear Communist leaders will appoint their own obedient spiritual leader following the death of the current Dalai Lama, ending hopes of Tibetan autonomy. This prompted the Dalai Lama to claim he could be the last of his line, or that one could be born outside of China
In the Tibetan Buddist religion, the reincarnated Dalai Lama is appointed by the Panchen Lama. While the reincarnated Panchen Lama is chosen by the Dalai Lama ensuring an ongoing cycle of spiritual leaders

Tibetans fear Communist leaders will appoint their own obedient spiritual leader following the death of the current Dalai Lama - ending hopes of autonomy in Tibet. This prompted the Dalai Lama to claim he could be the last of his line, or that one could be born outside of China

The Chinese government 'abducted' the six-year-old Panchen Lama, the sole person capable of choosing the spiritual successor, some 20 years ago - and appointed their own potentially in his place giving Communist leaders control in selecting who the next Dalai Lama might be

The Chinese government 'abducted' the six-year-old Panchen Lama, the sole person capable of choosing the spiritual successor, some 20 years ago - and appointed their own potentially in his place giving Communist leaders control in selecting who the next Dalai Lama might be

The Dalai Lama has claimed that he could be the last living Dalai Lama, or one could be born outside China, in order to avoid the Tibetans Monks coming under control of China's Communist leaders.

China says the tradition must continue and its officially atheist Communist leaders have the right to approve the Dalai Lama's successor, as a legacy inherited from China's emperors.

Communist leaders accuse him of betraying the Tibetan religion by saying there might be no future reincarnations.

One Chinese official called him a 'wolf in monks robes' while photos of the Dalai Lama are forbidden in parts of China. 

Elsewhere in the interview the Dalai Lama also claimed to have cured Mongolia of alcoholism by advocating the replacement of vodka with horses milk, while John Oliver jokingly presented the spiritual leader with a calculator watch as a gift following their interview

Elsewhere in the interview the Dalai Lama also claimed to have cured Mongolia of alcoholism by advocating the replacement of vodka with horses milk, while John Oliver jokingly presented the spiritual leader with a calculator watch as a gift following their interview

A Chinese official also referred to the Dalai Lama as 'a wolf in Monk's robes' while photos of the Tibetan spiritual leader are forbidden in parts of China

A Chinese official also referred to the Dalai Lama as 'a wolf in Monk's robes' while photos of the Tibetan spiritual leader are forbidden in parts of China

Asked if he was worried China might appoint its own Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader said it would be foolish.

'Our brain usually, you see, has the ability to create common sense,' he said. 'The Chinese hardliners, in their brain, that part of the brain, is missing.'

China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tibet's delegation to the annual meeting of China's parliament, which opened on Sunday, is likely to hold a news conference some time this week. Such meetings tend to be dominated by the issue of the Dalai Lama.

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