The spiritual leader was interviewed by Rajini Vaidyanathan who asked about his thoughts on a female successor.
The Dalai Lama said physical appearance is important and that if a woman were to take over his role, they would need to be attractive because people "prefer not to see a dead face."
This was perhaps the most surprising moment in the interview. I asked the Dalai Lama if he stood by his earlier comment that if his successor was female, she should be attractive.
— Rajini Vaidyanathan (@BBCRajiniV) June 27, 2019
He said he did. Watch here:#DalaiLama #BBCDalaiLama. pic.twitter.com/QAy0EFDZTT
Challenged that a person's character is more important than their physical appearance, he replied, "Yes, I think both." The Dalai Lama also told the BBC that gender equality was important and that he supported women's rights and equal pay in the workplace.
He had made similar comments in 2015, when he told the BBC that a future Dalai Lama could be a woman as long as she was good looking or it would be of "not much use."
Wait what happened to the goodness of the soul being more important than the physical body? Enlightenment and such? I guess not for women eh... https://t.co/IZkAvOfqdT
— Jo Kaur (@SikhFeminist) June 27, 2019
This is distressing, to say the least @DalaiLama
— (((B.L. Ochman))) (@whatsnext) June 27, 2019
I have always had the utmost respect for you. These comments make me wonder why. https://t.co/1XzelFsl2I
“His emotions are a little bit too complicated,” was the 14th Dalai Lama’s response to being asked about what he thinks of US President Donald Trump. When asked as what he thinks of Trump in the Oval Office, he said that Trump has a lack of moral principle.
When asked about Brexit, he said that despite being an outsider, he thinks the United Kingdom should stay within the European Union.
When asked about one of his quotes being used by the 'Leave' campaigners, that Europe could become Muslim or African thanks to the influx of refugees, he said that the European countries should take these refugees and give them education and training, with an aim to return them to their own land.
When asked if they should be allowed to stay if they want, he said a limited number is okay, but the whole of Europe becoming a Muslim country or an African country is impossible, which he think could be the outcome if refugees overstay.
On returning to Tibet, the Dalai Lama said that he hasn't given up hope of returning as the Tibetan people have shown their trust in him and they are very eager. “They keep asking me when will I return.”
On being asked on how his return could possibly happen, Tenzin Gyatso (the Dalai Lama’s religious name) said that China is changing now.
On China, the Dalai Lama said that he has been having private conversations with Chinese officials and scholars who have connections with the Chinese government.