The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has hinted that his successor could well be a woman as the fairer sex has all the qualities needed in leaders.
"If the circumstances are such that a female Dalai Lama is more useful, then automatically a female Dalai Lama will come," the Dalai Lama told reporters ahead of a 10-day tour of Australia. The Nobel Peace laureate is scheduled to speak in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Darwin.
Asked about the gender war reignited by Gillard, the 77-year-old monk exiled by China after it captured Tibet in the 1960s, said the world is facing a "moral crisis" of inequality and suffering and needs leaders who can bring compassion to their post. "In that respect, biologically, females have more potential. Females have more sensitivity about others' wellbeing. In my own case, my father, very short temper."On a few occasions I also got some beatings. But my mother was so wonderfully compassionate," the Dalai Lama was quoted as saying by Australia's AAP news agency.
His comments come as an Australian opposition leader sparked a controversy by using "grossly sexist and offensive" words to describe Gillard's body at a party fundraiser menu. Gillard demanded the scalp of Liberal Party candidate Mal Brough over the controversial menu in which she was described as having “small breasts” and “huge thighs”.
Opposition leader Tony "Abbott's solution to this pattern of behaviour is not to show any leadership. I mean, he's effectively stood by Brough," Gillard had said. Earlier this week, she had warned the Coalition's (a group of centre-right conservative parties) "men in blue ties" would marginalise women and treat abortion as a political plaything if Labor lost the September election. She accused Abbott of a pattern of misogynist behaviour.
