The Dalai Lama has stated that if a female was appointed Dalai Lama in the future, she would need to be attractive.
His Holiness made the comments during an interview with BBC reporter Clive Myrie on a nine-day tour of London.
After a number of questions on the refugee crisis in Europe, Mr Myrie asked the leader whether a woman could take his position after him.
The Dalai Lama said he had been asked the same question by a French magazine reporter 15 years ago and had told her a woman could become the Dalai Lama and she would need to be "very attractive."
Laughing, Mr Myrie asked: "So you can only have a female Dalai Lama if they’re attractive? Is that what you’re saying?"
The Dalai Lama responded that if they weren’t attractive they were "not much use."
"You’re joking? I'm assuming," Mr Myrie said, with more laughter.
"No," the Dalai Lama said. "True!"
