A Female Dalai Lama?

In an interview with the 14th Dalai Lama, UK's channel 4 presenter, Cathy Newman had a number of odd questions for the Buddhist spiritual leader.

In an obvious dig at the Catholic Church, Newman asked the Dalai Lama if he'd be pleased if his successor as Dalai Lama was a woman.

The question itself reveals a total misunderstanding of Buddhism. According to Tibetan Buddhism, the 14th Dalai Lama's successor - the 15th Dalai Lama - would be his reincarnation. It just seems odd to me that she would ask if he'd be pleased if his next reincarnation was a woman. I don't think picking the gender of your next reincarnation is even an option. I suspect he'd be pleased that he came back as a human being and not a a lower life form.

The second odd question from Newman came when she asked "......if he could 'do a Pope', and quit when he gets too old and frail."

If number 15 is supposed to be his reincarnation, how in the Hell is he supposed to step down as Dalai Lama and be a sort of Dalai Lama emeritus?

Newman doesn't seem to realize that he'd have to off himself for that to happen.

I guess it doesn't really matter to Newman, however. The sole purpose of these questions was to criticise the Catholic Church for the Church's views on women in the priesthood.