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The Dalai Lama, a celibate monk whose position has always been held by men, said Wednesday he could be considered a feminist and called for women to take a greater role in world affairs.
Tibet's exiled spiritual leader shared his views on gender after being introduced at a Washington awards ceremony by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime supporter of his efforts to secure more rights in his Chinese-ruled homeland.
"I really feel for female, like the Speaker, to play a more active role, I think is good," the Dalai Lama said.
The globetrotting monk recalled that on one of his recent long-haul flights, he noticed a mother taking care of a child throughout the night and disembarking with red eyes, while the father had fallen asleep.
"Some scientists have mentioned that the response to others' pain, because of biological feeling -- more sensitivity," the Dalai Lama said of women.
"Now these days I have always urged the females, you should take more active role for promoting these human values," he said.
"When I mention this thing, some people may see me as a feminist," he said.
The Dalai Lama added he heard the phrasing from Ireland's former president Mary Robinson, who had told him she thought of him as the "feminist Dalai Lama."
The 74-year-old, born as Tenzin Gyatso, has recently said he was open to a woman as his successor -- who would be the 15th Dalai Lama.
Tibetans choose the Dalai Lama by looking for spiritual signs and testing the reactions of young children to determine if they could be the reincarnation of the spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama has flirted with breaking precedent by choosing his successor, fearing that China -- which sent troops into Tibet in 1950 -- would try to install its own choice to tighten control.
