The Dalai Lama was so unfazed by the prospect of a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, that he didn't even know 'she' was a female
The Dalai Lama was so unfazed by the prospect of a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, that he didn't even know 'she' was a female.
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Asked whether he was disappointed the Prime Minister had followed Labor tradition by declining a meeting with him, the 75-year-old Buddhist leader bluntly said 'no' and referred to Gillard as 'him'.
"If your Prime Minister has some kind of spiritual interest then of course my meeting would be useful," News.co.au quoted the Dalai Lama, as saying.
"Otherwise, I have nothing to ask him. Also, you see, there's no point to seek advice from him," he said.
One of the Dalai Lama's aides quietly corrected him, telling him to refer to Gillard as "her".
"Oh, from her," the Dalai Lama said with a laugh.
Gillard recently confirmed that she would not meet the Dalai Lama when he visits Canberra.
"The Prime Minister will not meet with the Dalai Lama on this visit to Australia. Given the frequency of his travel to Australia, the government believes the current arrangements are appropriate," a spokesman said yesterday.