Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, respected by millions as a living God, who has been caught in a controversy over his recent joke that his successor a female Dalai Lama would have to be "more attractive", has clarified that his reincarnation is to be decided by him.

The Buddhist monk had apologized for his "attractive" female successor remark, saying he genuinely meant no offense and offered his sincere apologies if people were hurt by what he had said.