Of all the supporters of violent video games, global Buddhist leader Karmapa Lama Trinley Dorje is perhaps one of the least likely.

Nonetheless, the religious figurehead has told The Times of India, as spotted by VG247, that laying the smackdown on virtual foes lessens the likelihood of him being tempted to the same in real life,

“The aggression that comes out in the video game satiates whatever desire I might have to express that feeling,” he explained. “For me, that’s very skilful because when I do that I don’t have to go and hit anyone over the head.

“I view video games as something of an emotional therapy, a mundane level of emotional therapy for me.

“We all have emotions whether we’re Buddhist practitioners or not, all of us have emotions, happy emotions, sad emotions, displeased emotions and we need to figure out a way to deal with them when they arise.”

Coupled with recent endorsements from the likes of Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, England manager Fabio Capello and world record sprinter Usain Bolt, video games are surely now officially really, really good for you. Right?