Buddhism's tolerance towards Homosexuality ?

• yhjow

  18 Aug 11, 23:31

  I'm trying to understand Buddhism's attitude and tolerance towards Homosexuality in modern society.

  There is a Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_and_Buddhism

  Now, it seems that there is a group lumped together known as LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender). In the past, when I was young (and before I practise Buddhism), I used to find LGBT "weird" and "disgusting". However, now, I've come to learn to practise tolerance and compassion towards them. The Buddha has said that despite of all the differences in capacity and karmic seeds, all sentient beings are equal and have buddha nature. Apparently, modern days Buddhism are generally tolerant towards LGBT, but some buddhist texts or scriptures might argue against it, quoting examples of bad karma or reborn into realm of hell. Soka Gakkai, a Japanese-basd and one of the largest buddhist organization in the world even conducted wedding for same-sex.

  The scientific explanation for homosexuality is that our body has both male and female hormones and if we are male and have more female hormones, we tend to act like a girl and might have sexual preference for male. This pertains to gay. The same goes for lesbians.

  The Buddhist's teaching on rebirth offers a very good explanation on why Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender occurs in our society. For instance, if I'm male, I could have been reborn as a female several times in our past lives, and as we are reborn as a male, our seeds of mind (and female habits) might be carried on to a male body. Thus a male body might have consciousness and some habitual nature of a female mind (and thus might fall in love with a guy) and labelled "gay". In most circumstances, our mind-stream and karma determines rebirth.

  It is not difficult to understand that modern Humanistic Buddhism or Buddhism in the west typically practises tolerance towards LGBT.

  However, the concerns touching on homosexuality is on the issues of "sexual misconduct". In the past, Buddhism typically talks about sex within the same marriage. Today, as sexual attitude changes, the good sexual conduct is defined as "sex with the same partner under the domains of love and unforced circumstances" (instead of having multiple partners),  apparently that helps to prevent HIV or other sexual diseases from transmitting through promiscuous unprotected sex.

  What do you think of Buddhist's view towards Homosexuality?

• Amitayus48

  19 Aug 11, 10:56

  The Buddha has said that despite of all the differences in capacity and karmic seeds, all sentient beings are equal and have buddha nature. Apparently, modern days Buddhism are generally tolerant towards LGBT, but some buddhist texts or scriptures might argue against it, quoting examples of bad karma or reborn into realm of hell.

  As mentioned everyone is a buddha. My opinion is that when buddhism mentioned about bad karma or reborn, it is stating that one should never "over-reactive" towards existence when one does not have its full picture on the processes of past and present. Buddhism promotes peace and loving-kindness together as people need company especially aging, likewise to lgbt. Buddhism place emphasis on liberation from samsara. It is benevolent and loving-kindness instead of tolerance.

• Punggol meegoreng

  19 Aug 11, 15:35

   

  Irrelevant

• jmstar~

  19 Aug 11, 15:40

  Originally posted by Punggol meegoreng:

  Irrelevant

   

  This is the fifth time you are spamming with this posting of the same article.  By doing this you are making your intention of inciting religious hatred known.

  ISD!

  Almond Cookies, don't be evil!     If true you are Almond Cookies or clones, you are too chicken feed to stand on your own you must typed clearly the article is from divingutd. 

   

  Satan!

• Punggol meegoreng

  19 Aug 11, 15:43

  Strange, divingutd posted this and yet no reaction from you ?

• jmstar~

  19 Aug 11, 15:44

   Aik TC 

  He has got it posted in a few threads in Eternal Hope.    Think he is almond cookies

• jmstar~

  19 Aug 11, 15:44

  Originally posted by Punggol meegoreng:

  Strange, divingutd posted this and yet no reaction from you ?

  Troublemaker!  

• Aik TC

  19 Aug 11, 15:54

  Originally posted by jmstar~:

   Aik TC 

  He has got it posted in a few threads in Eternal Hope.    Think he is almond cookies

  
  So long as he does not do his posting on this site, we should just ignore it. Let the moderators at 'Eternal Hope' do what think should be done.

• jmstar~

  19 Aug 11, 15:59

  Originally posted by Aik TC:

  
  So long as he does not do his posting on this site, we should just ignore it. Let the moderators at 'Eternal Hope' do what think should be done.

  That Eternal Hope is a junky forum, the mod cannot be bothered with it.

• Punggol meegoreng

  19 Aug 11, 16:02

  This exercise tell me the different attitude of both side.

• BadzMaro

  19 Aug 11, 16:18

  There needs to be at least a Mod to begin with dont yous all think? mmmmm  ?  Just making a repeated observation fact here.

   

• jmstar~

  19 Aug 11, 16:20

  Originally posted by BadzMaro:

  There needs to be at least a Mod to begin with dont yous all think? mmmmm  ?  Just making a repeated observation fact here.

   

  There are mods in this forum, aren't you aware?

• An Eternal Now

  19 Aug 11, 16:24

  There is a wide range of opinions depending on who you ask, regardless of which tradition of Buddhism. There is no single Buddhist view. My Mahayana Buddhist teachers (Ven Shen Kai, Missionary Chen Ming An, etc) do not support homosexuality by discouraging it through reasoning, while some other Mahayana teachers like Ven Hsuan Hua takes a hard stance against homosexuality claiming there are negative karmic consequences in future lives and so on, on the other hand other Mahayana teachers like Ven Hsing Yun, many other Rinpoches, and Buddhist teachers are quite open to homosexuality... some of my other Buddhist friends and teachers, like Thusness, were quite open to that as well.

  As you can see, there is no single 'Buddhist view' on this issue. Personally, I take a neutral stance, as I have not really decided on the matter, but as I see it, sexuality is not something that can be transformed or changed but is something inherited in a person (like Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way')... therefore I am leaning towards tolerance and understanding. That said, sexual desires will at some point in one's dharma practice be transcended.

  I don't think that the original scriptures said much about homosexual conducts for a lay-person, which leaves room for many varied interpretations. Homosexual conduct (but so does other sexual acts) are not allowed in the monastic community, but that is another issue.

• BadzMaro

  19 Aug 11, 16:29

  Originally posted by jmstar~:

  There are mods in this forum, aren't you aware?

  Of course I am. Your point is ?

   

• jmstar~

  19 Aug 11, 16:30

  Originally posted by BadzMaro:

  Of course I am. Your point is ?

   

  I was thinking you are not aware so come that post.

• An Eternal Now

  19 Aug 11, 16:57

  Ok lets get back to topic.

• Loor

  19 Aug 11, 17:05

  Originally posted by An Eternal Now:

  There is a wide range of opinions depending on who you ask, regardless of which tradition of Buddhism. There is no single Buddhist view. My Mahayana Buddhist teachers (Ven Shen Kai, Missionary Chen Ming An, etc) do not support homosexuality by discouraging it through reasoning, while some other Mahayana teachers like Ven Hsuan Hua takes a hard stance against homosexuality claiming there are negative karmic consequences in future lives and so on, on the other hand other Mahayana teachers like Ven Hsing Yun, many other Rinpoches, and Buddhist teachers are quite open to homosexuality... some of my other Buddhist friends and teachers, like Thusness, were quite open to that as well.

  As you can see, there is no single 'Buddhist view' on this issue. Personally, I take a neutral stance, as I have not really decided on the matter, but as I see it, sexuality is not something that can be transformed or changed but is something inherited in a person (like Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way')... therefore I am leaning towards tolerance and understanding. That said, sexual desires will at some point in one's dharma practice be transcended.

  I don't think that the original scriptures said much about homosexual conducts for a lay-person, which leaves room for many varied interpretations. Homosexual conduct (but so does other sexual acts) are not allowed in the monastic community, but that is another issue.

  It's great how u appropriately managed to put a reference to lady gaga in your pos on religion! great stuff!

  I'm curious - have u got any references for the ones who do not support? I didn't think they would be so gender-specific?

• An Eternal Now

  19 Aug 11, 17:12

  Ven Sheng-Yen:

   

  [ 圣严法师谈天下事-‘å�®å’›’] 

   

  -å�Œæ€§æ�‹- 

  在佛教的戒侓中，�性�者是�许出家的。

  �性�会在僧团中制造很大的问题，虽然�会因此生�孩，�是，引起的问题比男女间的感情更严�。对于一个在家佛教徒�讲，�性�的行为，也一定�改过。

  �论从人的生�或心�层��看，�性�都是��康的。

  中国易�讲天地相对，阴阳调和，刚柔互济，水��容�也能相互调补，如果男人和男人，女人和女人��夫妻，这是很�常的，�常的事会使自己的身心�康失去 平衡。�性在一起就是一�矛盾，表�上�以得到性欲的满足，但这�是�象的调和，无法得到阴阳两性之间的调剂。

  �性�也会造�社会的�平衡。�性�看男人和一般人��，看女人也和一般人��，就造�社会的�平衡，一般的社会也会排斥他们。�性�自以为这是基本人 �，��妨�社会，也�妨�任何人，这�是他们两人相好，社会�该歧视，隔离他们，但他们自己跟一般常人的生活环境制造了樊篱。

  有人说，出家人�结婚也是�常的。 但出家人�结婚并没有找�性的对象��泄性欲，�是用修行方法��导，把性的需求慢慢的淡化掉。所以说，出家人�结婚是自我的自由��；若强逼他人结婚，倒是很奇怪地妨�了人的自由之�。

  �性��是出家人，心�上并没有办法把性的需求�导，淡化 ，而是照样追求性的�泄，追求性伴侣的安慰，心�上和出家人根本��。

  出家人的独身行为�会为社会带�困扰，�会给社会制造问题，�性��会给社会带��忧。

  �使社会容许�性�，�歧视他们，他们还是觉得和其他正常人处在��的世界，因为他们看正常世界就是�一个社会，他们自己也会形�他们的俱�部，故有�性 �酒�，玈館，咖啡厅。。。什么都有，自己划地自�，与外界隔�。这么�，对他们自己，对社会，都是��康的现象。

   ç«™åœ¨ä½›æ•™çš„立场看，因与果如果ä¸�正常，就会有异常现象出现。

  有�性�倾�的人，象抽鸦片一样，他就是喜欢�性的男（女）人，看到�一�特性的人，他就�魔，心里痒痒的。如果�现自己有这�倾�，必须�高警觉，�� 陷进去。�性�是从平常养�的，也是一�业障，如果社会环境容许他，就更糟糕了。这�事一旦陷进去，就很难自拔，这和戒烟戒酒一样，也有�功的案例，但是 很痛苦的。

  我还是希望藉由�康的宗教观念，�导正�性�的问题（��康的宗教是�一回事）。如果�性��信佛教，我们愿�接�他；也希望他日�能改过。

   

   

  My Taiwanese teacher, Missionary Chen Ming An:

   

   

  谈有关�性�的问题

   

  "自由�有一个�度， �影�到自然，�影�到大众。"

   

  陈明安传教士: �性�就是因为性别认知错误。因为�性�里�，比如女�性�，总有一个亲相是男的，�能认知，�能认�自己现在是女性，认为我应该是男性，异性，所以��自己内心是男性，结果自己的身体是女性，这样�性�就出�了。

   

  如果�性�结婚，以�没有孩�，这两个人也会��社会的负担。如果领养孩�，两个人也是女的，你说这一个孩���哪一个是爸爸，哪一个是妈妈?

   

  在这一个�孩�的�长�育当中，他看到别人有爸爸，妈妈，自己为什么没有爸爸，妈妈。他的心�能够很�全�?

   

  在自然当中，这就是很�自然。什么��自然�长，你这一方�就讲�过去了。

   

  你们两个�性�，�也是爸爸妈妈生去�的�，还是自己蹦出�的? 你们的爸爸妈妈生你们两个�性�出�，结果你们长大了，���自然的人为的错误�想认知。你用这�错误的�想认知产生行为，然�以这�行为的存在性，传授给下一代，那下一代会认知正确�? 一定多多少少都会�到影�的。因为�想认知的错误而产生行为，以这�行为�传给下一代，下一代会正常�? 如果你说你这样是正确的，是�法的，那你这样的正确�法，��你的父�生你是�正确，��法的。这样对�对? 往上类推，往下类推�。岂有此�。

   

  自由�有一个�度。�影�到自然，�影�到大众。如果他们说�性�是正常的，是�法的，那他们的父�亲�就是��法的�? 他的父�生她的时�，�也是一男一女而生下�的�?

   

  现在很多人都是强�夺�，似是而�地讲一大堆。自由�以，但是最其马这个社会的使命感与公德心一定�存在，�能离开这个大�蹄(?)。

   

  如果你为了自由，没有这�伦��德心。那这个社会�是大乱了�?伦��德心一沦丧的�，根本没有自由�谈了。

   

  Q: 请问传教士，如果去��性手术，这��性的身体是�是会�早衰败?

   

  A: 当然，没错，�我刚�所讲过，对自我性别的认知错误，她�想到说去�性啊。

   

  Q: �说手术很��，�进开刀房�几次呢。

   

  A: 到最�会�得自己是男是女，都�清楚。女的���男的，�没有男的那�体魄。因为她本身体内的内分泌，�方�的器官都存在。你�能改�外表而已。你看，�怎么改�都没有用。

   

  男的���女的，这个喉结怎么办? 女的���男的，你�有这个喉结�怎么办?

   

  事实没有办法改�的。为了一个�想认知的错误，把自己�得晕头转�。你看有多少人�性，但是�有很少数的人能得到幸�和快�，大多数的人都是�幸�的，是�是这样啊?

   

  Q: 有人�性�，也是结婚了啊。

   

  A: 但是到最�都很痛苦。人很奇怪。�性都是自己欺骗自己。你看那个喉结，男的���女的，你有办法拿掉�? 女的���男的，你有办法生出��? �是把�部分�掉，就自己骗自己，"我已���男的，女的。"�怜。

   

  �想很��。�想错了，什么都完蛋。把自己都�得晕头转�的。�想很��。

   

  有的是从长辈就错误了。长辈因为没有男孩�，就想�把他的女儿塑造�为一个男孩�，�满足他内心的一个期望。结果那一个女孩�就塑造�了男人�想，其实是女儿生。连他自己也都错觉了。

   

  Q: �性�以�是属于比较地下化的，现在好��行起�，�为一�风气，连电视也都在演这一��。

   

  A: 这是一�心里传染病。

   

  Q: 有演电视的人，演了�性�之�，入�回�过�。�这样很入�，是�是因为把他们�在�好的��引�出�?

   

  A: �泄出�把你内在的情趣和情绪�时引导出�。

   

  Q: 美国有一个影星，因为长得率，所以大家都�他演床�。��他自己说，因为�演�，所以得了性上瘾。

   

  A: 性幻想。因为他�去�摩，他还没上�之��去�摩，��性幻想。这是一�病症，��性幻想症。

   

  Q: 他说他都会上瘾，都�去��会没有。

   

  A: ���泄。性幻想幻想一�，就��泄。人长大了，身里�熟，有身体上的需求，�延伸到�想，幻想。他是为了演�，然�为了�摩，��一�性幻想。性幻想出�了，��自己无法控制，��跟人家有那么一回事的关系了。这是一�病�。