Expert: Bodhicitta - 9/19/2006

Question
my name is Jim and I live in Canada.  I am gay and happily married for three years.  I am reaching the point in my life where my questions in life need to be answered, such as "our" meaning and purpose while here on earth.  I have heard so many different reactions to my question on homosexuality and Buddhism.  Some say that its not stated as a "sin", while others say that Buddhism is against homosexuality.  where do I stand when it comes to studying Buddhism, is there a place for me to belive and practice in it? Or am I left out and still left with un-answered quetions.  If you could share any light into this topic I would greatly appreciate it!

Thank you for uour time.
Jim

Answer
Hi Jim,
If I may rephrase your question to be
is 'Western Buddhism' a path open to homosexuals? This could
be split into three sub-questions:
1/ Is the essential doctrine of Buddhism open enough to include homosexuals?
2/ Are there any practical points that require reinterpretation or change to fully embrace homosexual couples?
3/ Are the current Western Buddhist communities socially open and inclusive to homosexuals?

These answers are necessarily brief Jim. But hopefully gives you a starting point...

1/ Is the essential doctrine of Buddhism open enough to include homosexuals?

The Buddhist doctrine according to the Mahayana Buddhist schools has its starting point in asserting that all beings
have Buddha nature. An indestructible seed within their being that has great wisdom and compassion. The Buddhist doctrine states that through confusion beings are confused and suffer and are disconnected from their true selves and the true world. The path back to truth is meditation and the Buddhist teachings are a guide to how to follow that path of meditation.

The important point of view here is that Buddhism talks about all beings.Diversity is the keynote. So Buddhism talks of about a diversity of beings both human and non-human, all sexes, all sexuality, corporal and non-corporal. The extent of this diversity is beyond anything conceived of in Western thought in my opinion. In any case I think it is safe to safe that homosexuals do have Buddha nature and can follow the Buddhist path.

2/ Are there any practical points that require reinterpretation or change to fully embrace homosexual couples?
This is perhaps a vast area - and could be expanded on. In some ways practising Buddhists need to fill this area out.

I would draw your attention to two examples of these practical points.

Buddhists usually take a minimum of five precepts. One of these precepts is about refraining from sexual misconduct,
another is not killing etc.
Now these precepts are somewhat undefined in their scope.

Their purpose is not to be edicts from God with punishment to suit.

The vows set out a broad set of guidelines to leading a life in which it would be possible to practice meditation without too many waves.

The exact interpretation of these vows is probably necessarily linked to social customs and conventions of the time. My own interpretation of this in our times is that sexual miscondunct refers in our culture and times to not forcing someone to have sex against their will, or taking advantage of someone under age or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

I do not think there is any implication that would prevent same sex couples having sex in a consenting way.

Interestingly enough we can see how flexible Buddhism is culturally by looking at the practice of polygamy amongst Himalayan people's.

I should add a footnote to this section on "sexual misconduct". there are in Buddhism, just as there are in Christianity vows for monks and nuns which are to do with
abstanence from sex. This I think doesn't great an issue either. If you take a vow to abstain from sex then this is clear across the board.I.e. don't become  a monk or nun if you want sex!

There is more that could be said in this section...but this gives you the idea.


3/ Are the current Western Buddhist communities socially open and inclusive to homosexuals?

I think the quick answer is yes absolutely. I know in canada
there are two organisations Shambhala and Vajradhatu which
have homosexuals as part of their sangha. There are
also a number of books written by homosexual Buddhists
on various aspects.


Anyways Jim. I wish you well with your path. Please come back and tell me how you get on in your search.

Bodhicitta