Buddhism's Perspective On Homosexuality & Gay Marriage (Compiled)

[Dancer66]

something that i read and would really like to share. the title of this blog is "a gay tragedy"

http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2008/05/gay-tragedy.html

[TheVisitors]

The word and actual laws of karma, is not understood by many, but infact it is used loosely by many ignorants.

Monks are just monks, no better than a layman who shaves his head and wears a robe.

Its just an outer form of change, but the inner remains very ignorant.

Subscribing to a belief system ( here means a religion) it is just a form of conditioning of the mind.

When a mind is conditioned, it has no freedom on its own to understand oneself. You rather understand yourself through what others have decided, think for and about you, than to find out who you are, by your own means

For information about karma, suggested readings are works by Annie besant, Helena Blavantsky, Ramtha the White Book, Conversations with God, Franz Hartman, Brian Weisis, and the Bhavagita by Stephen Mitchell

If one has lived one's life strictly based on karma, I would have to be so strict and calculative in all my acts, then I will end up being the most calculative and miserable person on earth. I cannot enjoy life at its fullest.

What if karma doesn't really exist, but somehow, a slight distortion from the earlier Buddhist who didn't quite understood its actual meaning?

Maybe it is man made.

Does this universe needs to be determined by laws made by men?

Not all acts and thoughts have karmic consequences. Only some, where some adjustments or regulatings are done to maintain an equilibrium. If you look at karma in this sense, it is not so frightening after all.

Otherwise you self-inflict your pain and suffering, thus you can't blame anyone, you can't accuse it as karma.

Can you blame anyone for the pain , when you choose to cut yourself with a knife ?

In the purest sense, I truly believe the Universe does not judge men.

Men created all these beliefs and unsound concepts, which then judged themselves with their own creations, thus creating their own sufferings.

Julian, being weak minded, unfortunately, fells victim to the teachings of the many ignorants.

Edited February 24, 2010 by TheVistors

[Dancer66]

thanks for sharing your thoughts. i think in the case of julian, there are many perspectives including that of his own believes and the failure to reconcile that with what he learned, the lack (or ignorance of) of a proper social support structure, the failure of the venerable to accord proper counselling to him... etc... it was a tragedy and i think we all can learn something from it.

[Guest Kamma]

Buddhism never ever have the words mentioned homosexual is a sin.

One of the teaching is Mettā (Pāli: मेत्ता) or maitrī (Sanskrit) has been translated as "loving-kindness,"Mettā (Pāli: मेत्ता) or maitrī (Sanskrit) has been translated as "loving-kindness,"

Which also mean universal love, so you are free to love whoever you want

And combined with Kamma, someone can be the reincarnation of eunuch in past decades who has not yet managed to free himself from Saṃsāra or Sangsara (संसार), a Sanskrit and Pāli term which translates as "continuous movement" or "continuous flowing", which, in Buddhism, refers to the concept of a cycle of birth (jāti), and consequent decay and death (jarāmaraṇa), in which all beings in the universe participate, and which can only be escaped through enlightenment. Saṃsāra is associated with suffering and is generally considered the antithesis of nirvāṇa (Sanskrit) or nibbāna (Pali). There are several Chinese translations, including 生死 (shēngsǐ, "life-death"), 輪迴 (lúnhuí, "wheel turning"), and 流轉 (liúzhuǎn, "wandering"). The Tibetan term is'khor ba; Mongolian: orchilong.

Therefore you are gay today for a reason, and it is your own efforts to free yourself from Saṃsāra

[Guest Thinker]

Therefore you are gay today for a reason, and it is your own efforts to free yourself from Saṃsāra

Very interesting explanation. Would like your elaboration on how to free oneself from Samsara. Is it through meditation and what are the chants that one need to cite during the process? Thanks

[retri]

thanks for sharing your thoughts. i think in the case of julian, there are many perspectives including that of his own believes and the failure to reconcile that with what he learned, the lack (or ignorance of) of a proper social support structure, the failure of the venerable to accord proper counselling to him... etc... it was a tragedy and i think we all can learn something from it.

I read this before and I couldn't agree more, especially on the venerable part.

[Mandrake]

Very interesting explanation. Would like your elaboration on how to free oneself from Samsara. Is it through meditation and what are the chants that one need to cite during the process? Thanks

Have you guys ever thought about this, that perhaps we are in this so called Samsara because we like Samsara. Perhaps we need Samasara. Perhaps we are Samsara type creatures; Creatures with Desires. Maybe because in Samsara, we can forget about everything, play innocent, play dumb, play ignorant is bliss. Here we can pretend we are very important or not important at all. We get to play tyrant, eat other creatures and experience life in a simplistic way. We get to learn in the flesh. We can own things although everything is transient. =) Well, this is just one thought from the spectrum of colors.

Edited February 24, 2010 by Mandrake

[Guest Engineer]

Very interesting explanation. Would like your elaboration on how to free oneself from Samsara. Is it through meditation and what are the chants that one need to cite during the process? Thanks

This is written by Sri Swami Sivananda:

How To Break The Bond Of Samsara

The chains that tie you to this wheel of Samsara or Bhava-Chakra or round of births and deaths, are your desires. So long as you desire objects of this world, you must come back to this world in order to possess and enjoy them. But, when all your desires for the mundane objects cease, then the chains are broken and you are free. You need not take any more births. You attain Moksha or the final emancipation.

You wander in this Samsara as you think that you are different from the Lord. If you unite yourself with Him through meditation and Yoga, you will obtain immortality and eternal bliss. Cut the bonds of Karma through Knowledge of the Eternal and enjoy the Supreme Peace of the Atman, thy innermost Self and Inner Ruler. You will be freed from the round of births and deaths. Freed from sin, freed from passion, you will become a Jivanmukta or liberated sage. You will see the Self in the self and see the Self as all.

[Guest Guest]

I disagree with you on most accounts.

The word and actual laws of karma, is not understood by many, but infact it is used loosely by many ignorants.

Monks are just monks, no better than a layman who shaves his head and wears a robe.

Its just an outer form of change, but the inner remains very ignorant.

Sweeping statement can never be right. Not all monks are ignorant like you trying to portray. There are many monks who have waded through piles of books to get where they are right now - like holding MA degree, Phd. Some-such as thich nhat hanh- have written many great books. I might have agreed if you call all those summer camp monks who wear robe for 10 days as ignorant when it comes to buddhism.

Subscribing to a belief system ( here means a religion) it is just a form of conditioning of the mind.

When a mind is conditioned, it has no freedom on its own to understand oneself. You rather understand yourself through what others have decided, think for and about you, than to find out who you are, by your own means

Sorry buddhism doesn't require ones to believe everything it says. Ever heard of Kalama Sutta? It encourage you to find out what is right and what is wrong by yourself. So you aren't bound to blind believe. On a side note, even as buddhist by birth, I don't agree with everything that scriptures say. I only adopt which I think is logical and dump those that aren't. For instance, I find meditation to be very useful and that's from my experience. Helps me control my anger and deal with situation at hand calmly.

If one has lived one's life strictly based on karma, I would have to be so strict and calculative in all my acts, then I will end up being the most calculative and miserable person on earth. I cannot enjoy life at its fullest.

Unless you can't enjoy your life being inconsiderate to others, I don't see it is that difficult to live by it. It basically tells you to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. All you need to do is be considerate.

In the purest sense, I truly believe the Universe does not judge men.

Men created all these beliefs and unsound concepts, which then judged themselves with their own creations, thus creating their own sufferings.

I concur the above statement. It's not the universe that is judging us. It is our own actions that cause this to happen.

[Guest people like us]

thanks for sharing your thoughts. i think in the case of julian, there are many perspectives including that of his own believes and the failure to reconcile that with what he learned, the lack (or ignorance of) of a proper social support structure, the failure of the venerable to accord proper counselling to him... etc... it was a tragedy and i think we all can learn something from it.

totally agree with u too dancer66...We PLUs ourselves should help one another regardless the veterans or the newcomers regards to this matters.

Being a gay is something that we nvr ask for...its naturally in us...i am sory for julian who met the wrong leader to ask questions abt being a gay in buddhism..a leader who condemns gay and giving him a nasty view after death....making him feels more guilty and dirty...

but sadly we PLUs are not united as one..we condemn and criticize one another for a few reasons...Status,looks,race,standards etc...

[Guest Thinker]

This is written by Sri Swami Sivananda:

Thks Engineer.

" .....But, when all your desires for the mundane objects cease, then the chains are broken and you are free. You need not take any more births......"

This means if I meditate and visual pics of woman, then I will no longer be gay NOT in this life. Means next life I will be heterosexual but it said I need not take any more births - i.e I will not be reborn again. Contradicting, isn't it?

"If you unite yourself with Him through meditation and Yoga, you will obtain immortality and eternal bliss."

I have been practicing Kundalini (forgot the actual spelling) meditation, but have not been uniting with HIM. Oh dear wasted all my time.

[retri]

Thks Engineer.

" .....But, when all your desires for the mundane objects cease, then the chains are broken and you are free. You need not take any more births......"

This means if I meditate and visual pics of woman, then I will no longer be gay NOT in this life. Means next life I will be heterosexual but it said I need not take any more births - i.e I will not be reborn again. Contradicting, isn't it?

"If you unite yourself with Him through meditation and Yoga, you will obtain immortality and eternal bliss."

I have been practicing Kundalini (forgot the actual spelling) meditation, but have not been uniting with HIM. Oh dear wasted all my time.

I think it's foolish if you are to take LITERAL meanings from text that are age-old and apply them to our context in this modern day.

[Guest Thinker]

I think it's foolish if you are to take LITERAL meanings from text that are age-old and apply them to our context in this modern day.

Guess you are correct. Even speakers from "The Secret" told the participants that The Law of Universe, even though centuries old, is still applicable in this modern day. Its a matter of how we decipher the code relating to such laws and apply it to modern society.

[TheVisitors]

I disagree with you on most accounts.

Sweeping statement can never be right. Not all monks are ignorant like you trying to portray. There are many monks who have waded through piles of books to get where they are right now - like holding MA degree, Phd. Some-such as thich nhat hanh- have written many great books. I might have agreed if you call all those summer camp monks who wear robe for 10 days as ignorant when it comes to buddhism.

Sorry buddhism doesn't require ones to believe everything it says. Ever heard of Kalama Sutta? It encourage you to find out what is right and what is wrong by yourself. So you aren't bound to blind believe. On a side note, even as buddhist by birth, I don't agree with everything that scriptures say. I only adopt which I think is logical and dump those that aren't. For instance, I find meditation to be very useful and that's from my experience. Helps me control my anger and deal with situation at hand calmly.

Unless you can't enjoy your life being inconsiderate to others, I don't see it is that difficult to live by it. It basically tells you to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. All you need to do is be considerate.

I concur the above statement. It's not the universe that is judging us. It is our own actions that cause this to happen.

I will not challenge what you said and believe, because that is your truth.

But remember, truth is never stagnant, it is ever on going. forever on the move, it is ever expanding in such immensity that no one can understand it, not even the Buddha I am afraid. No one can understand life's mysterious, until you die and enter into the other side, then all can be revealed to you, up to your soul's own creation when it was alive, and up to your soul's maturity and evolution

If you finally understood what truth is, everything just stops, all things cease to function, all things will vanish into this Nothingness. The whole universe will just die. Time will just freeze.

Therefore, truth is a living thing, it is not a conclusion, a full stop, it will always be on the move for the Universe to create and to re-create itself. It is macrocosmos, you and i are just microcosmos. we need it to go on going, to create and recreate ourselves endlessly and forever.

It is a cosmic wheel which we express our souls in each life or form in however plane or realm we choose to express.This expression comes from the free will of choice we are given at hand

In one form/life we may express our life as a king, a prostitute, a pauper a farmer, a doctor, a commoner, a gay or even a prostitute. each form is a function, a micro part of the entire Oness. This Oness is life.Life is ever on going, expressing itself its truth through each function.

All relative truths, then gather to become the Ultimate Truth, which will still be on going, for the universe to live, for all lives to breath

But you didn't realized you have known everything. Your soul only live in the theories. It doesn't know what it is, untill it takes up a form or a function, to understand what it really is, along with the expressions, it has in each expressed form

You came back in each form, to understand this Oness,just to remember yourself, your own oness, and who you really are inside. It is when you have returned through many forms, do you then know who you are.Just as you begin to know who you are, you begin to create different forms about yourself. It can never stop.

The Oness contains all Lives. which is very much alive. It can never attain Nirvana because life never stops.

Nirvana or enlightenment is not about miracles, its just seeing truth as truth, as you put aside all illusions, and slowly expand your own awareness and consciousness within

Edited March 1, 2010 by TheVistors

[Guest Commentor]

While Buddhism does not condemn gays, we must remember there is another rule in Buddhism. Buddhist are supposed to obey the laws in that country that they reside in.

Another thing is, not talking about exiting the 6 realms yet, even in the form heaven, the deities have already the ability to suppress their sexual desires (heter or homo). So it depends on what you want to achieve as a buddhist. You want to return as a human (at least), you must not participate in sexual misconduct. If you want to exit the 6 realms, then....

While I think I understand Buddhism, I also understand my own weakness. I'm trying very hard to leave a proper life. I do hope that I will be able to reach my goal.

[frenz]

I agree with commentor, I'm also trying to lead a proper life.

Buddhism is a teaching founded by Lord Buddha.

He simply discovered the universal law (Karma), he doesn't created it.

He thinks and teaches what is best for us as human.

He, too cannot break the laws that why he is a free man. (out of samsara)

He didn't force us to believe either but as a student, u ought to follow the teachings.

His teachings is far too profound for us to understand, that's why I won't comment.

It is like describing the shape or colours or a picture to a blind man.

Follow or not, that's your choice. I'm a Buddhist, so I'll try my best.

The existence of karma is like the 'chicken n eggs' story

who comes first, the chicken or the egg? Just sharing my thots, no offence!

[tookidooki]

Just my take on the subject

Forget about all the "big" stuff and simply follow the 5 precepts i.e Buddhist Code of Conduct.

These are commitments to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication

So easy, yet so difficult to commit..sigh....

[Baloo]

I have a problem with the term 'sexual misconduct' in the above 5...

would it mean that homosexuality is a 'misconduct'?

[Guest hmmm]

I have a problem with the term 'sexual misconduct' in the above 5...

would it mean that homosexuality is a 'misconduct'?

i attended several talks and there are slightly differing views abt this term by the different venerables, but all venerables are consistent in that the term should be discussed in the context of (1) commitment of sexual acts that is detrimental to a marriage (adultery for eg), and (2) irresponsibile and indiscrimate sexual acts / sexual promisicuity that may result in an harmful outcome (eg contracting of sexual diseases).

i used to have the mentality that as a gayman, any sex i have with men is considered misconduct. but when i reflected, i realized that i had defined the `mis-' in relation to the commonly held notion that straight sex is the only correct conduct (as part of the conditioning i get when i grow up). as part of my coming out, i had my closure when i reflected deeper into the teaching itself. and i must say that i felt tremendously comforted when i read the post by the bhante (as posted in the link above) about homosexuality and buddhism. i am even more committed now to keep my mind open and to research and reflect deeper into the teachings.

[cock brand]

I have a problem with the term 'sexual misconduct' in the above 5...

would it mean that homosexuality is a 'misconduct'?

The 5 Precepts are the basic of the Buddhist moral code and one of them is "sexual misconduct" - "不邪淫戒"

［不邪淫戒］，谓人若淫泆无度，好犯他人妻妾，死堕恶道；或生人中，妻妾亦不贞良。若不作是事，名不邪淫戒。

Sexual misconduct means having evil sexual intentions, eyeing friend's spouse, committing adultery, excessive sexual indulgence, etc.

So, being gay is not a "misconduct" but if you commit any of the mentioned misdeeds, then you have broke the moral code.

So, are you "innocent"?

[harylok]

The 5 Precepts are the basic of the Buddhist moral code and one of them is "sexual misconduct" - "不邪淫戒"

Sexual misconduct means having evil sexual intentions, eyeing friend's spouse, committing adultery, excessive sexual indulgence, etc.

So, being gay is not a "misconduct" but if you commit any of the mentioned misdeeds, then you have broke the moral code.

So, are you "innocent"?

Let's hear what Dalai Lama had said about Gay Sexual Conduct:

"............ if two males or two females voluntarily agree to have mutual satisfaction without further implication of harming others, then it is okay." - Feb.-Mar. 1994 - Dalai Lama

"A sexual act is deemed proper when the couples use the organs intended for sexual intercourse [penis and vagina] and nothing else... Homosexuality, whether it is between men or between women, is not improper in itself. What is improper is the use of organs already defined as inappropriate [mouth, hand, anus] for sexual contact." －1996 - Dalai Lama

Hmmm ....an "YES & NO" answer ..

So, dear fellow gaymen, who has been "misconduct-ing" ?

Hary,

Sex(动态) =》 CUM-ed(静态) =》 灭了则得【空】，

从【空】入【假】, PLU的因缘暂聚为【假】。

... PLU【假】观之解悟

Edited March 5, 2010 by GachiMuchi

[Guest hmmm]

i dont think dalai lama has contradicted himself in the two sentences you have written. i do not know the context of when the sentences were said, what languages it was said in and why some of the words were in brackets and so i shall not comment further on it. but based on my limited understanding of buddhist teachings, we really need to delve into the intentions of the act and not the act itself.

[Guest Guest]

I will not challenge what you said and believe, because that is your truth.

But remember, truth is never stagnant, it is ever on going. forever on the move, it is ever expanding in such immensity that no one can understand it, not even the Buddha I am afraid. No one can understand life's mysterious, until you die and enter into the other side, then all can be revealed to you, up to your soul's own creation when it was alive, and up to your soul's maturity and evolution

If you finally understood what truth is, everything just stops, all things cease to function, all things will vanish into this Nothingness. The whole universe will just die. Time will just freeze.......

Sorry I'm not here to do silly argument which is "My Religion is better than yours" if that's what you think. Needless to say, the respective followers of each religion would say theirs is better than others when they are asked and I understand that that's what they see as truth. I don't blame them. My post was to point out few things from you statements which was not fair and which I can't fathom.

Painting the whole group with a single brush is so wrong on so many levels. I don't deny the fact that, like any other groups, monks have their fair share of ignorant individuals. By the same token, there have smart ones as well. You were saying like monks are bound to be ignorant and that's what I find unacceptable.

[Guest RocaMoca]

Nobody is expert in Precepts nowadays. And discussing it does not make one any better... just more confused. Do you agree ?

I think if we channel our attention to sharing with fellow Buddhist how we try to lead a good life (wrt homosexuality), what works (or improves our mind/thoughts) and what didn't, we can help each other improve bit by bit.

These is what I have tried. I'm just sharing here. I don't want you to jump to conclusion what works and what does not. It's all depends on oneself.

1. In the past, I found that when the sex thought arises, it disturbs me. I cannot focus on my work. So I tried to masturbate daily so that the urge is lessen. I find it quite good that I don't get disturbe by that thought most of the time throughout the day. But I'm worried that I'm actually consciously encouraging that thought to persist. After a while, I was quite busy and I forgot to masturbate, then my old self came back... When the urge arises (and still not that strong) I ignore it, then when it became very strong, I cannot control it. I don't know whether I should just make it a routine to masturbate regularly at a define time (may be bathing) so that I can reduce the impact of uncontrolled urges.

When I was masturbating daily, after a week or so, I actually got quite bored with it. I find it a chore and that's another reason why I stop doing it.

2. I've also tried this. I recite Namo Amitabha and tried to get the sex thought out of my mind. It was quite help also, especially when it was during mid year or year end, when there is 法会 where I attended. A few years back, I manage to control myself for 19 days. Not masturbating. I also felt the urge not as overwhelming. But after 19 days, I gave in. At the beginning of this year, I attended a 法会 and recite 南无阿弥陀佛 at home and I manage to control it for 33 days.

I don’t know which method is better. I do hope that one day, I will be release from this demon that controls me.

[aki]

Are you from 净宗?

Nobody is expert in Precepts nowadays. And discussing it does not make one any better... just more confused. Do you agree ?

/

/

I don’t know which method is better. I do hope that one day, I will be release from this demon that controls me.

[Guest wolves]

looks like harylok had copied the two quotes from this link - http://borngay.procon.org/viewanswers.asp?questionID=000037 and had focused on only 2 of the many comments abt this issue. i encourage those who are interested to visit this site to take a look at the discussion to gain a deeper understanding of buddhism and homosexuality.

Let's hear what Dalai Lama had said about Gay Sexual Conduct:

"............ if two males or two females voluntarily agree to have mutual satisfaction without further implication of harming others, then it is okay." - Feb.-Mar. 1994 - Dalai Lama

"A sexual act is deemed proper when the couples use the organs intended for sexual intercourse [penis and vagina] and nothing else... Homosexuality, whether it is between men or between women, is not improper in itself. What is improper is the use of organs already defined as inappropriate [mouth, hand, anus] for sexual contact." －1996 - Dalai Lama

Hmmm ....an "YES & NO" answer ..

So, dear fellow gaymen, who has been "misconduct-ing" ?

Hary,

Sex(动态) =》 CUM-ed(静态) =》 灭了则得【空】，

从【空】入【假】, PLU的因缘暂聚为【假】。

... PLU【假】观之解悟

[Guest RocaMoca]

Are you from 净宗?

Yes.

[TheVisitors]

Sorry I'm not here to do silly argument which is "My Religion is better than yours" if that's what you think. Needless to say, the respective followers of each religion would say theirs is better than others when they are asked and I understand that that's what they see as truth. I don't blame them. My post was to point out few things from you statements which was not fair and which I can't fathom.

Painting the whole group with a single brush is so wrong on so many levels. I don't deny the fact that, like any other groups, monks have their fair share of ignorant individuals. By the same token, there have smart ones as well. You were saying like monks are bound to be ignorant and that's what I find unacceptable.

If there are things you can't fathom or accept, then thats your understanding of things I am afraid. I have no religion, thus there is no contest of superiority here

In any case of any religious group, conforming to a set of outward appearance and conforming to a set of beliefs, does not mean you are spiritual. You are just conforming to a belief. Thus when you conformed you have no freedom to seek the truth for yourself. Didn't Buddha stated many times against the idea of conforming and men must keep questioning things, instead of accepting things without real understanding?

I am not interested in conforming. I am interested in seeking truth as it is, not really through sutras or any books.

They are just guidelines, but to discover the truth, you must seek it yourself.

Truth is not a matter of arguementation and conviction; it is not the outcome of opinions.

Anyone can tell you about love. You can still go and seek love through your books, or write tons of poems on love, but you are still looking for it because you have not experience it yet.

Till one day when you finally experience what true love is, all the books you have ever read, all the poems you have written and what others have told you before, all suddenly become very meaningless.

You have finally experience that truth, no one can take that away.

Monks are just humans who have the desire to seek. Their desire is no difference from your desire to make miilions of dollars, or just to have the desire to have sex.

Desire is a seeking to becoming of what you are not and what you don't have.

All they do is to wear some religious clothes, hide behind a temple or a wall, do some sutra chantings and called themselves spiritual which is what you would like to believe them to be. They are just like me and you, still seeking.

They merely live in empty theories derived from what they learned from their sutras and their books.They don't know how to live.

These are outward appearances, which the Buddha did termed them as Emptiness.

But the book of life is to be alive constantly. It is about putting aside your books and you quotes, putting aside all your own enclosed thinking, and going beyond those walls to experience

The truth spiritual ones are like Christ, the Buddha and Mother Theresa would walked and shared their lives with the everyday common people, who suffers and in turn, they understood what suffering and life is all about, which you and I are yet to grasp.

Monks just hide behind walls and think they know a great deal.

I leave you this quote from Bhagavad Gita which summarizes what I am trying to express, which gives you something to ponder.

" As unnecessary as a well is, to a village on the banks of a river, so unnecessary are all scriptures, to someone who has seen the truth. "

Edited March 14, 2010 by TheVistors

[Guest RocaMoca]

You a Buddhist ? If not, then best let the Buddhist comment on Buddhism.

If there are things you can't fathom or accept, then thats your understanding of things I am afraid. I have no religion, thus there is no contest of superiority here

In any case of any religious group, conforming to a set of outward appearance and conforming to a set of beliefs, does not mean you are spiritual. You are just conforming to a belief. Thus when you conformed you have no freedom to seek the truth for yourself. Didn't Buddha stated many times against the idea of conforming and men must keep questioning things, instead of accepting things without real understanding?

I am not interested in conforming. I am interested in seeking truth as it is, not really through sutras or any books.

They are just guidelines, but to discover the truth, you must seek it yourself.

Truth is not a matter of arguementation and conviction; it is not the outcome of opinions.

Anyone can tell you about love. You can still go and seek love through your books, or write tons of poems on love, but you are still looking for it because you have not experience it yet.

Till one day when you finally experience what true love is, all the books you have ever read, all the poems you have written and what others have told you before, all suddenly become very meaningless.

You have finally experience that truth, no one can take that away.

Monks are just humans who have the desire to seek. Their desire is no difference from your desire to make miilions of dollars, or just to have the desire to have sex.

Desire is a seeking to becoming of what you are not and what you don't have.

All they do is to wear some religious clothes, hide behind a temple or a wall, do some sutra chantings and called themselves spiritual which is what you would like to believe them to be. They are just like me and you, still seeking.

They merely live in empty theories derived from what they learned from their sutras and their books.They don't know how to live.

These are outward appearances, which the Buddha did termed them as Emptiness.

But the book of life is to be alive constantly. It is about putting aside your books and you quotes, putting aside all your own enclosed thinking, and going beyond those walls to experience

The truth spiritual ones are like Christ, the Buddha and Mother Theresa would walked and shared their lives with the everyday common people, who suffers and in term, they understood what suffering and life is all about, which you and I are yet to grasp.

Monks just hide behind walls and think they know a great deal.

I leave you this quote from Bhagavad Gita which summarizes what I am trying to express, which gives you something to ponder.

" As unnecessary as a well is, to a village on the banks of a river, so unnecessary are all scriptures, to someone who has seen the truth. "

[TheVisitors]

You a Buddhist ? If not, then best let the Buddhist comment on Buddhism.

Used to be, but althought no longer one, I do agree with the Buddha's actual teachings, and not how the followers presents it . Same goes for other religions. . There is truth in everyone of them but they got distorted along the way.

I experienced and learned about other religions' teaching and their truth but subscribe to none.

Beliefs are created by human and his follies. Truth exist on its own

But the universal force which actually exist is love .It exists in all hearts of men. If you don't have that in you, you are just a very sad empty shell

But they seperated themselves by their beliefs like I am a Buddhist You are a Hindu, He is a Christian- its a term that seperates you and the rest.

Its like you telling me if I am not a Buddhist, I have no right to comment. You have shown a seperation here.

Have not the Buddha ever taught what is identity and its seperateness? Did the Buddha ever teach you to exclude those who are 'non Buddhist' . If you do,then you have not understood the Buddha's fundemental's teaching, even if you are a Buddhist, I am afraid.

Edited March 7, 2010 by TheVistors

[harylok]

No one can understand life's mysterious, until you die and enter into the other side, then all can be revealed to you, up to your soul's own creation when it was alive, and up to your soul's maturity and evolution

LOL .. see who's uncover the secret of life ..

If you finally understood what truth is, everything just stops, all things cease to function, all things will vanish into this Nothingness. The whole universe will just die. Time will just freeze.......

Wow .. what a secular way of "Enlightenment"。

自悟与"自误"只是一线之差, 后者留给那些自圆其说且沉不住气的凡夫俗子吧 cos'it make more sense if's in a endless-loop state ..

You a Buddhist ? If not, then best let the Buddhist comment on Buddhism.

errr... Why are you closing the door?

Hary,

... “鸵乌"式的修炼, 是永远悟不出什么真理的 ...

... "填鸭"式的宗教信仰, 让人与现实更加脱节, 陷入迷惑

Edited March 8, 2010 by harylok

[TheVisitors]

For the Buddhist here, the singer Chi Yu some years back did released an albumn of Buddhist chanting.

[aki]

Hi Roca Moca, I am from JZ also. Care to be friends?

[Guest RocaMoca]

Hi Roca Moca, I am from JZ also. Care to be friends?

How to contact you ?

[aki]

How to contact you ?

Could u become a member and send me a private message? AMTF!

[topLTR_93]

The 5 Precepts are difficult to uphold, in the strictest form because of our innate human desires. Therefore, we need meditation to tame these desires.

Personally, I am gay. And I have a fetish for dominating (hurting) married men (sexual misconduct). Killing even includes killing that irritating mosquito, or that loathsome bug that keeps flying around you. No one can fully uphold Buddhist concepts.

I am born and bred Buddhist. I do know the consequences of these actions. Certainly, i do not want to end up, in my next life, as an animal, hungry ghost or worse, a denizen of Naraka. So how do I ensure that my next rebirth is a human again, and that my positive Karma outweighs my negative ones?

Also, I have heard, from some Tibetan Buddhist sects, that rebirth in the next life as a human (with proper functioning organs) is extremely rare. Buddha, in one of the sutras, said that the chances are comparable to a "blind turtle sticking its head up a hole on a piece of wood that is tossed into a raging ocean". Yet, some say that if we are born as humans, we would be born again if we do not do too much misdeeds.

Is that true? What do you guys think? Any Buddhist experts here? :S

[Avecinfuser]

I'm a gay Buddhist and proud of it. I know gay Christians too....ALOT of them. But the main difference between both religions is that the latter is prejudicial against your sexuality and the former doesn't take your sexuality into consideration. If one were to believe that there is such thing as a loving God, he sure doesn't love us gays, as written and proven in the bible. I would like to think that I have lived my life truest according to the teachings of Buddha to the best of my abilities and what happens when I die is the result of the Karmic forces of the universe.

[Dancer66]

my personal view is that the 5 precepts should not be seen to be an end in itself, rather, it should be seen as a set of precepts that help us and guide us towards the process of understanding the truth and releasing ourselves from attachments. as humans, we falter, but what is important is that we make the efforts to chnage and improve for the better. that, to me is the crux of how we should subscribe to the precepts.

as for the concepts of rebirths, one can read the scriptures literally to mean being reborn physically as an animal, etc. for me, i choose to see it metaphorically. animals, ghosts, devas, gods, human, etc are the 6 realms of beings and i see them to represent different aspects (eg states of emotions) of us. and we do go thru these different states (eg happiness, jealousy...), we enter a state of happiness, and the state of happiness ends at some point in time, such is the cycle of these different states can be explained as the wheel of samsara. the cause of it is our greed, delusion as well as ignorance. eg when we yearn for wealth (greed) and get it, we become happy. and when we lose it, the happiness ends... that is the cycle we experience when we are attached to the concept of money as a source of happiness. the way out of it is the knowledge that these are transcient (wisdom instead of ignorance) and this knowledge helps us understand and internalize the truth (conceptually no different from being "enlightened") and eventually detach ourselves from the concept of greed. don't get me wrong, in this example, i am not saying money is not important, it is. it is. however, we should not allow it to make us greedy to the point that it becomes a source of negative energies in us.

you may also want to read more about "the twelve links of dependent origination".

my thoughts for sharing.

Edited September 17, 2011 by Dancer66

[TheVisitors]

I no longer belong or tied myself down to any religion, which has its own conditioned thinking.

This gives me the freedom to explore life and see things even more clearer, instead of allowing your views and beliefs to be affected and controlled by some form any of those teachings, which is no longer the real truth.

The truth that you hear and read, are dluted truth, if not distorted, from human's limited undersanding, or were edited to suit the conditions of those days,

Most were edited as means to manipulate the masses, through the use of fear and coersion.

When conditioned, your mind is not so alert and sharp to be aware of things.

Yet, all each reigon has its own truth.

Just as the white light is made up of seven colours, men, with his very limited thinking and perception, only see one colour, thus each took one colour, and declare that colour as his truth.

The result is separation , seperate identity, division and war.

But they all forget, if the seven colours are all together,they give us the beauiful colours rainbow.

Seven notes that make up a music scale. If you lack just one note, the music is incomplete.

Seven olours denotes each seven charkras.

Each charkras is actually 7 layers.

Thus 7x7= 49.

If you look carefully.

Christ was tempted in the wilderness for 49 days

The Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree and attain his enlightenment for 49 days.

Mohamad was in the cave for 49 days.

Not only them, there were other sages whch revolve round the number 7 or 49

Even the magical square of seven has a very special meanng..

No religious truth, can be any higher than your own truth.

Your truth is to seek your own salvation, and understand the entire totality, which is only understood, by expereincing different forms of incarnation, which is conventionally known as reincarnation.

You will experience what beliefs you habour.

You will experience what experiences you give to others, which is conventionally known as karma

All experiences has no judgement, nor good nor bad, but what are dually labelled , are the works of the parodical human system..

I will not discuss this further.

If those who are interested to understand how things works on a higher realm, you may want to read Conversation with God by Donlad Walsch,

Ramtha the White Book, works by Jiddu Krishnamurti, Classic Translation by Stephen Mitchell,, books by the Theosophical Society.

And maybe the history of Pheiades.

Everything is about energy, but I do believe the existence of a Supreme Divine Intelligence

This Supreme Divine Intelligence doesn't even judge you because you from this source, which allow you to experience what you need to experience in each of your incarnation..

Thus it doesn't even bother if you are gay or not. Because to it , you represent a special unique life force.

The Christians has a teaching, that men were created in the image of God.

Thus they mirror each other

So if this God judges you,,he judges himself , Because by this act,isn't he actually slapping his own face, when he judges any of his own creaion?

Think about that.

[Guest Guest]

approach all religion with an open mind and the teacher will appear when the student is ready. one religion will work for one but not for another. what's important is that you find happiness and peace of mind in practising what you are practising, for the divine is in the heart and not out there somewhere.

[Guest Guest]

Dharma Talk -15-03-12

This one is on gay marriage, or marriage equality and the talk is incredibly uplifting and the jokes are absolutely hilarious. It really gives one a lot of hope to hear somebody teaching from the heart and making such a positive difference in the world.

Ajahn Brahm has been very forward in supporting the gay community for many years, both in Australia and overseas.

http://www.dhammalok...aloka-live.html

[Guest Guest]

The greater majority of Buddhists throughout the modern world are inspired to learn that the Buddha certainly did not discriminate against homosexuality. The core teachings of original Buddhism clearly show that it is not whether one is heterosexual, homosexual or celibate that is good or bad, but it is how a person uses their sexual orientation that makes for good or bad karma. For example a gay man in a committed, loving and joyful relationship with a male partner is definitely morally superior to a straight married guy who is unfaithful to his wife. Homosexuality is not wrong per se.

Too long has religious bigotry caused suffering to minority groups in our society. All religions should be more loving.

The following excerpt (or transcript) was taken from a Dharma talk on Homosexuality by Ven Ajahn Brahm :

http://heartlandsg.o...om-ajahn-brahm/

[Guest Guest]

Star Observer, 19 April 2012

The House of Representatives public hearing on same-sex marriage, held at NSW Parliament on April 12, saw the largest non-Christian religious faith in Australia come out in support of marriage equality.

http://www.buddhistc...0,10847,0,0,1,0

[Guest No Name lah]

Hmm... My personal understanding. Just voicing aloud. I'm not expert in Buddhism. Homosexual Love is not discriminated as you have said. But do not confuse with the homosexual act. I don't it is accepted in Buddhism. I once heard a Master talking about straight love. Strictly, the couple can't do anal or oral. So how can homosexual acts be accepted ?

The greater majority of Buddhists throughout the modern world are inspired to learn that the Buddha certainly did not discriminate against homosexuality. The core teachings of original Buddhism clearly show that it is not whether one is heterosexual, homosexual or celibate that is good or bad, but it is how a person uses their sexual orientation that makes for good or bad karma. For example a gay man in a committed, loving and joyful relationship with a male partner is definitely morally superior to a straight married guy who is unfaithful to his wife. Homosexuality is not wrong per se.

Too long has religious bigotry caused suffering to minority groups in our society. All religions should be more loving.

The following excerpt (or transcript) was taken from a Dharma talk on Homosexuality by Ven Ajahn Brahm :

http://heartlandsg.o...om-ajahn-brahm/

[Guest 佛祖大慈大悲善哉善哉]

人皆平等！众生可谓！

你永远要宽恕众生，不论他有多坏，甚至他伤害过你，你一定要放下，才能得到真正的快乐。

当你知道迷惑时，并不可怜，当你不知道迷惑时，才是最可怜的。

[Guest Guest]

Hmm... My personal understanding. Just voicing aloud. I'm not expert in Buddhism. Homosexual Love is not discriminated as you have said. But do not confuse with the homosexual act. I don't it is accepted in Buddhism. I once heard a Master talking about straight love. Strictly, the couple can't do anal or oral. So how can homosexual acts be accepted ?

Excerpt from the talk on Homosexuality by Ven Ajahn Brahm :

".....Very often, they ask the question, “Is homosexuality breaking the 5 precepts?” Particularly, this concerns the 3rd precept, which concerns sexual misconduct. However, the studies of Buddhist meaning of the term sexual misconduct certainly does not include homosexual activities. And its fascinating that the Buddha was certainly aware about homosexuality in his time. There were many cases mentioned in old scriptures, especially the Vinaya (the code of ethics for monks and nuns) of homosexual acts and those who were that way inclined and he certainly never included it under the 5 precepts...."

[babooshame07]

逆境是成长必经的过程，能勇于接受逆境的人，生命就会日渐的茁壮。

[Guest Guest]

Gays and Lesbians are welcome in my world - Kalu Rinpoche

In a lot of religions in this world, gays and lesbians are not accepted… from my point of view, and I would say from a Buddhist point of view, gay and lesbian are welcome in my world. I’m happy to see how they love and take responsibility for each other and for their family.

Buddha never said to be gay is not good; to be lesbian is not good.

Buddha only cares about your happiness. God only cares for your happiness. If they do not care about your happiness, what are they talking about? What is their point?

So don’t be sad, don’t be unhappy if you are gay or lesbian.

In a relationship, it is appreciation of the other that is most important. This is the quality that will bring you happiness… whether you are heterosexual, gay or lesbian.

http://www.paldensha...me-in-my-world/

[Guest Guest]

KALU RINPOCHE

KALU RINPOCHE

[babooshame07]

Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche (The THIRD Kalu Rinpoche)

Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche:

"I am not creating some new Dharma. I might have a new face and new body but the Dharma is the same."

Background

At 3:00 P. M., Wednesday, May 10, 1989, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche died at his monastery in Sonada. On September 17, 1990 Rinpoche's Tulku was born in Darjeeling, India to Lama Gyaltsen and his wife Drolkar. Lama Gyaltsen, had served since his youth as his secretary.

Chamgon Tai Situ Rinpoche officially recognized Kalu Rinpoche’s yangsi (young reincarnation) on March 25, 1992, explaining that he had received definite signs from Kalu Rinpoche himself. Situ Rinpoche sent a letter of recognition with Lama Gyaltsen to the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, who immediately confirmed the recognition

On February 28, 1993, Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche was enthroned at Samdrup Tarjayling. Chamgon Tai Situ Rinpoche and Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche presided over the ceremony, assisted by Kalu Rinpoche’s heart-son, Bokar Rinpoche. Situ Rinpoche performed the hair-cutting ceremony and bestowed on the young tulku the name Karma Ngedön Tenpay Gyaltsen —Victory Banner of the Teachings of the True Meaning. He is now known as the Second Kalu Rinpoche. The USA Kagyu organization, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, recognizes Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche (1990 to present) as the THIRD Kalu Rinpoche.

In the fall of 2011, Kalu Yangsi gave a talk at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. At the end of the talk, a student in the audience asked him to comment on the prevalence of sexual abuse of children in the west. Kalu paused, then broke down in tears and revealed for the first time that he had been sexually molested from the age of 10 to 12 by the monks in charge of his education. The video on youtube was done so that the story would not become unsubstantiated gossip.

Biography of His Eminence the 3rd Kalu Rinpoche

DURING THE MONTHLY fulfillment offerings to Six-Armed Mahakala on September 17, 1990, the flower of his perfect form first blossomed in Darjeeling, India. He was born without any harm to his mother. Among other numerous significant, wonderful and wholly positive signs arising with his birth, his monastery at Sonada was covered with a canopy of rainbow clouds.

Even then, some faithful patrons of his previous incarnation felt unusually joyful, both physically and mentally, upon simply seeing the child’s face. From that moment, persons near and far spread the news: “The Supreme reincarnation of our spiritual master has been born!”

The child naturally comported himself in a manner surpassing the behavior of other children. His greatest joy was found in playing the various ritual musical instruments, such as ra-gung (long horns) and gya-ling (short horns). As the child grew, his character revealed peacefulness, discipline and complete fearlessness; and it was evident to all that he had previously cultivated the spiritual path.

When in July of 1992, the new incarnation was invited to visit the Buddhist meditation centers founded in France by his previous incarnation, the disciples and many other persons who met him were amazed and moved to faith by his presence. In December of 1992, he made his first pilgrimage to the supreme sacred place, the Vajra Seat (Bodh Gaya in north-central India).

Although still very young, he attended daily the great gathering to recite The Aspirations of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra; played, at the head of the assembly, the ritual hand drum and bell proficiently; prostrated and made offerings to the representations of the Buddha’s body, speech and mind; and gave gifts to the beggars there without having been taught to do so. His natural pleasure in doing these acts astonished everyone and led them to feel faith in him.

On February 25, 1993, Kalu Rinpoche was enthroned at a profound and complete ceremony of investiture.

In June 1995, Kalu Rinpoche Yangsi made his first visit to North America, accompanied by Bokar Rinpoche. During their stay at Kagyu Thubten Chöling Monastery, Kalu Rinpoche Yangsi participated in conferring the empowerments bestowed by Bokar Rinpoche, as well as the daily chanting assemblies. When Kalu Rinpoche Yangsi and Bokar Rinpoche visited the stupa site, they gave a spontaneous performance of Tibetan sacred dance (Tib. cham), said to have the power to pacify discordant forces.

In 2008, Kalu Rinpoche completed the traditional three-year three-month retreat.

"Don’t run after happiness, live in happiness."

- 3rd Kalu Rinpoche