This comic from Sinfest says it all:
With the recent controversy in California over gay marriage, I thought I would explore the subject. I usually stay out of politics because I don’t want to get my head chopped off, but the comic above really expresses my sentiment (and I am a huge fan of Sinfest anyways). I can’t quite understand why we make a bold and progressive decision to elect Obama as President (and I am thankful we did), but many in California who voted for him voted against gay marriage citing “religious reasons”. This post is to explore the subject of gay marriage from the Buddhist perspective.
Buddhism, traditionally, has had little to say about marriage because it is considered a secular issue, not a religious one. Monks never married, and were completely celibate anyways. It’s also why you never see Buddhist marriages either, except only in modern times in the West. People in traditional Buddhist cultures get married in other ways. In Thailand, monks may come to offer a blessing before or after, but are not required to. In Japan, people get married in Shinto shrines, or more recently, fake Christian churches (since they love Western culture so much). The Buddha often gave marriage advice to lay people, such as is found in the Pali Canon, specifically the Sigalovada Sutta (DN 31), but most of the advice is common-sense: be kind, faithful and loving to your spouse and work hard for the benefit of the marriage and the children.
As far as homosexuality is concerned, it is not a sin per se. The Buddha spoke quite a bit about sexual immorality in the sutras, but compared to Western Religions, the criteria was different. The Buddha spoke of sexual immorality more in terms of illicit sexual behavior or debauchery as in the Dighajanu Sutta (AN 8.54):
“These are the four drains on one’s store of wealth: debauchery in sex; debauchery in drink; debauchery in gambling; and evil friendship, evil companionship, evil camaraderie…
Or the aforementioned Sigalovada Sutta:
“Dice, women, liquor, dancing, singing, sleeping by day, sauntering at unseemly hours, evil companions, avarice — these nine causes ruin a man.
“Who plays with dice and drinks intoxicants, goes to women who are dear unto others as their own lives, associates with the mean and not with [wise] elders — he declines just as the moon during the waning half.
Of note is the phrase goes to women who are dear unto others as their own lives which is a reference to adultery.
The Buddha held sexual misconduct as a grave offense, and encouraged followers to take up the Five Moral Precepts, of which illicit sex is the third item to abstain from.
However, notice that in all this the Buddha never mentions homosexuality. For lay followers, the Buddha didn’t consider homosexuality a problem in of itself, if it was practiced in a wholesome manner. Monks of course had to be totally celibate, and the Buddha strictly enforced this rule in his time. If there existed a monogamous gay couple, who stayed faithful, and a straight man who slept around, the gay couple would be faultless, while the straight man would be shamed for his illicit behavior. Buddhism does not condemn people per se, but one who follows good moral conduct, in the words of the Abhisanda Sutta (AN 8.39):
…gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression.
So if we look at Buddhism and the issue of Sex, it does not matter what one’s sexual orientation is, but how one chooses to use it. If one maintains their virtue, lives in a committed relationship and avoids adultery or illicit sex, they stay true to the Third Moral Precept, and are considered faultless. Thus Buddhism has no problem with gay marriage.
Back in Seattle, I was part of the Buddhist Churches of America, which is Jodo Shinshu or “Shin” Buddhism, part of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism. The organization has been around for over 100 years on the West Coast, and has been committed to tolerance and compassion,* while Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in Japan has existed for over 700 years and has been the same since its inception. The founder of Jodo Shinshu, Shinran, was devoted to his own mentor, Honen, who actively preached Buddhism to those who were excluded by other groups. The disenfranchised and forgotten have always had a place in Pure Land Buddhism because we teach that Amida Buddha welcomes all beings as they are, if they only call his name, even once.
This unconditional tolerance and compassion is Buddhism at its best.
Namuamidabu
Update: A friend back in the old Seattle temple reminded me via email that the BCA monthly newspaper, Wheel of Dharma has an article about Rev. Briones, the first Jodo Shinshu Mexican American Minister who wrote about his experience officiating the wedding of George Takei (Mr. Sulu from Star Trek). Gotta love the diversity. 
Thanks Mr. Y!
* – Speaking from experience, my temple in Seattle had a healthy mix of elderly Japanese-American ladies sitting beside openly gay couples, so I know this to be true in practice.
This blog is the reflection of my efforts to explore fatherhood, Buddhism and my love of Japanese culture. Anything useful I can pass along makes the Internet hopefully a better place.
I love that the comic references Depeche Mode. Because I am a dorky fangirl that way.
Living in California and listening much to the aftermath and analysis of the “Proposition 8″ enactment, one of the conclusions is that many more black americans voted, which normally do not, and (very generally) their culture is less supportive of homosexual behavior. Maybe this due to religion, or something deeper in their culture. But it is thought this is why the yes vote on Prop-8 was unpredicted using previous California voting sentiments.
For your reading pleasure:
Religious Tolerance- Buddhism And Homosexuality
This was very well considered and written, thanks-
It shocks me to my very core to say this, but, really, I’ll be glad when Tatsuya gets off his politics kick.
As for the Buddhism, well, I tend to support your view.
And with the politics, most African Americans don’t support gay marriage but they really didn’t turn out in enough numbers to push Prop 8 over the top (huge African American turn out is one of the myths of this cycle that didn’t play out), and Prop Eights victory probably has more to do with their superior ad campaign and issue framing.
Warrior Two: I had the song in particular in my head for days after seeing this comic.
Dan: Actually Hispanic-Americans voted this way in large numbers due to their Catholic background and traditional values. But I suspect a lot of White-Americans did too. Not everyone who voted Obama was a tree-hugging liberal. That speaks well for Obama, but also underscores how complex politics in America really are.
Jeannie: Thanks for the link.
Lawrence: Welcome to the L8B! I liked your picture of Mr. Takei’s wedding in your related post too.
Erg: I think Tatsuya’s strengths are when he writes/draws on religious subjects. I tend to like those best, so I agree with you, but I sympathize with his feelings right now, but that’s just me. You’re right though that well-organized ad campaigns and issue framing can decide an election. Money, power and fear can influence people in all kinds of ways.
GF: “Buddhism, traditionally, has had little to say about marriage because it is considered a secular issue, not a religious one. Monks never married, and were completely celibate anyways. It’s also why you never see Buddhist marriages either. People in traditional Buddhist cultures get married in other ways. In Thailand, monks may come to offer a blessing before or after, but are not required to. In Japan, people get married in Shinto shrines, or more recently, fake Christian churches (since they love Western culture so much).”
Hi, It is possible to get married in Buddhist Temples in Japan, well at least in Jodo Shinshu (not sure about other traditions) just that many people choose not to. I went to a lovely wedding last year in a Higashi-Honganji temple, not forgetting my own three and a half years ago held in our temple in London. Focusing on lay-life Shin Buddhism has much to say about marriage and encourages followers to marry in the temple tradition.
PS have a look at this webpage for photos of a traditional Shin Buddhist wedding in Japan:
http://www.honganji.or.jp/butuzen.html
For a half a second I was thinking of voting yes on 8 partly for the stupid reason that I am married in a “traditional” marriage and why should all of a sudden we allow this type of marriage that has never existed in 2000 years. But then I realized that is a stupid reason to vote for this proposition. If they want to get married, fine. Plus, whether you like it or not, it is wrong to use the constitution to take away a right.
The American Constitution and therefore the states do not allow the tyranny of the majority to suppress a minority. Unfortunately it has happened in the past (slavery, etc) but we should not let it happen again.
I was talking to some people involved with the HRC’s ground game and the pro-prop 8 forces GOTV effort was integrated across organizations while the anti-forces, like anything the gay rights movement does, was splintered. A good GOTV push will give you anywhere from 2-6% points on election day (probably closer to 2 given it was a presidential year and turnout was up anyway) so that may have played in too. What happened was unfair, but the key lesson here is our side needs to get its game together, because right now we are a mess.
Thanks for the information on marriage and gays re: Buddhism. I’m not a scholar and don’t have the time to research such things. My Lama, Sogyal Rinpoche, presides at weddings, but it seems all he does is give the couple a teaching and a blessing. Weddings in Europe were once for the nobility only. The whole “marriage” thing has become big business. Let the hetero community have it. They’ve made a thorough mess of marriage with the high failure rate. Who needs it?
Tornado: It’s easy to get into the trap of “tradition” so I can’t blame you.
Erg: Interesting story, thanks for asking.
David Thomas: Thanks and welcome to the L8B! As a hetero who is married, I am happy to say that marriage is good for the right pair of people, and can be a wonderful thing to do. I am quite happy I married the girl I did (and now with a daughter), and we’ve been together for 5 years of marriage, and 10 years since dating.
A beautiful and succinct exploration of the issue and Buddhism’s views on the matter. While some may not agree with your conclusions, I think your analysis is a tremendous act of generosity and it makes me happy to have stumbled upon it. I like your references to the suttas, the comic strip that frames your argument, and the concise way in which you argue and make your point. Very good indeed!
Hi Gerald/Level 8, just a note to say that I blogged this over at SunSpace today. I hope you enjoy, and thanks for the fuel.
Molly
Walt: Welcome to the L8B! True not everyone agrees with the conclustions, but Buddhism, like all major religions, is quite broad, and brings many people with many backgrounds to it. If one practices Buddhism long enough though, I think they become more tolerant and kind over time, so even the worst of individuals is subject to change.
Molly: Yup, I noticed it.
Thanks very much for the kind nod, and welcome to the L8B! I don’t get a lot of folks from the big-name periodicals here, so I do appreciate the visit.
Eeeeenteresteeeng…. :-]
Hello, A-dawg and welcome to the JLR. Yes, it is interesting.