tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post201535649564946709..comments2024-03-28T14:11:24.265-07:00Comments on dhamma musings: A Gay TragedyShravasti Dhammikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-13654002259435483662012-05-24T21:48:48.132-07:002012-05-24T21:48:48.132-07:00thankyouthankyouIsahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12789043825359847707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-69067130608118256682011-04-01T12:11:03.053-07:002011-04-01T12:11:03.053-07:00Dear dhamma.Hello from James Wilkinson...I read yo...Dear dhamma.Hello from James Wilkinson...I read your blog from google about Buddhism and homosexuality..I liked your blog very much.You are a lovely human being.Love,peace,joy and Namaste.James<br />www.flickr.com/photos/jimeli1jamesrw/James Roger Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14075673495956184743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-70624707280488409472010-02-23T15:50:21.057-08:002010-02-23T15:50:21.057-08:00Thank you for the sharing Bhante.
JeffreyThank you for the sharing Bhante.<br /><br />Jeffreypeacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09789825533065647176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-17493711388425295772009-05-17T04:30:00.000-07:002009-05-17T04:30:00.000-07:00Sir,
I am a born burmese buddhist who is studying...Sir,<br /><br />I am a born burmese buddhist who is studying in singapore. I have never been religious and my faith in religions have already drifted away as i realised that those i soughted (some monks back at home), they were unable to answer my queries, and thus i am nearing to 85% abandonment of the religion itself. <br /><br />Also, over the years, i have read about news of monks having corruptions and sexual affairs and all these put me even further away from the only religion that make some sense to me; Buddhism. And the fact that i used to be a feminist did not help. It became so bad that i used to put my hands together and kneel down in front of monks. <br /><br />After reading your view on homosexuality, i am interested in what you have to say about other issues based on buddhism take.<br /><br />I would like to know if you reside at any temple so that i can hear more of your views. Thank you.Alexander Aitanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684209828989785201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-64167326711552612452009-04-29T06:37:00.000-07:002009-04-29T06:37:00.000-07:00Oh, Venerable. I am very sad to learn this.
Some...Oh, Venerable. I am very sad to learn this. <br /><br />Sometimes, we are soooo overwhelmed with guilt. For no matter what reasons, we just feel totally filthy, dirty and unworthy. It feels like, I look like a pretty clean human, but, you never see my darkness inside. Even if somebody tell you otherwise, it does not help. Something are too good to be true, that we will simply deny and refuse it. I know, we are very ignorant... but there are cases where we cannot help sinking into the deep downward spiral...<br /><br />Dear Venerable, I think, you have already done your best on Julian. And with this post, you are teaching us what is Buddhist view on homosexuality too.Samsarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13609031778646572247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-45084187695805068852009-04-28T12:52:00.000-07:002009-04-28T12:52:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05545802502509732468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-21630356483746308192009-04-28T11:44:00.000-07:002009-04-28T11:44:00.000-07:00I agree with your view whole heartedly!
It sadden...I agree with your view whole heartedly!<br /><br />It saddens me that many people are only concerned about the fact that teaching homosexuality in a neutral term would "encourage" their child to become homosexual. And that it is a deviant behavior and should be stigmatized as such.<br /><br />They forgot that there are also children who are confused about their own sexual orientation, who need help to come to terms with themselves.<br /><br />Teaching neutrality is not promoting homosexuality, but rather is telling the homosexual children that it is not wrong to be feel this way. That it is not their fault, and there should not be guilt being what they are.<br /><br />It is about reaching out to these kids, and teaching others not to discriminate others based on their sexual orientation.<br /><br />I am so sad that so many refuse to see this. Regardless how many times or how hard I tried to show them this.<br /><br />I do not consider myself a buddhist, but I curious on the buddhist opinion on evil? <br /><br />I hope you can share a little on the concept of evil in buddhism. Or is there no concept of evil in buddhism?<br /><br />My personal take is that evil is just a word/term defined by man. The evil that people generally associate with do not exist. Evil is just a set of actions or behaviors that is generally accepted by society to be harmful. In other word, evil are just actions, or thoughts that can result in socially undesirable consequences.<br /><br />It is a neutral term. And should be treated as such. I do not hate evil, nor do I discriminate against "evil" people. However, I will still act not because evil should be challenged, but because I do not wish the undesirable consequences.<br /><br />Am I morally empty? Because I do not believe in evil. No thoughts are inherently evil, because there is no evil, only actions that will result in undesirable consequences.<br /><br />And instead of rejecting the thought because it is evil. We should reject it because it will result in undesirable consequences.Eterna2https://www.blogger.com/profile/12153272866185167630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-74689960330961303712009-04-03T12:07:00.000-07:002009-04-03T12:07:00.000-07:00bhante,it's my good karma to read ur words :) than...bhante,<BR/><BR/>it's my good karma to read ur words :) thanks for the guidance.Hanxismhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08478894475435791101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-30157825230242431792008-12-14T11:23:00.000-08:002008-12-14T11:23:00.000-08:00I share Stan's view that Julian had been waiting f...I share Stan's view that Julian had been waiting for that answer all the while, that he was unconvinced of what you told him. It is just too sad when someone is so convinced that he is condemned that he refuses to believe in good news.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I like the knife analogy too.WPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07687159095910942083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-25472710282824989192008-12-13T03:10:00.000-08:002008-12-13T03:10:00.000-08:00I'm always curious about this issue. I came ac...I'm always curious about this issue. I came across an answer given by K.Sri Dhamananda and I was quite satisfied with his way of explaining. <BR/><BR/>Here is the link<BR/>http://www.ksridhammananda.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=44kinsunghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07666422453724482695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-50254623068318455452008-06-14T20:19:00.000-07:002008-06-14T20:19:00.000-07:00mark, "I must admit to being a little shocked at h...mark, "I must admit to being a little shocked at hearing a reply that one would expect from a christian or muslim, comming from a buddhist monk."<BR/><BR/>you sounded as though the buddhist clergy is higher then of its christian and muslim counterparts.Nodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17059161230226785549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-74090696168212958722008-06-11T08:42:00.000-07:002008-06-11T08:42:00.000-07:00Bhante, thank you for this very moving and sad art...Bhante, thank you for this very moving and sad article. I wonder how many Julians there are out there, and how many monks are there like the one who told him his fate was to be boiled in excrement in hell. I must admit to being a little shocked at hearing a reply that one would expect from a christian or muslim, comming from a buddhist monk. MarkMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02952951913549260240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-74923514815993433632008-06-08T08:28:00.000-07:002008-06-08T08:28:00.000-07:00so sorry to hear this story. thou we often only he...so sorry to hear this story. thou we often only hear what we wanna hear. i hope more of us can LISTEN.<BR/><BR/>yes i agree good analogy about knife to body.addgencyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07779758944007201139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-30066954875781454012008-06-05T03:34:00.000-07:002008-06-05T03:34:00.000-07:00Heart Sutra say: "Oh, Sariputra, Form Does not Dif...Heart Sutra say: <BR/><BR/>"Oh, Sariputra, Form Does not Differ From the Void,<BR/>And the Void Does Not Differ From Form.<BR/>Form is Void and Void is Form;<BR/>The Same is True For Feelings,<BR/>Perceptions, Volitions and Consciousness."<BR/><BR/>"Sariputra, the Characteristics of the <BR/>Voidness of All Dharmas<BR/>Are Non-Arising, Non-Ceasing, Non-Defiled,<BR/>Non-Pure, Non-Increasing, Non-Decreasing."<BR/><BR/>"Therefore, in the Void There Are No Forms, <BR/>No Feelings, Perceptions, Volitions or Consciousness."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-39888540997481488732008-06-04T01:21:00.000-07:002008-06-04T01:21:00.000-07:00Buhhism studying is not so easy after all, each ev...Buhhism studying is not so easy after all, each everyone of us maybe read the same sutra and scriptures, may not get the same idea at all.<BR/><BR/>I do remember that Budhha is a very kind person.<BR/>One story i rememeber from the book<BR/><BR/>At India, 2500years ago when Buddha was spreading his Teachings to all people he can encounter.<BR/><BR/>A sex slave went over to him.<BR/>She asked Buddha,:" Buddha, I am a sex slave. Sat in the lowest rank of the society. To enter under You to learnt your Teachings, I heard that I need to obey the 5 Basic Rules 五戒.<BR/><BR/>But as a sex slave, i only have my body as tool to survive and as a sex slave i can't obey one of the Five Rules, Sir does that mean I can't follow your Teachings to Enlightenment?"<BR/><BR/>Buddha replied:" Can you follow the rest of the Five Rules strictly?"<BR/><BR/>Sex Slave replied:" Yes Sir, i will do."<BR/><BR/>Buddha smiled and hand her up with his own hand.<BR/><BR/>"You are with me!"<BR/><BR/>*Note, Sorry for my broken English but i hope the idea can be brought out, cause I read Chinese Scriptures instead of EnglishAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-10555083863639491882008-05-31T01:29:00.000-07:002008-05-31T01:29:00.000-07:00I was always curious about Buddhisms view on homos...I was always curious about Buddhisms view on homosexuality. Thank you so much for answering that question and for sharing such a personal story. ^_^<BR/><BR/>HugsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-8452580568359505922008-05-27T22:14:00.000-07:002008-05-27T22:14:00.000-07:00Sir, thank you for this kind sharing. It possibly ...Sir, thank you for this kind sharing. <BR/><BR/>It possibly one of the most powerful writings I have read in a very long time. <BR/><BR/>Julian's life was not taken by him. It was taken by all those people who made him hate himself and who made him feel that he was lesser than others.<BR/><BR/>The comments of the Taiwanese monks is actually quite reflective of the cruel and judgemental position of other mainstream religionists. <BR/><BR/>Thank you again Sir for your posting.<BR/><BR/>BenedictBenedictSayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18310579151053270424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-66362948264557525502008-05-27T12:57:00.000-07:002008-05-27T12:57:00.000-07:00well u should write the taiwan monk the letter ri...well u should write the taiwan monk the letter right? in-case he dispenses such advise again to another innocent gay boyNodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17059161230226785549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-63368812010605138762008-05-27T12:34:00.000-07:002008-05-27T12:34:00.000-07:00from what i know, any and everyone has their chanc...from what i know, any and everyone has their chance at enlightenment. The guardians and protectors up there know what has happened and why, and i'm sure there will be recurrent karma back to the taiwanese high priest / monk / whatever. <BR/><BR/>though it could be julian's debts and karma from past life that resulted in his premature end, but it could have been prevented. <BR/><BR/>i wonder, in this instance, are the statesmen responsible for keeping the harsh laws that resulted partially in julian's death?<BR/><BR/>from what i know, buddhism doesn't condemn homosexuality, that's for sure. but the dalai lama did express that he turned away same-sex couples that come to him for blessing. i forgot his reasons for doing so, though.sxslhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05138065348194605930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-58479350437730901532008-05-27T02:24:00.000-07:002008-05-27T02:24:00.000-07:00Bhante,This subject is a recurrent one and I have ...Bhante,<BR/><BR/>This subject is a recurrent one and I have received quite a few. My sentiments are similar to yours.<BR/><BR/>I shall link this posting in future whenever anyone asks the similar question?Justin Choohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11275697990382930245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-3030019212595961982008-05-26T18:33:00.000-07:002008-05-26T18:33:00.000-07:00I like the "knife" analogy. =)I like the "knife" analogy. =)TeenTitanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03346973303187489812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-91591781838901193532008-05-26T18:15:00.000-07:002008-05-26T18:15:00.000-07:00Strange but it seems almost if Julian had been wan...Strange but it seems almost if Julian had been wanting to hear that condemnatory answer all the while, that's why he jumped at it and chose to believe it at once. I suppose there was nothing further you could have done for him. But thank you for this compelling story, it could save many out there.Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16143749620395312189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-79633424599424574722008-05-26T10:49:00.000-07:002008-05-26T10:49:00.000-07:00thats a tragic and fasinating story, one which wil...thats a tragic and fasinating story, one which will stay with me for a long time. its amazing how actions seemingly innocuous to one, can have devastating effects on other lifes.<BR/>a great blog and a credit to you.Singapore Dividend Collectorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com