| By: N. Samphell
It intrigues me every time I hear or see news head lines about homosexuality, gay marriage and the likes. Homosexuality has been there, since time immemorial, more covertly though, and it is a very personal matter. I wonder, why people are making it an issue and there are groups, for and against homosexuality. Could it be because America is yet too young a nation Or may I be too naive to figure out any newsness in those lines?
For Buddhists, homosexuality is non-virtue every time, past, present, and future. But the gravity of non-virtueness of homosexuality is neither greater nor smaller than any other non-virtuous deeds. It is just one of the Ten non-virtues, that Tibetans call Megi-wa Chu. In terms of criminality, it is even less a crime than killing - taking life of other sentient being. And I do not consider talking or speaking for Gay Marriage more criminal intent than calling for assassination of a foreign leader. It is just for Wrong Sex Couple.
We categorize the ten non-virtues in three groups under Body, Speech and Mind. Wrong Sex - log-yhem in Tibetan, is one of the three non-virtues of the body beside killing and stealing. Homosexuality is one way of wrong sex. There are other ways of wrong sex even within our normal straight sex. Thus we sub-classify wrong sex according to time, place and object of sex.
Time wise, sex during day time, and in open view of others is wrong. Sexual gestures like touching, fondling and kissing in public places are prohibited. They are provocative acts to arose sexual instincts as all are sexual beings by propensity. We normally disapprove of these acts in open, but still we tend to look at those engaged in these acts from the corner of our eyes. These acts are not only immoral, but are negative influences as well in our society. Sex instinct is not only desire, but it is lust, which is one of the attachments- Dot-Chag in negative side. Dot-Chag is one of the three afflictive emotions, that forces us into this Samsara life after life all the time.
Sex in front of holy objects, like image of Buddha, Dharma, Sangha or in shrine room is wrong. They are the symbols of virtue and morality, that inspire people to be good, virtuous, helpful and compassionate to others. However, if any one does dirty things in their presence, it would be intentional desecration and immoral.
Sex with any one who is in practice of virtuous deeds, like retreat or in Nyung-ney practice, is wrong. Sex with any one in sorrow, or in mourning period is wrong.
Even with one’s spouse, sex in advanced pregnancy stage is wrong. And sex in any orifice other than the sex organ is wrong. Beside these wrong sex, sex with any one who is related by blood and sex with minor are wrong, too. In view of the above Wrong Sex - Log-yhems, homosexuality is just one of them. It is sex with the same sex. I do not know a Tibetan word for homosexuality. We call all these as Log-yhem, which is Wrong Sex. From among these different ways of Wrong Sex, we shouldn’t be discriminating against homosexuals only, should we ...? It would be unfair.
However, homosexual behavior, I think, is only with human beings. I do not know if there are any monkeys, dogs or any other animals for that matter, engage in homosexual acts. They are, by nature, disciplined in this matter. We need to think, why do the animals, who are intellectually inferior beings, and in fact, Buddhist hold animal life as lower form of life, follow the same sexual behavior all the time, contrary to human sexual behaviors? Not only that, the animals follow a particular season for sex as well.
Unfortunately or fortunately for human beings, there is no season nor time for sex, and they commit Log-yhem any time because of that. Though, I do not think it right for moral and intellectual beings to do any thing like Wrong Sex, but I am not against them. I am just sex neutral. We should better maintain the same social statuesque regarding Sex and it will continue as it did time immemorial.
It, therefore, is trivial, to argue for and against same sex marriage. Same sex couples, seeking marriage certificate, should be given one, and let them be entitled to all advantages and disadvantages of regular married couples. With the same and equal marriage recognition and certification Same Sex family, I bet, will never be the same as regular heterosexual family in any condition. They could be any social unit, but they do not morally constitute family. And let our posterity judge it for themselves in future. |
