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members of each gender to feel equally influential and community would depend upon the individual who
represented, some change would be necessary and was seeking the advice. Whatever the advice, we can be
that would be in step with time and space. However, certain that it would be given from a place of deep love,
attaining liberation and full enlightenment are primarily compassion for and wisdom for the individual, and it
dependent upon changes within the mind, at best would be given with the aim of alleviating sufferings of
influenced but not caused by external circumstances as the individual and ills of the society or time he or she is
such. This, I think, is important to remember. in.

Most world religions are not LGBT friendly, and Ghosts and spirit beings figure prominently during
in some cases openly hostile. What would be the the Buddha’s many teachings as preserved in the
Buddha’s advice to someone who is a LGBT? scriptures today. But in today’s world of empirical
science and modern technology, how would the

Aggacitta: The LGBT classification cannot be found in Buddha addressed the existence or non-existence of
the Pāli canon and so there was no precedent where such beings?
the Buddha addressed the issue. However, there are
two cases mentioned in the Pāli Canon about bhikkhus, Aggacitta: The exploration of space, quantum physics
with sexual makeup that went against the norm of and investigation into extraterrestial intelligence and
society, who were defrocked. The Buddha’s standard technology have humbled scientists into admitting that
prescription for the laity, whether LGBT or otherwise, there are innumerable dimensions and laws of nature
is to make much merits; observe the five precepts by yet unknown to us. In fact, leading investigators have
default, the eight precepts weekly (based on the lunar linked ancient mythologies, civilizations and mega
calendar) or the ten courses of wholesome action; and structures to extraterrestial intelligence and technology
listen to and discuss the Dhamma periodically. which have dominated our planet since millions of
years ago. The Buddha would probably highlight that
Min Wei: From the viewpoint of Buddha-nature based all these point to the fact that we should not simply
on the Lotus Sūtra, it says that “all living beings have reject what we cannot perceive through our five
the inherent potential to attain Buddhahood.” The senses or comprehend with our primitive intellect and
Buddha always perceives all beings with compassion instruments.
without discrimination, no matter one is male or female,
rich or poor, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender; the Min Wei: The Buddha did not deny the existence
Buddha’s main concern is that they are all sentient of ghosts and spirit beings. In fact, the Buddha has
beings. According to the Buddhist perspective, mentioned the teachings of six realms of existence. They
whether heterosexual or homosexual, is just a form are heavenly realm, asura realm, human realm, hell
of attachment, and it is a source of suffering. Thus, realm, hungry ghost realm, and animal realm. Therefore,
LGBT is just a different type of sexual orientation. The no matter how modern technology or science has
teachings of the Buddha clearly mentioned that in order revolutionized our perspective of the world or the way
to be liberated from suffering, it has nothing to do with we live, those ghosts and spirit beings are still existing
gender or sexual orientation, but how we are able to within these six realms.
get rid of attachment. In the real sense, being an LGBT
doesn’t block one from attaining liberation, but a ‘wrong However, the Buddha did not encourage us to worship
view’ would definitely hinder one from it. such spirit beings because there is no such teaching
in Buddhism that Buddhists can attain liberation by
Geshe Dadul: As Buddha taught based on the specific praying to them. In Buddhism, inner purification plays
needs of individuals he was addressing, including the a vital role towards the path of enlightenment and it
needs of the society he was in, the advice he would give purely depends on oneself.
to someone who is identified as a member of the LGBT