Buddhist views of homosexuality



         


This article is part of the
Religion and homosexuality series.
Buddhist views of homosexuality
Christian views of homosexuality
Hindu views of homosexuality
Islamic views of homosexuality
Jewish views of homosexuality
Neopagan views of homosexuality


One of five precepts states that one is to refrain from sexual misconduct or, more accurately, one is to refrain from indulging in sexual pleasure. Most Buddhist schools construe this to means that monks and nuns are to practice celibacy. Anal sex falls into this prohibition along with other sexual behaviour.

For laypersons, this precept mainly applies to adultery. However, wide ranges of interpretations are possible about what exactly consititutes "sexual misconduct" and therefore the different schools of Buddhism - or even different individual monks - at different periods of time have offered varying opinions.

It is common to see condemation of homosexual behaviour by buddhists in more traditional societies in Asia, including the Dalai Lama. However, there is no explicit scriptural basis upon which homosexuality is to be condemed. Therefore, there is no definite Buddhist view on homosexuality except to say that celibacy is ideal.

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