Heartland

Published in the original heartland website on 07 July 2004

An except from the talk given Venerable George from the Amitabha Buddhist Centre

Venerable George (from the US) from the ABC gave a talk on Karma and Rebirth on 29 January,1999 in the PUB Auditorium. During the Q&A sessions, one of my dear friends asked this questions, through a written note: “Does being born different, for example, being born gay, is a result of bad karma from past live(s)?”

He sat there for a while, pondered on the question and replied. I have summarized his speech below, it is not a direct transcript so I may quote something he said inaccurately.

“In Buddhism, we do not judge. We do not judge a person by their skin color, nationality or even sexual preference. However, in general, most of the difficulties we encounter in this life time is a result of the bad karma of the previous life(s) coming to fruition.

When the Dalai Lama was in the US, a lot of journalist likes to ask him about his views on gay monks and gay Buddhists. He told them: “Some are monogamous and some are predatory, just like heterosexuals, next question?”

We must understand that the more difficulties we have in this life, the more chances there are for us to practice virtue. If a person is very happy and satisfied with his life, then he has less chances of practicing virtue. Hence, a person with a difficult life has more chances of realizing his true nature and practice the proper Way, then one who is has no difficulties.”

Commentaries (by Kelvin Wong):

In essence, he did not answer the question directly. However, I feel that this answer is adequate, as we must think about it ourselves to realize the truth. Although, I do not think that the Dalai Lama’s view on homosexuality is that liberal, based on what I have been reading.

A lot of difficulties in life is indeed due to the fruition of bad karma from previous live(s). However, this does not have to imply the being gay is directly a result of bad karma from sexual misconduct coming to fruition. The reason is simply that not all gay persons have a difficult live living with their sexuality. Some have not had any much problems since they were young, although most of us have problems with it.

Then what about societies where homosexuality is part of the culture, like the ancient Greek culture? Is their liking of men, a result of bad karma? To say that is equivalent to saying that a women who is born in a patriarchal and chauvinistic society is due to bad karma from her previous live(s). So bad karma produces suffering women?

So being born gay is not necessary a direct result of bad karma bearing fruit (its more than just that), but it provides a possible condition for bad karma from previous live(s) to bear fruit in this type of society. However, I don’t think that we should worry too much about this issue, we are here now, it does not help if we know how we come about, it is more important that we shape our future now. More so, we must be glad that we are clearing our bad imprints, thus leaving the good imprints to bear fruit in later live(s).

What is also true is that we have more chances to practice good virtues. As the sixth patriarch puts it: “Affliction is bodhi and bodhi is affliction.” A person who is having a good life now, may be enjoying the fruits of good karma in his previous live(s), but if he does not continue to do good (because he does not see a need to), he will deplete of it and what’s left may be only bad imprints. So do not view being gay in negative light, we should be happy to be gay, to have more chances then the straight person to understand the Dharma.