Question asked by Anonymous
In a Question and answer book composed by the Dalai Lama he labels LGBT people as falling into the category of Sexual Misconduct. I am enquiring as to what His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche said in regards to people in LGBT orientated relationships must they remain celibate in order to practise the Buddha Dharma?.
I have not found any spoken words of the Buddha where he categorised such people as Sexual Misconduct.
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for your question. His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche accepted everyone, and this includes LGBT students. For Rinpoche anyone and everyone who wants to study the Dharma sincerely and transform themselves for the better was and is welcome to attend the Kechara organisation and be a student. Rinpoche did not discriminate against those whose sexuality did not conform to heteronormative views.
Being LGBT is an expression of sexuality just like being heterosexual. It is not inherently good or bad, so for Rinpoche there was no judging or condemning involved. Sexuality is obviously a form of desire, and the form this desire is expressed, from a Buddhist perspective, is due to karmic imprints from previous lives.
One of the goals of Buddhism is to overcome the negative effects of desire in all its forms, including sexuality. So Rinpoche was more concerned about people overcoming these negative effects and tendencies, rather than the outward forms of its expression.
As such Rinpoche did not require students of the Dharma to be celibate, even if LGBT. You can practise the Dharma whoever you are, in whatever situation you are in. The Buddhas help everyone with discrimination.
That being said, for those who want to go deeper in spiritual practice, Rinpoche ordained Pastors within Kechara. There are two type of Pastors. The first are lay Pastors, who are not celibate, and who can have committed relationships or get married. The second are Sangha-to-be, meaning they are training to take monastic ordination. As such Sangha-to-be remain celibate as monastic ordination includes vows of celibacy.
I hope this helps. Thank you.