Question asked by Anonymous
Can lgbt be monks and nuns? Especially trans people? Can a trans-man be with the monks and male-part of Sangha?
Can I recite prayers in my mind or does it have to be out loud. I find that I concentrate more when in mind, because when I voice my orayers out loud my mind thinks about this and that. But when I THINK the read the prayers IN MY MIND, those random thoughts go away.
Is Vajrayogini one with Tsongkhapa? or is it just simply that Tsongkhapa has to ability to transform himself to Vajrayogini.
Dear Anonymous,
The term ‘Lgbt’ covers many categories of people. In short, yes and no. It depends on the specific category. However, some categories are mentioned in the Vinaya, other categories are not, so it depends on the ordination master. There are certain categories of people that have traditionally been restricted to becoming monastics, however some ordination masters may allow such a person as time has changed. A trans man may becoming a monk depending again on what your definition of trans actually is.
Prayers should be recited out loud but softly. Prayers and mantras especially are the form of a particular Buddha in sound, the very sound made through recitation has an affect on us and is the medium through which the energies of the Buddhas benefit us. There are prayers or mantras recited only in the mind, but those are usually only included in higher teachings such as tantra, for which you need to take vows and hold commitments to engage in. For normal prayers that the non-initiated engage in, they should be spoken out loud but softly as mentioned earlier.
In regards to Lama Tsongkhapa and Vajra Yogini, please see this video by Tsem Rinpoche: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elBCVeGDncQ
Vajra Yogini and Tsongkhapa are one. In fact, all the Buddhas are one. This is what is known as the Dharmakaya or the Truth Body of a fully enlightened being. This is ‘one’ thing but encompasses every single enlightened being. So when Rinpoche talked about Lama Tsongkhapa transforming into Vajra Yogini, it was a way for students to understand Vajra Yogini better, as they were already familiar with Lama Tsongkhapa. So Rinpoche was showing that even though the forms may be different, ultimately they are the same – completely enlightened. I hope this helps.