26 Feb 2007

More sexual ambiguity from the Dalai Lama

having sex with a professional prostitute at the time the precepts were formulated was acceptable and is therefore not sexual misconduct unless a third party pays for it. [...] "Such a redefinition can only come out of sangha discussions within the various Buddhist traditions. It is not unprecedented in the history of Buddhism to redefine issues, but it has to be done on the collective level", His Holiness said. He also added that it would be helpful to do more research on the genesis of these sexual precepts.

There is an interesting an account of a debate between his 'holiness' and lesbian and Gay activists but it still seems a bit problematic.

Obssessions with regulating sexuality should have little or no place in Buddhism in my view (unless we are talking abuse and dodgy power relations)...the view that prostitution is fine unless a third party pays for it is a new one to me.

It all tends to degenerate into orifices, emissions and precepts....not nice!

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