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4 years ago ::
Dec 28, 2007 - 7:47AM
#1
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Hello everyone, I've got a question.
What does Hinduism have to say on homosexuality? I am aware that the Manusmriti is against it.However, it mentioned specifically for men and not for women.
I tried to find for answers online and some books.But I can't seem to find a reliable source. The articles are judgmental and bias. Svairini is a term used for intelligent and independent woman in one article, and also a prostitute in another. And it doesn't answer my question on whether Hinduism is for or against homosexuals. I would be very glad if you could help me.
Thank you very much for reading my post. Hope to hear from you soon.
Take care and God bless.
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4 years ago ::
Dec 28, 2007 - 9:11AM
#2
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Kavitha,
It is fine to be homosexual.
Hinduism teaches that we are all the same, all part of Gods manifestation. If you are gay or not has nothing to do with it.
Ahimsa (nonharming) is very important for Hindus, and I see NO harm whatsoever in two people who love eachother,
to me it is offensive to think that it would be.
Maya
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4 years ago ::
Dec 29, 2007 - 7:03AM
#3
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Kavitha, take a look at this thread with some quotes and links: http://community.beliefnet.com/forums/s … 946&page=2It seems you're interested in serious research and not _personal opinions_ of some people which don't hold water. Manu samhita prescribes specific punishments for a lesbian sex: 8.369. A damsel who pollutes (another) damsel must be fined two hundred (panas), pay the double of her (nuptial) fee, and receive ten (lashes with a) rod. 8.370. But a woman who pollutes a damsel shall instantly have (her head) shaved or two fingers cut off, and be made to ride (through the town) on a donkey. (G. Buhler trans.) I repeat what I said in the other thread: In the Gita (7.11) Krishna says to Arjuna "I'm sexuality not against rules of sastra" (dharmAviruddho bhUteSu kAmo 'smi bharatarSabha). These rules are in dharma sastras. Other types of sexuality bring negative karma, regardless if one likes it or not. To teach this truth is a real ahimsa since one can decide how to live. (If one is a masochist who likes to be punished for his actions, then let him do all nonsense. But this shouldn't be advertised as religion of any sort.) Hope this helps. Hare Krishna "This Krishna Consciousness is a science to understand what is the difference between a dead body and a living body". (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) Your servant, bh. Jan http://www.vrindavan-dham.comhttp://www.veda.harekrsna.cz
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4 years ago ::
Dec 29, 2007 - 9:03AM
#4
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Jm8,
Sexuality does NOT bring negative karma.
Absolutely not.
It is a closed cirquet (sp?) it harms no one when both partners are concenting.
Sex is part of love and love is sacred and holy.
Maya
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4 years ago ::
Dec 29, 2007 - 5:10PM
#5
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Maya, strawman. I said something else. Please give some quotes to support your claims. That is the traditional way of Vedic discussion. Hope this helps. Hare Krishna "This Krishna Consciousness is a science to understand what is the difference between a dead body and a living body". (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) Your servant, bh. Jan http://www.vrindavan-dham.comhttp://www.veda.harekrsna.cz
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4 years ago ::
Dec 29, 2007 - 10:53PM
#6
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Jm8,
No I prefer not to give scriptural quotes in a discussions too much.
Instead I ask you to please explain how it is harmful when two individuals who love eachother have sex..
Explain how you think that it creates bad karma, please do so without throwing quotes from scriptures taken out of context to suit your purpose.
Maya
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4 years ago ::
Dec 29, 2007 - 10:53PM
#7
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Jm8,
No I prefer not to give scriptural quotes in a discussions too much.
Instead I ask you to please explain how it is harmful when two individuals who love eachother have sex..
Explain how you think that it creates bad karma, please do so without throwing quotes from scriptures taken out of context to suit your purpose.
Maya
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4 years ago ::
Dec 30, 2007 - 3:42AM
#8
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Maya, then you cannot be taken seriously as a Vedic follower. And even in the modern Western society you're required to back your claims. Otherwise label your claims as 'my opinion' and don't speak for Hinduism to mislead others. It's harmful since it's against the dharma rules set in dharma sastras. I can ask similarly 'Explain why it's harmful to cheat', etc. - the same answer: karma. Cosmic laws are not man made. We cannot break them, we can only break ourselves against them. To behave like an ostrich (advaita, atheism) won't help but is a sign of insufficient intelligence. Look at Bhagavata Purana 3.20.23-28 (starting from http://vedabase.net/sb/3/20/23/en ) which uses very clear terms in this regard. You may read the whole chapter or book for context, if you wish. Hope this helps. Hare Krishna "This Krishna Consciousness is a science to understand what is the difference between a dead body and a living body". (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) Your servant, bh. Jan http://www.vrindavan-dham.comhttp://www.veda.harekrsna.cz
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4 years ago ::
Dec 30, 2007 - 9:18AM
#9
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[QUOTE=Jm8;173773]Maya,
then you cannot be taken seriously as a Vedic follower. And even in the modern Western society you're required to back your claims. Otherwise label your claims as 'my opinion' and don't speak for Hinduism to mislead others.
It's harmful since it's against the dharma rules set in dharma sastras. I can ask similarly 'Explain why it's harmful to cheat', etc. - the same answer: karma. Cosmic laws are not man made. We cannot break them, we can only break ourselves against them. To behave like an ostrich (advaita, atheism) won't help but is a sign of insufficient intelligence.
http://www.vrindavan-dham.com
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz[/QUOTE]
Quoting scripture is not productive unless we are discussing the scripture itself.
It becomes something to hide behind instead of actually explaining why you feel that something should be a certain way.
Scripture should not be taken literary, we are advised to look at the scriptures and see for ourselves if they are true or not.
We and our world is constantly evolving, things change as does our understanding of human behavior and feelings. Looking at scriptures that may be 1000 years old and not take in to consideration that we have evolved is simply wrong.
Please explain how you can equal cheating on someone with having sex with your beloved?
I'm not interested in what the sastras say, I'm interested how YOU have come to that conclusion in your own words.
Maya
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4 years ago ::
Dec 30, 2007 - 2:40PM
#10
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Maya, you just don't understand what Vedic pramana is, that is the problem. It's not about feeling. You have no means to judge scriptures, they are 'apauruseya' and are meant to liberate us from samsara. If we choose only what we like, we'll get nowhere. But it's up to you. Material evolution is another non Vedic doctrine. How humans evolved? In Kali yuga they just degrade from the point of view of dharma, etc. There may be occasional ups and downs but the downfall is predicted in sastras up to the final annihilation. > Please explain how you can equal cheating on someone with having sex with your beloved? Cosmic law of dharma defines both cheating and homosex as wrong, i.e. bringing bad karma of various degrees. Try reading dharma sastras to get an idea what is against dharma to make informed choices. Human laws are originally imitations of dharma but gradually degraded in time. > I'm not interested in what the sastras say, I'm interested how YOU have come to that conclusion in your own words. If you're not interested in sastras, you're outside the Vedic paradigm. Too bad. Logical and simple explanation: Human sexuality has a main purpose - child birthing - and a secondary purpose - material enjoyment (kama, one of the four purusarthas). Homosex seeks only kama while avoiding child birth. By this desire one becomes a homosexual in the next life. (This is confirmed in Mahabharata.) Trying to live against natural order of things (dharma) brings negative reactions. "As you sow you shall reap" is a common experience of every thinking being. When a man lives like a woman and woman as a man, it's unnatural. But in Kali yuga these adharmic things are promoted. Who is promoting them if not asura rulers? And it's not by chance that AIDS started with homosexuals as a karmic punishment. There are claims that it's manmade to cut down the population starting from the lowest levels seen by these rulers as a scum of earth. This murderous ideology stems from gnostic advaita sources (sic, read on the history of theosophy and its influence on nazism, a variation of this ideology, if you haven't done already.) So it's a pitiful state of existence but the choice is ours. I choose to live with dignity, not as a sheep manipulated by kama and adharmic agenda. But one without a higher knowledge cannot understand how much bound and enslaved he is in this world. Hope this helps. Hare Krishna "This Krishna Consciousness is a science to understand what is the difference between a dead body and a living body". (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) Your servant, bh. Jan http://www.vrindavan-dham.comhttp://www.veda.harekrsna.cz
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