[Buddha-l] Re: Contemporary issues of monastic Buddhism.

[Franz Metcalf]

Gang,

Richard Hayes cites an excellent source. At least for me, Zwilling's 
chapter ("Homosexuality as Seen in Indian Buddhist Texts," p. 203-214) 
in Cabezón's book was definitely uncomfortable to read. He argues 
pretty convincingly that pandaka effectively meant, at the time of the 
writing of the canonical texts, an openly homosexual man. Such a one 
was forbidden membership in the bhikkhusangha. As a cool Californian, 
this annoys me immensely. Zwilling's solution: think of this canonical 
view much in the way we think of the canonical views on the ordination 
of women: precisely as cultural anachronisms, as baggage, as rafts we 
need no longer carry. That other Californian Richard mentions might 
have room for such views in her little begging bowl. Somehow my entire 
home is too full of stuff to fit them in.

Cheers,

Franz