Question
I am gay. My question is: am I wrong to follow what I feel without the enormous guilt that Christianity brings us?
Anonymous
Answer from Master Kosen
Whether you are gay or straight, the deeper problems are the same… In Zen Buddhism, the question of conduct and morality arises, but morality does not mean moralism. We must find true, fundamental morality within ourselves and be at peace with ourselves. Each of us has a personality and must accept and recognize ourselves as we are, without self-indulgence or shame. But the problem arises in our relationship with the society we live in, where imitation imposes rules that are not necessarily cosmic or in harmony with our personality. How can we be who we are and accept ourselves while remaining in harmony with outside influences and realities? That is the question, and it is in this relationship that we generally make mistakes and go to extremes in one direction or the other: oppressive guilt or degrading depravity… Finding balance and happiness in life is not easy for anyone.
Kosen