A Zen Buddhist Perspective on Same-Gender Marriage
Edit Page
Report
Scan day: 16 February 2014 UTC
66
Virus safety - good
Description: Robert Aitken Roshi's testimony to the Commission on Sexual Orientation, endorsing same-sex marriage.
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 96 09:05:00 HST From: [email protected] (Tom Ramsey) Subject: HAWAII, JAN. 6 A ZEN BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE ON SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE On October 11, 1995, some religious leaders gave testimony to the Commission on Sexual Orientation and the Law in support of same- gender marriage. It was one of the most moving meetings of the Commission. Of the approximately 9 speakers, three submitted written testimony (two Buddhist and one Lutheran). I have retrieved their testimony from the archives and will post each on to the internet. The first is appended below. Robert Aitken served much of World War II as a prisoner of war of the Japanese; one of his captors introduced Robert Aitken to Zen Buddhism. Today Robert Aitken heads the western region of the United States. Aloha! Tom Ramsey Co-Coordinator, HERMP Robert Aitken's Written Testimony To the Commission on Sexual Orientation and the Law, October 11, 1995 I am Robert Aitken, co-founder and teacher of the Honolulu Diamond Sangha, a Zen Buddhist society established in 1959, with centers in Manoa and Palolo [macrons are over first a's in each word]. Our organization has evolved into a network of Diamond Sangha groups on Neighbor Islands and in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand. I am also co-founder of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and a member of its International Board of Advisors. This is an association whose members are concerned about social issues from a Buddhist perspective. It has it headquarters in Berkeley, California, and has chapters across the country, including one here on O'ahu, as well as chapters overseas. I am also a member of the Hawai'i Association of International Buddhists. I speak to you today as an individual in response to the Chair's request to present Buddhist views, particularly Zen Buddhist views, on the subject of of marriage between people of the same sex. The religion we now call Zen Buddhism arose in China in the sixth century as a part of the Mahayana, which is the tradition of Buddhi
Size: 2048 chars
Contact Information
Email: —
Phone&Fax: 808-732-3119
Address: —
Extended: —
WEBSITE Info
| Page title: | |
| Keywords: | |
| Description: | |
| IP-address: | 147.28.0.53 |