For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, we’re sharing articles by and about Asian American Buddhists from our archives. This week, we’re exploring tales by and about queer Asian American Buddhists.
This week, simply as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ends on Wednesday Could 31, LGBT Pleasure month begins on Thursday, June 1. For this final week of AAPI month, we discover tales by and about queer Asian American Buddhists.
Within the following six articles, Minat Harjawala discusses the connection between the queer eye and the dharma eye, and Marissa Wong reveals the experiences of a Gen Z queer Asian American Buddhist. In an interview, instructor Larry Yang, discusses the importance of being chosen because the Grand Marshall of the 2016 San Francisco Pleasure parade, whereas actor George Takei displays on his journey as a homosexual Japanese American Buddhist. Our ultimate two articles look at the right way to advocate for queer individuals in our lives, with Judy Yushin Nakatomi revealing how she helps her queer kids, whereas Reverend Kiyonobu Joshin Kuwahara shares the significance of actively creating areas which are welcoming and protected for queer Buddhists.
As you learn these articles, replicate on the next: In the event you determine as queer, how does your queerness affect your Buddhist apply and beliefs? Whether or not or not you determine as queer, how have you ever supported the queer individuals in your lives? The queer Buddhists in your lives? How have you ever, and how will you, actively welcome and assist queer individuals in your Buddhist communities? How will you encourage your Buddhist areas and establishments to assist queer individuals in your communities?
-Mihiri Tillakaratne, Affiliate Editor, Lion’s Roar
The queer eye sees what it’s not purported to, writes Minal Hajratwala. Likewise, the Dhammapada tells us that the sensible see with the interior eye.
The queer eye sees what it’s not purported to: alluring curve of hip or neck on the mistaken sort of physique, band of coloured mild in a thundercloud, rain bowing like a bodhisattva’s again.
Likewise, the Dhammapada tells us that the sensible see with the interior eye. This secret eye is how we grasp the wheel of dharma, which turns and turns regardless of no matter sensation we’d have of being caught. (Say, within the closet.)
Marissa Wong displays on her experiences with alienation and neighborhood as a queer Asian American Buddhist.
Rising up each Japanese and Chinese language, I usually felt alienated as a result of I grew up in a majority white city. I additionally generally felt like I used to be on the surface of my sangha trying in as a result of I didn’t fully slot in there, both. I used to be raised within the Japanese Jodo Shinshu, or Shin, college of Buddhism and grew up attending the Sacramento Betsuin, the place many of the temple members had been full Japanese. I felt like I wasn’t as “authentically” Shin Buddhist due to my multicultural identification and since my Chinese language household is Catholic. I didn’t have many alternatives to change into mates with individuals of the identical age outdoors of Dharma college as a result of I didn’t dwell in Sacramento. The opposite youngsters my age attended the identical faculties and had been all on the temple basketball workforce, so I usually felt excluded.
The actor, writer, and undisputed King of Social Media displays on his fascinating private historical past: his childhood and his household’s internment throughout World Warfare II, his life as a homosexual man and activist, how far we’ve all come, and why we should press on collectively.
Picture by Zesmerelda, by way of Flickr.
I used to be born to a Buddhist household — my father was Zen and my mom was Shin, and each had been relatively informal about it. Earlier than Internment all I bear in mind of Buddhist temples are the funerals and the weddings.
Then the Internment got here. It was a really chaotic time. I don’t bear in mind a lot faith besides that my mom had created a tiny altar in our little barrack room.
In 2016, Larry Yang was chosen because the San Francisco Pleasure Parade’s Neighborhood Grand Marshal.
What’s the significance of a mindfulness and meditation instructor being elected Neighborhood Grand Marshal of the San Francisco Pleasure Parade?
“I sense that this could be a sign of the curiosity and the relevance for the Buddha’s teachings on this modern time. I additionally am feeling the creativity and the imaginative and prescient of the LGBTIQ communities to guide the remainder of the tradition — because it has so many instances, in so many human endeavors, from tremendous artwork to literature to social justice — towards one thing that probably is transformative for us all — the Dharma. And lastly, it is a sign that the Dharma is able to crossing cultural strains and bounds. Who would have thought within the Buddha’s time {that a} queer dharma instructor would have such a job?”
Judy Yushin Nakatomi displays on the evolutionary experience of caring and studying, and defending that’s mothering.
On the evolutionary journey of mothering, I’m working towards imperfectly. Because the proud mom of two grownup youngsters, ages 31 and 27 who’re multi-ethnic, transfemme and queer, my journey of motherhood has not been a linear one. Each of my kids got here out individually of their twenties, which didn’t take me by full shock. Since they had been younger, I’ve had an interior figuring out they had been every on their very own journey, and that their paths might take many instructions.
Trying again, their pursuits and decisions had been extra fluid than fastened by any set of “guidelines” introduced to them, which wasn’t at all times met with approval and acceptance from adults of their lives. Each of my kids didn’t align with gender norms or guidelines in class of their social habits, alternative of actions, hobbies, or mates.