DIAMOND METTA LESBIAN AND GAY BUDDHIST SOCIETY Vision Statement OUR VISION: DIAMOND METTA LESBIAN AND GAY BUDDHIST SOCIETY is an organization for Lesbians and Gay Men committed to or interested in following the path of Buddhism to: --come to know and provide support for like minded individuals interested in learning more about Buddhism and meditation. The Society also endeavors, as resources allow, to address issues of social justice and illness, especially in the areas of homophobia and HIV. PRACTICE: The unifying meditation practice of the society is Shamatha Vipassana or mindfulness practice, that is, sitting silently in the meditation posture of her or his discipline and following the breath. The Society is not intended to replace in any way the central role of membership and participation in the sanghas of particular Buddhist traditions or similar meditation-based organizations. The society supports and encourages such participation by making available lists of mediation centers and schedules of meditation and other activities in various centers, many of which are listed here. The Society is under the direction of committed meditation practitioners following their particular traditions. They co in turn reliy on the guidance of an advisory board of lesbian and gay senior meditation practitioners. Metta is a Pali word which means basic friendliness towards oneself and others. It is the friendliness that leads to compassion.
	The Buddhist Path is precious and also quite fragile, especially when coming into a new cultural setting such as that found in America. It can be easily misinterpreted, the ego of unauthorized "teachers" can get in the way, a student without the proper guide can become easily discouraged. That is the reason we at DIAMOND METTA try to steer pepople who come to Diamond Metta to a legitimately recognized Buddhist Center. We try to make at least minimal information available about such Centers and their teachings to those who come to our meetings. We hope you will keep these thoughts in mind and continue to add your support as well as the rich and interesting ideas that you have consistently presented by Diamond Metta.
	DIAMOND METTA SUGGESTED BASIC BUDDHIST READING LIST (in alphabetical order) Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa; ISBN: 0877730504 ================ Dharma Paths (Dream Flag Series) by Khenpo Karthar; ISBN: 1559390026 ================ Everyday Zen: Love and Work by Charlotte Joko Beck; ISBN: 0060607343 ================ Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana; ISBN:0861710649 =============== Old Path. White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha by Thich Nhat Hanh; ISBN:0938077260 =============== Opening the Eye of New Awareness by H.H. the Dali Lama; Wisdom Publications =================== Street Zen: The Life and Work of Issan Dorsey by Ensho David Schneider =============== The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche; ISBN: 0062508342 ================ What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Sri Rahula; ISBN: 0802130313 ================ When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron =============== Zen Mind. Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki; ISBN: 0834800799 ================ ============================================= Monday, 16 June 1997 INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING OF H.H. THE DALAI LAMA WITH GAY AND LESBIAN LEADERS IN SAN FRANCISCO ON JUNE 16, 1997 In a historic meeting in San Francisco on June 11, the Dalai Lama, for the first time ever, discussed issues of homosexuality, human rights and Buddhism with a small group of gay and lesbians leaders. He expressed his strong opposition to discrimination and violence against gay and lesbian people. He voiced his support for full human rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation. The Dalai Lama was moved by personal stories of loss and discrimination related by the participants, and urged respect, tolerance, and compassion for all. He made it clear that gay and lesbian activists could rely on general Buddhist principles as a foundation for their struggle for full equality. "His Holiness the Dalai Lama's support for our rights is very significant," said Tinku Ali Ishtiaq, co-chair of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. "The Nobel Laureate commands tremendous respect among people of the world and is highly respected for his words of wisdom. I hope that his message of non-discrimination and respect for our rights will have considerable impact on non-Buddhist religious traditions as well." In a warm, relaxed meeting, the Dalai Lama sought to clarify his understanding of traditional Buddhist texts concerning sexuality and empathized with participants' concerns and frustrations about the unfairness of the prohibitions for gays and lesbians. Traditional Buddhist teaching prohibits certain sexual activities for practicing Buddhists, including homosexual acts for men (and by implication, he said, for women). He expressed his willingness to consider the possibility that some of these teachings may be specific to a particular cultural and historical context. He stressed that he does not have the authority to unilaterally reinterpret Buddhist scriptures, but urged those present to build a consensus among other Buddhist traditions and communities to collectively change the understanding of the text for contemporary society. The beloved religious leader expressed interest in the insights of modern scientific research and its value in developing new understandings of these texts. "His Holiness the Dalai Lama was characteristically open and non-judgmental. As Head of State of an occupied country and as a celibate religious leader, I think he has not spent much time considering issues of sexuality, gay rights, and homophobia. Yet he welcomed our suggestion that these issues be explored in conjunction with upcoming conferences," said Eva Herzer, President of the International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet. José Ignacio Cabezón, a former Buddhist monk and Professor of Philosophy at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, said, "I feel heartened and encouraged by this dialogue. It is wonderful to see a religious thinker of the caliber of His Holiness the Dalai Lama grappling with issues of sexual ethics and especially the rights and responsibilities of gay and lesbian people in such an open, empathetic, and rigorous fashion. As a gay Buddhist, I am grateful for this opportunity." Lourdes Arguello, a professor of education at the Claremont Graduate School and a board member of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship summed up her observations as follows: "It is always amazing to see how His Holiness rises beyond the culture-bound context of his own tradition and grapples with seemingly absurd proscriptions to focus on the complex needs and desires of human beings in the here and now. I left the meeting with both the understanding and the feeling that this is a first stage in an exciting and provocative dialogue between His Holiness and other Buddhist teachers on the one hand and gay and lesbian Buddhists and human rights activists on the other." "This open, honest discussion of Buddhist traditional doctrine, with the participation of one of its most outstanding teachers, is 20th century Buddhism at its best," said Steve Peskind of the Buddhist AIDS Project. Ven. K.T. Shedrup Gyatso, Spiritual Director of the San Jose Tibetan Temple, said regarding today's meeting, "As an openly gay, celibate, fully-ordained Buddhist monk, I am very pleased with what His Holiness had to say. I can now go back to my temple and tell our gay, lesbian and bisexual members that they are still Buddhists, that they are still welcome, and that they are as well-equipped for the Buddhist path as anyone else." Since the Dalai Lama, contrary to popular assumptions, is not an infallible pope, Western students and lovers of Buddhism, feel under no necessary obligation to accept what he says as absolute. Part of the appeal of Buddhism, they say, is its emphasis on assisting each individual in the task of self-creation. This creative approach to the making of the self is much aided by Buddhist psychology, they insist, and their personal relationships are refined and enhanced by the same.

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