gregkavarnos wrote:So is being "straight". So what?
I'm glad you agree with me then, with what I said that being straight is also a part of karmic consequence.
"So what" does it matter?
It matters because you said that her statement "defines homosexuality as a karmic anomaly".
Which is an incorrect interpretation of her statement.
And that your interpretation of the quote as homophobic is dependent upon that incorrect interpretation; "a right (heterosexual) mind in the wrong body which leads to a deviation in standard sexual behaviour based on an abnormal mental characteristic..."
Which lead you to the conclusion that her statement "...is defining homosexuality as a mental illness and is homophobic."
Which was not her stance, is in direct contradiction to her statement, and is also incorrect due to your incorrect interpretation previously mentioned.
You might not personally believe in the laws of Karma, or Dependent Origination,
But they are, actually, a part of normal Buddhism.
Kindly refrain from straw man arguments.
Pointing out that Karma and Dependent Origination is basic Buddhist Doctrine is not a straw man argument, because essentially what your statement implied is that because Buddhism does not exclude sexual orientation as subject to the laws of Karma and Dependent Origination, if you dismiss such concepts as homophobic, then, by extension you are you are either dismissing the Buddhist Doctrine's of the Laws of Karma and Dependent Origination, or her interpretation of how those concepts apply in this case. While in the case of the former, if you believe that the Buddhist Teachings on the Laws of Karma and Dependent Origination are correctly applied, but still view them as homophobic, then you are essentially saying either the Laws of Karma and Dependent Origination as an alternate explanation to the cause of such things is Homophobic, or, that you don't believe in the Buddhist Laws of Karma and Dependent Origination at all. Or, in the case of the latter, if you are dismissing her interpretation of how these Buddhist teachings apply to this case, then you are essentially saying you know more about how these are applied than a Master of Zen, and I would challenge you to present a better argument, since from your perspective, you clearly know better.
As she was a Soto Zen Master, trained in these things, that is what she taught.
Although perhaps that's not necessarily the path appropriate to you.
Who said anything about the path she follows? Again, refrain from straw man arguments and deal with the issue at hand.
Please see the above paragraph.
In Gassho,
Sara H
Observing your mind is a good idea.