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{{short description|Buddhist perspectives on the tradition of marriage}}
{{Buddhism}}
The '''Buddhist view of marriage''' considers marriage a secular affair<ref name="ceremony">{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.net/funeral.htm |title=Personal Ceremonies: Marriage / Funeral Rites |publisher=Buddhanet.net |date= |accessdate=2012-06-06}}</ref> and as such, it is not considered a [[sacrament]].<ref name="ethics">{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/budethics.htm |title=A Basic Buddhism Guide: Buddhist Ethics |publisher=Buddhanet.net |date= |accessdate=2012-06-06}}</ref> Buddhists are expected to follow the civil laws regarding marriage laid out by their respective governments.<ref name="ethics"/>

While the ceremony itself is civil, many Buddhists obtain the blessing from monks at the local temple after the marriage is completed.<ref name="ceremony"/>

==History==

[[Gautama Buddha]] never spoke against marriage<ref name="marry">{{cite web|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/dhammananda/marriage.html#ch4 |title=A Happy Married Life: A Buddhist Perspective |publisher=Accesstoinsight.org |date= |accessdate=2012-06-06}}</ref> but instead pointed out some of the difficulties of marriage.<ref name="marry"/> He is quoted in the Parabhava [[Sutra|Sutta]] as saying

{{quote|Not to be contented with one's own wife, and to be seen with harlots and the wives of others -- this is a cause of one's downfall.

Being past one's youth, to take a young wife and to be unable to sleep for jealousy of her -- this is a cause of one's downfall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhasutra.com/files/parabhava_sutta.htm |title=Parabhava Sutta |publisher=Buddhasutra.com |date= |accessdate=2012-06-06}}</ref>}}

==Views==

The Pali Canon, a major Theraveda text, bars both male and female monastics from both heterosexual and homosexual activities. While homosexuality may or may not be explicitly condemned in some texts, according to the [[Dalai Lama]]:

{{quote|"From a Buddhist point of view, physical touching between men-to-men and women-to-women is generally considered sexual misconduct."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Dalai-Lama-Speaks-on-Gay-Sex-He-says-it-s-wrong-2836591.php|title=Dalai Lama Speaks on Gay Sex / He says it's wrong for Buddhists but not for society|last=Lattin|first=Don|last2=Writer|first2=Chronicle Religion|date=1997-06-11|website=SFGate|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref>|author=|title=|source=}}

While [[Buddhism]] may neither encourage nor discourage getting married, it does provide principles regarding it. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.purifymind.com/ViewMarriage.htm |title=Buddhist view on marriage |publisher=Purifymind.com |date= |accessdate=2012-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonbuddhistvihara.org/qa/qa_practices.htm#qa_practices7 |title=Buddhist practices |publisher=Londonbuddhistvihara.org |date= |accessdate=2012-06-06}}</ref>

The Digha Nikaya 31 ([[Sigalovada Sutta]]) describes the respect that one is expected to give to one's spouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html |title=Sigalovada Sutta |publisher=Accesstoinsight.org |date=2012-03-24 |accessdate=2012-06-06}}</ref>

===In Tibetan Buddhism===
The [[14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]] has spoken of the merits of marriage:

{{quote|Too many people in the West have given up on marriage. They don't understand that it is about developing a mutual admiration of someone, a deep respect and trust and awareness of another human's needs...The new easy-come, easy-go relationships give us more freedom -- but less contentment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khandro.net/lama_HHDalai_Lama.htm |title=HH Dalai Lama |publisher=Khandro.net |date= |accessdate=2012-06-06}}</ref>}}

==Divorce==
Since marriage is secular,<ref name="ceremony"/> Buddhism has no restrictions on divorce.<ref>{{cite web|title=Divorce|url=http://www.buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=111|publisher=Guide to Buddhism A to Z}}</ref> [[K. Sri Dhammananda|Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda]] has said "if a husband and wife really cannot live together, instead of leading a miserable life and harboring more jealousy, anger and hatred, they should have the liberty to separate and live peacefully."<ref>{{cite web|title= A Happy Married Life A Buddhist Perspective|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/dhammananda/marriage.html|publisher=Access to Insight}}</ref>

==See also==
{{col div|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Bahá'í marriage]]
* [[Buddhism and sexual orientation]]
* [[Buddhism and romantic relationships]]
* [[Buddhism and sexuality]]
* [[Christian views on marriage]]
* [[Interfaith marriage]]
* [[Jewish views on marriage]]
* [[List of religions and spiritual traditions]]
* [[Marriage in Hinduism]]
* [[Marriage in Islam]]
{{colend}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-subject.html#marriage Marriage articles at the Access to Insight site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060527173102/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/bfaq.html#wedding Weddings and Theravada Buddhism]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081108021154/http://robertaitken.net/writings/pages/marriage.html A Zen Buddhist perspective on same-sex marriage]
* [http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma7/marriedlife.html Lengthy review of Buddhist views on married life in relation to the western world.]

{{Buddhism topics}}

[[Category:Marriage in Buddhism| ]]
[[Category:Buddhism and society|Marriage, Buddhist view of]]
[[Category:Buddhism and women|*]]

Buddhist view of marriage - Revision history

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