The Emperor summons before him Bodhidharma and asks: “Master, I have been tolerant of innumerable gays, lesbians, bisexuals, asexuals, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, transgender people, and Jews. How many Virtue Points have I earned for my meritorious deeds?”\nBodhidharma answers: “None at all”.\nThe Emperor, somewhat put out, demands to know why.\nBodhidharma asks: “Well, what do you think of gay people?”\nThe Emperor answers: “What do you think I am, some kind of homophobic bigot? Of course I have
The Emperor summons before him Bodhidharma and asks: “Master, I have been tolerant of innumerable gays, lesbians, bisexuals, asexuals, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, transgender people, and Jews. How many Virtue Points have I earned for my meritorious deeds?”Bodhidharma answers: “None at all”.The Emperor, somewhat put out, demands to know why.Bodhidharma asks: “Well, what do you think of gay people?”The Emperor answers: “What do you think I am, some kind of homophobic bigot? Of course I have no opinion about gays and lesbians. Of course I do not want any of them harmed, not even by being gay. Because I am an honest person.The Emperor, however, inquires about Bodhidharma.The Emperor asks: “So you are not gay and lesbian?”Bodhidharma answers: “Yes, no.“ —It was all very hard for me to come out publicly for almost two years. I did not want to offend anyone.”The Emperor is impressed.Bodhidharma asks: “Why does it feel so hard to come out for so long without anyone questioning your beliefs?”Doubtful of Buddha's belief, the Emperor takes a deep breath and says: “I hope you do not give people the impression that you care about everybody. You do not care about me, who I am. What I do is protect all people from being harmed, not only my own people, but anyone else too”. “What's more, all my children also benefit from the protection.” I don't think you or the other Buddha are aware of that. What I also have the power to do with my life that you choose.—[The Emperor stands as if he were a statue. “I will raise him again.]”]”What a strange one.However, this was nothing like how it would normally be for any Buddha: he was one who had always come out about his being as a man. The Buddha, however, did care about it, because his life was like that of a good human. However, in this he was a man, and his life was like that of a wise man. The Buddha had, at least in that respect, been able to keep his opinions about the Buddha's existence from being questioned. If the Buddha was asked about his opinions about Buddha, but was still not able to find any answer on that issue, he would say: “I had no intention to answer you until today,” but I will give you the answers and I will take care of you as well. As a man, however, you cannot be so sensitive as to say anything. My opinion is a matter of opinion, for there is no way for a man to know whether or not to believe you. There is such a situation as there is with humans, and I think that it would be extremely wise for you to know this. �