Are homosexual acts or conduct against the lay vows of avoiding sexual misconduct?
In Jain Dharma, the vow related to sexual conduct is brahmacharya or svadār-santosh in the lay context, meaning restraint and avoiding sexual misconduct.
Traditional Jain texts do not specifically discuss homosexual acts as a separate category. They judge conduct by the principles of:
- restraint
- non-indulgence
- fidelity
- avoidance of lustful behavior
- avoidance of harm and loss of self-control
So, from a Jain lay-vow perspective, the main issue is whether the conduct breaks sexual restraint. Any sexual act that is considered unrestrained, lust-driven, or outside the limits of one’s vows would be seen as contrary to the vow.
For a layperson, Jainism generally emphasizes:
- proper conduct
- self-discipline
- limited sensuality
- purity of mind, speech, and body
So the answer is: Jainism does not single out homosexuality by identity, but sexual conduct is evaluated by the vow of restraint; if it violates that restraint, it is against the lay vow.