In the Buddhist tradition, paṇḍakas—often described as men with ambiguous or non-normative sexual identities—are not only considered ethically and spiritually distinct but are also associated with specific karmic causes leading to their condition and distinct rebirth trajectories.
In early texts, being “neither a man nor a woman” is listed as one of the karmic effects of adulterous actions or severe breaches of ethical conduct. For instance, stories in the Therīgāthā and the Jātaka mention this condition as a possible consequence of adultery or sexual misconduct .
The Pravrajyāntarāya Sūtra expands on this idea by listing specific actions that can lead to rebirth as a paṇḍaka. These include:
- Castrating another man.
- Laughingly scorning or slandering a recluse who observes the precepts.
- Breaking the precepts out of lust.
- Encouraging others to break the precepts while doing so oneself.
These acts are understood to produce lowly rebirths, with paṇḍakahood being among them. However, this same tradition allows for karmic redemption: if a person develops faith, builds a Buddha image, or performs acts of repentance, they can avoid the result and instead be reborn as a man “with all his faculties intact” .
A related belief, noted by Zen priest Rōshi Daizui MacPhillamy, holds that homosexuality in this life may reflect previous rebirths as members of the opposite sex. In this view, lingering emotional patterns or tendencies from prior lives carry over and shape current inclinations—offering a karmic, non-condemnatory explanation rooted in rebirth theory .
Further, the scholar Vasubandhu states that a paṇḍaka who rescues bulls from castration may eventually regain his full male attributes in a future life. This implies that compassionate acts—even within the domain of sexual karma—can lead to transformative rebirths .
In sum, while classical texts often regard paṇḍakas as karmically burdened and spiritually obstructed, they are not eternally condemned. Buddhist ethics maintains that even those in unfortunate rebirths, including paṇḍakas, can transform their karma through ethical behavior, repentance, and spiritual faith—aligning with the broader Buddhist belief in impermanence and the potential for liberation.