Scholars never talk about the homoerotic, homosocial and homosexual tales found in the ancient Buddhist Jataka collection. When men live together, even as monks, in a solitary spiritual pursuit, it is natural that some men would bond and become very close friends. The relationships were not always sexual, obviously, but were clearly cause of much deliberation. While there was condemnation of sexual activity as indicated by the monastic laws (vinaya) against men with homosexual tendencies (pandaka), there was no condemnation of the very evident same sex attachment as indicated by the Jataka tales.

Baka-Brahma Jataka, for example, tells the story of an old monk who falls sick and is unable to digest royal food served by the king himself, until he is reunited with his young companion, whose simple millet gruel restores his health. This story is retold in the Kesava Jataka. Both the Cullahamsa Jataka and Mahahamsa Jataka retell the story of a golden alpha gander caught by the royal hunter. His wives, the geese, run away, but his male companion, the beta gander, refuses to leave his side, risking death, earning the admiration of the hunter and the king.