Transgendered Zen
http://www.manzanitavillage.org
Once Christopher Reed, now Caitríona Reed, is the Zen teacher at Manzanita Village in Warner Springs, CA. Her Dharma community, Ordinary Dharma, is based in Los Angeles
What is the Buddhist view of people undergoing sex change operation or other gender modification behavior? Aitken Roshi says they most natural way for a person to be is at peace and at rest. After contemplating that I realized that if a person is at peace with themselves they are more likely to Greatly realize their own true nature.
A few years back I was preparing a class presentation on the Transgender community in Tucson. So I interviewed Erin. Erin is a male to female sex change recipient. Erin told me she was more at peace with her self and her faith (she is a Christian) after the operations. Her whole family was also relieved, Erin told me. I was gearing this whole presentation to a room of counselors, whom, I’m sure, many consider a transgendered person to have Gender Identity Disorder. I said to the class, “If you ever wondered whether a person should get a sex change or not, simply wonder instead, would a sex change operation help the person to be more at peace with themselves.”
Basically what I am trying to say is you can't ignore the physical body. Mind Body dualism is still the standard operating system of human beings. To escape it's effect requires an enormous act of will. You would be surprised to know how many Buddhists have difficulty with it.
This is something good for Buddhists (or anyone) to reflect on, especially when interacting with someone who is suffering in some way. Some folk interpret karma or consequence in such a way as to blame misfortune or suffering on past karma. Creating a political environment of peace is a Buddhist activity with a direct impact on the greater well being of society. This includes people struggling with body/ identity issues of all types; body image dysmorphism, transgender issues, victims of sexism and racism, or physical disabilities.
Anyone can realize their own true nature regardless of gender, karma, religion, belief or physical condition. It's everyone’s birth rite / right. It's lot easier however to realize it when your mind is at rest. This is hard to do if you are worried about your body. The first step in meditation is to calm your body-mind. If you can do that, then the mental states can calm down as well.
Once Christopher Reed, now Caitríona Reed, is the Zen teacher at Manzanita Village in Warner Springs, CA. Her Dharma community, Ordinary Dharma, is based in Los Angeles
What is the Buddhist view of people undergoing sex change operation or other gender modification behavior? Aitken Roshi says they most natural way for a person to be is at peace and at rest. After contemplating that I realized that if a person is at peace with themselves they are more likely to Greatly realize their own true nature.
A few years back I was preparing a class presentation on the Transgender community in Tucson. So I interviewed Erin. Erin is a male to female sex change recipient. Erin told me she was more at peace with her self and her faith (she is a Christian) after the operations. Her whole family was also relieved, Erin told me. I was gearing this whole presentation to a room of counselors, whom, I’m sure, many consider a transgendered person to have Gender Identity Disorder. I said to the class, “If you ever wondered whether a person should get a sex change or not, simply wonder instead, would a sex change operation help the person to be more at peace with themselves.”
Basically what I am trying to say is you can't ignore the physical body. Mind Body dualism is still the standard operating system of human beings. To escape it's effect requires an enormous act of will. You would be surprised to know how many Buddhists have difficulty with it.
This is something good for Buddhists (or anyone) to reflect on, especially when interacting with someone who is suffering in some way. Some folk interpret karma or consequence in such a way as to blame misfortune or suffering on past karma. Creating a political environment of peace is a Buddhist activity with a direct impact on the greater well being of society. This includes people struggling with body/ identity issues of all types; body image dysmorphism, transgender issues, victims of sexism and racism, or physical disabilities.
Anyone can realize their own true nature regardless of gender, karma, religion, belief or physical condition. It's everyone’s birth rite / right. It's lot easier however to realize it when your mind is at rest. This is hard to do if you are worried about your body. The first step in meditation is to calm your body-mind. If you can do that, then the mental states can calm down as well.