So, assuming you believe in karma...

[lady amarant]

... or can even just consider it hypothetically, and that reincarnation takes the form of souls moving from one lifetime to the next learning/making reparations for past deeds, then what is the lesson that transsexualism can teach us?

[Nero]

That I better have been a mass murderer in another life to deserve this.

[lisagurl]

I find that there is no proof that there is a individual life after your body gives out. Karma however has some legitimate probability that if you treat people well you will be treated well in return.

[Celia]

At least some of the suffering we endure results from our lack of conformity with society's prejudices involving sex and gender.  If it were a past-life sort of thing . . . maybe it would have been a case of us contributing to or acting upon a prejudice or a body of prejudices - perhaps even the very ones we struggle against now.

-Celia

[VeryGnawty]

then what is the lesson that transsexualism can teach us?

Probably to go beyond the constraints of social consciousness, among other things.  Gender could be said to be the #1 social limitation among any culture.

Look at the bright side.  At least you get a chance to be yourself, rather than what other people want you to be.  Most normal people won't reach that sort of enlightenment in this lifetime.

[Jordan]

... or can even just consider it hypothetically, and that reincarnation takes the form of souls moving from one lifetime to the next learning/making reparations for past deeds, then what is the lesson that transsexualism can teach us?

LADY!! Awesome you actually get the idea behind Karma!!  Most people think it means what goes around comes around in one lifetime.

Theoretically We must have done something in our past life to warrant this in this life by definition, somehow we did or were something that needed enlightenment along the social aspect of understanding, unfourtionatly that would warrant that we would most likely not be close to enlightenment since we are just know learning this lesson and will need to apply it in future lives.

[Pica Pica]

maybe we took advantage of our masculinity, femininity last time, Hypothetically.

[Rowan_Danielle]

... or can even just consider it hypothetically, and that reincarnation takes the form of souls moving from one lifetime to the next learning/making reparations for past deeds, then what is the lesson that transsexualism can teach us?

If the reparations side drove the reincarnation, then transsexualism might hint that we were wife/husband beaters in a previous life and are now experiencing what the other side is like.  (Learn by doing.)

If the learning side drove the reincarnation, and reparations were minimal, then this may be a test of what we think our gender identities may be.  Or it could be an attempt at creating a person that is perfectly balanced between genders.

[lady amarant]

If the reparations side drove the reincarnation, then transsexualism might hint that we were wife/husband beaters in a previous life and are now experiencing what the other side is like.  (Learn by doing.)

If the learning side drove the reincarnation, and reparations were minimal, then this may be a test of what we think our gender identities may be.  Or it could be an attempt at creating a person that is perfectly balanced between genders.

I think the winner is behind door number two.

[Kinkly]

maybe to learn acceptance

[Sarah]

... or can even just consider it hypothetically, and that reincarnation takes the form of souls moving from one lifetime to the next learning/making reparations for past deeds, then what is the lesson that transsexualism can teach us?

Well,this is a mixed question from my standpoint.
I do believe in Karma (or the Laws of Causality[cause and effect]), However I believe in rebirth, not reincarnation (there is a difference), and as a Soto Zen Buddhist, I do not believe in an individual soul that is somehow sepperate and self-contained from everything else..

However as far as what being born a GenderQueer person teaches, From my esperience is an entirely individual thing.
Each person's karma is unique in this regard however there is certainly some pretty strong past life karma being played out with each person consered with regard to gender and gender identity..
The story behind that Karma however, depends on the individual in question..
I would certainly not say that it is some sort of punishment or anger from God or what have you.
That doesn't seem to have anything to do with it from my experience, however these things do happen for a reason and we can learn from them.
We don't have to repeat the mistakes or the suffering of the past simply because we inhierited the consequences of what others did.
From a Buddhist perspective, they are dead; and we are not them.
We don't have to relive thier mistakes or actions simply because we have them in us.
That's not to say there's anything wrong with them or us either...

We do the best we can with what we have to work with.
Personally, I try to love those in the past, love myself, and not judge them or me for who they were, or what I am. I just try to work with it the best I can and be honest with myself about who I am and not let others decide that for me.

Whether those 'others' are people arround me right now, in this day and age, or whether they are people who've been dead for thousands of years, they don't need to run my life.

-Sara

[Sandy]

... or can even just consider it hypothetically, and that reincarnation takes the form of souls moving from one lifetime to the next learning/making reparations for past deeds, then what is the lesson that transsexualism can teach us?

I have referred to being transsexual as a blessing inside a curse.  And from a karmic standpoint I don't think the lesson has anything to do with male/female as it is learning to accept the gifts we are given and see life without the burden of worldly cares.

So in some ways, I think that this is a very special thing.  Not everyone can accept this blessing.  So maybe this is a test for those more advanced.  Though for me to actually accept that idea seems egotistical.  And that may be part of it too...

If you think too much about it you end up like the snake eating its tail... 

-Sandy(*pop*)