General Discussions => Spirituality => Buddhism => Topic started by: treeworshipper on October 09, 2011, 01:09:54 PM Return to Full Version
Title: buddhist eunuch!!!
Post by: treeworshipper on October 09, 2011, 01:09:54 PM
Post by: treeworshipper on October 09, 2011, 01:09:54 PM
this shout could be heard echoing across the parking lot, where the dandelions and milk thistle broke through the seasoned cracks by the old abandoned chinese food store
...but no one laughed.
that was the day the giraffes broke free.
...but no one laughed.
that was the day the giraffes broke free.
Title: Re: buddhist eunuch!!!
Post by: treeworshipper on October 09, 2011, 11:47:38 PM
Post by: treeworshipper on October 09, 2011, 11:47:38 PM
i think the reason i 'can't' meditate like i used to anymore is I JUST LOVE LIFE SO EFFING MUCH!! and whats the difference between meditating and not meditating, and silence and sound, and motion and stillness anyways?
Title: Re: buddhist eunuch!!!
Post by: Sandra M. Lopes on February 06, 2013, 06:59:54 PM
Post by: Sandra M. Lopes on February 06, 2013, 06:59:54 PM
Quote from: treeworshipper on October 09, 2011, 11:47:38 PM
i think the reason i 'can't' meditate like i used to anymore is I JUST LOVE LIFE SO EFFING MUCH!! and whats the difference between meditating and not meditating, and silence and sound, and motion and stillness anyways?
None whatsoever, if you have attained that level of realization :)
But from the beginning of your sentence, I'd guess you haven't. For us with a conceptual mind, there still seems to be a difference.
Title: Re: buddhist eunuch!!!
Post by: Shawn Sunshine on February 06, 2013, 07:03:06 PM
Post by: Shawn Sunshine on February 06, 2013, 07:03:06 PM
REALLY? tell me more about this, I want to know more about Euncuhs in other religions and backgrounds :icon_geekdance:
Title: Re: buddhist eunuch!!!
Post by: Sandra M. Lopes on March 06, 2013, 09:13:52 PM
Post by: Sandra M. Lopes on March 06, 2013, 09:13:52 PM
Well, the only amusing fact I have to share is that the Buddhist ordination vows are not to be given to individuals without genitalia or — and this is really funny, but I'm not making it up! — to people who change sex spontaneously (!!) or who have changed sex three or more times.
This is not meant to be discriminative! There are certain advanced practices that will only work if you are of a certain sex. Also, since the vows are different for males and females (more protective towards females, for cultural reasons: they would be far more exposed in conservative, male-dominated societies. Just travel to India today and you'll see how it is), an individual who changes sex all the time would have a hard time following all the precepts...
It's curious, however, that 2,600 years ago it was envisioned that people might, indeed, change their sex, and that wouldn't be a problem, unless you did it too often. In fact, people changing sex twice is not unheard of, although rare. But I haven't heard of anyone changing sex three times!
On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that an eunuch (who, I assume, isn't keen in full transition) who is really committed to the practice will not have the vows denied. These are actually more "guidelines" than "things written in stone". At least on the Mahayana schools, it's the intention that matters.
This is not meant to be discriminative! There are certain advanced practices that will only work if you are of a certain sex. Also, since the vows are different for males and females (more protective towards females, for cultural reasons: they would be far more exposed in conservative, male-dominated societies. Just travel to India today and you'll see how it is), an individual who changes sex all the time would have a hard time following all the precepts...
It's curious, however, that 2,600 years ago it was envisioned that people might, indeed, change their sex, and that wouldn't be a problem, unless you did it too often. In fact, people changing sex twice is not unheard of, although rare. But I haven't heard of anyone changing sex three times!
On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that an eunuch (who, I assume, isn't keen in full transition) who is really committed to the practice will not have the vows denied. These are actually more "guidelines" than "things written in stone". At least on the Mahayana schools, it's the intention that matters.