the Buddha said, 'In all things, there is neither male nor female.'"
Furthermore, reverend Sariputra, all the splendors of the abodes of the gods and all the splendors of the fields of the Buddhas shine forth in this house. That is the eighth strange and wonderful thing.
Reverend Sariputra, these eight strange and wonderful things are seen in this house. Who then, seeing such inconceivable things, would believe the teaching of the disciples?
Sariputra: Goddess, what prevents you from transforming yourself out of your female state?
Goddess: Although I have sought my "female state" for these twelve years, I have not yet found it. Reverend Sariputra, if a magician were to incarnate a woman by magic, would you ask her, "What prevents you from transforming yourself out of your female state?"
Sariputra: No! Such a woman would not really exist, so what would there be to transform?
Goddess: Just so, reverend Sariputra, all things do not really exist. Now, would you think, "What prevents one whose nature is that of a magical incarnation from transforming herself out of her female state?"
Thereupon, the goddess employed her magical power to cause the elder Sariputra to appear in her form and to cause herself to appear in his form. Then the goddess, transformed into Sariputra, said to Sariputra, transformed into a goddess, "Reverend Sariputra, what prevents you from transforming yourself out of your female state?"
And Sariputra, transformed into the goddess, replied, "I no longer appear in the form of a male! My body has changed into the body of a woman! I do not know what to transform!"
The goddess continued, "If the elder could again change out of the female state, then all women could also change out of their female states. All women appear in the form of women in just the same way
as the elder appears in the form of a woman. While they are not women in reality, they appear in the form of women. With this in mind, the Buddha said, 'In all things, there is neither male nor female.'"
http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln260/Vimalakirti.htm (http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln260/Vimalakirti.htm)
I think the Buddha either had inhaled or sipped some Jesus juice. If anything this Universe is full of dualities.
The world is full of dualism if you look for it. It's not if you don't. (My summary of Buddhism in a nutshell.)
"Reality is in the mind of the beholder" - me :)
Quote from: Padma on September 19, 2012, 12:27:39 PM
"Reality is in the mind of the beholder" - me :)
Awww, now I know why I cant change reality, Padma already observed and set it for me. Yeah, honestly, that passage just doesnt hold up too well logically. Easy to pick the fallacy at the base of the argument of the goddess: Because a sorcerer cant make a woman, nothing is real, therefore there is no such thing as being woman.... Umm, what is considered real isnt incarnated magically, so why would a fake sorcerer have to do with nothing being real(the heart of the fallacy is that the only way things could be real is if something fake made it up). Really, just a mess. I know that not everything is merely how I observe it (though my observational perspective has a LOT to do with my experience of reality). There are fundamental things that are true and apply throughout the fabric of existence. The universe could exist without us, and there are things about us that are not merely matters of perception. If it where not so, then please, everyone, just stop imagining me.
Quote from: ashrock on September 19, 2012, 01:31:09 PM
Awww, now I know why I cant change reality, Padma already observed and set it for me. Yeah, honestly, that passage just doesnt hold up too well logically. Easy to pick the fallacy at the base of the argument of the goddess: Because a sorcerer cant make a woman, nothing is real, therefore there is no such thing as being woman.... Umm, what is considered real isnt incarnated magically, so why would a fake sorcerer have to do with nothing being real(the heart of the fallacy is that the only way things could be real is if something fake made it up). Really, just a mess. I know that not everything is merely how I observe it (though my observational perspective has a LOT to do with my experience of reality). There are fundamental things that are true and apply throughout the fabric of existence. The universe could exist without us, and there are things about us that are not merely matters of perception. If it where not so, then please, everyone, just stop imagining me.
Thank Goodness!!
I thought I was the only one on the intire enternet that thought like this. Reality is not a subjective phenomenon controlled by the mind. A different point of view does not change the thing viewed.
Quote from: Pica Pica on September 19, 2012, 03:01:57 PM
Thank Goodness!!
I thought I was the only one on the intire enternet that thought like this. Reality is not a subjective phenomenon controlled by the mind. A different point of view does not change the thing viewed.
Ah yes, I know some people that need to understand this when I am driving toward them and they refuse to look at me, assuming that if they don't acknowledge me that I won't be there. Or that if they don't read the news the economy will be fine!
Natch, not what I meant, of course :).
Buddhism (I think) doesn't deny objective reality, it just says our perception of it is horribly subjective.
I think it's deliciously subjective.
Et voilà, individual perceptions ;D.
The problem is that my subjectivity is extremely objective. I figure things out very very rapidly, so I have a very grounded idea of reality. Hard to change a subjective reality based upon objective facts. Trust me, I'm sure you've heard a lot of young adults who feel this way, but I have an ability to learn much faster than most people I've met. forgive me if this sounds conceited, its really not. I rate very low with emotional intelligence and fairly low on creativity. I also realize that intelligence of that sort is only of limited use as even the brightest of us are far from infallible. Humans are very beautifully limited creatures.
so, my point is, if ones viewpoint is close to objective, is there a way it can be changed?
Quote from: Padma on September 20, 2012, 12:57:40 PM
Natch, not what I meant, of course :).
Buddhism (I think) doesn't deny objective reality, it just says our perception of it is horribly subjective.
My summary of the inevitability of human perception bias:
"I see."
BTW, next time someone tells me
"God doesn't make mistakes"
I think I'll answer "but Goddesses make changes anytime they damn well please."
I'm inclined not to take all this too seriously, since I'm neither an absolutist nor a relativist, so on the whole, I'm going by personal experience.
When I realise I can't stand someone I used to love. When I realise I love someone I once couldn't stand. When I realise I didn't even notice (this time) the beautiful park I walked through because I was too busy being pissed off about something. When I can't bear to go somewhere I love because it reminds me of someone. Then I generally mull over how my experience of the objective reality out there is very dependant on my perceptions, and on my state of mind at the time, and how it changes over time.
"Reality is in the mind of the beholder" isn't meant as some important pronouncement on my part, it's just my own shorthand for describing the above and experiences like the above.
It seems pretty clear to me that some things are absolutely true about this cosmos, which is why I don't buy into the "all things are relative so nothing's better than anything else" stuff. But I'm not interested in getting rigid about it, that's a waste of time and energy. It's just my view, and that's been known to change.
wake up Neo. . .
The text is a philosophical musing on the nature of perception, or a case of our mind creating what we experience as reality. All is subjective, because we cannot step outside ourselves into the position of another observer.
Although I think of Wikipedia as Wikiwhatever, it does come with some interesting references that are helpful.
This is just an overview, of something that is real, yet hard to express. :(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depersonalization_disorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depersonalization_disorder)
Depersonalization and meditation
The outcome of one study on meditation and depersonalization concluded the following
Meditation can sometimes lead to the experience of depersonalization
The meditator's understanding and meaning regarding the experience of depersonalization will greatly determine whether anxiety is present as part of the experience
A meditator who interprets depersonalization with catastrophic interpretations will likely experience significate panic/anxiety
The meditator's social or occupational functioning as a result of depersonalization need not have significant anxiety or impairment
The meditator's depersonalized state can become a permanent mode of functioning
People who wish to reduce Depersonalization Disorder may be treated by changing the meanings associated with depersonalization in the mind of the patient, thereby reducing anxiety and functional impairment[46]
(This is the next part, I find it interesting, in the context of this thread) :-\
In Buddhism, the term anattā (Pāli) or anātman (Sanskrit: अनात्मन्) refers to the notion of "not-self" or the illusion of "self". It is one of the three attributes of the Three marks of existence along with impermanence (anicca) and suffering or unsatisfactoriness (dukkha). The basic idea of no self is that there is no permanent, separate self. Everything is impermanent and therefore the sense of self is changing at each moment. The transitory sensations that make up the impression of the world and existence occur but when trying to pinpoint what is experiencing these sensations whether body, brain, mind, or thoughts all seem to be transitory as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder)
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation has published guidelines to phase-oriented treatment in adults as well as children and adolescents that are widely used in the field of DID treatment.[non-primary source needed][7] The first phase of therapy focuses on symptoms and relieving the distressing aspects of the condition, ensuring the safety of the individual, improving the patient's capacity to form and maintain healthy relationships, and improving general daily life functioning. Co-morbid disorders such as substance abuse and eating disorders are addressed in this phase of treatment.[7] The second phase focuses on stepwise exposure to traumatic memories and prevention of re-dissociation. The final phase focuses on reconnecting the identities of disparate alters into a single functioning identity with all its memories and experiences intact.[7]
A study was conducted with the goal of developing an "expertise-based prognostic model for the treatment of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociative identity disorder (DID)." Researchers constructed a two-stage survey and factor analyses performed on the survey elements found 51 factors common to complex PTSD and DID. The authors concluded from their findings: "The model is supportive of the current phase-oriented treatment model, emphasizing the strengthening of the therapeutic relationship and the patient's resources in the initial stabilization phase. Further research is needed to test the model's statistical and clinical validity."[51]
Prognosis
The prognosis of untreated DID is not well known.[6] It rarely if ever goes away without treatment[4][17] but symptoms may resolve from time to time[4] or wax and wane spontaneously.[17] Patients with mainly dissociative and posttraumatic symptoms face a better prognosis than those with comorbid disorders or those still in contact with abusers, and the latter groups often face lengthier and more difficult treatment. Suicidal ideation, failed suicide attempts and self-harm also occur.[17] Duration of treatment can vary depending on patient goals, which can extend from elimination of all alters to merely reducing inter-alter amnesia, but generally takes years.[17]
It's a bitch, as it is hard to diagnose, and treatment is subjective to the degree of the disorder. :-\
I do not recognize myself in a mirror, but I do seem familiar and realize that it is indeed me. :o
Klonopin works very well, Ativan works for the most severe symptoms of anxiety associated with it. :laugh:
I also use Neurontin and Wellutrin XL. :P
It's how I chose the name Ativan Prescribed, after all. :)
Low dose HRT started with Spiro and it worked very well in stopping the aggression of myself that the other meds are for.
When I made the decision to also incorporate E, the result can only be described as 'smooth'.
Integrating a hypermasculine :icon_2gun: and female identity :icon_female: is difficult, but I have achieved it as I thought it would. 8)
I think I might choose to legalize my name as Ativan Prescribed. :icon_blah:
I found myself in a disorder, that now has some order to it.
It seems that total integration :icon_punch: may not be possible, but I am now me.
I have prevailed, despite the fact that reality is usually fluid and in flux.
My life goes on...
Ativan
I remember on my counselling course a tutor saying something that really resonated for me - "People who have experienced childhood trauma of some kind find it difficult to meditate, because they've learned in early life to be afraid of the present." This describes my meditation experience pretty accurately. Apparently, for people with PTSD, meditation is even harder (I can vouch for that) because the part of the brain that does mindfulness is the same part that in PTSD does panic. I've had to find very new ways to meditate since my PTSD became acute, for exactly this reason.
Oh, I just find meditating boring and start looking around for something to read.
Boring? You lucky, lucky [life of brian quote]. Beats the hell out of terrifying.
Anyone who spends as long as I do on the tube had better get used to their own thoughts.
On those rare occasions when I'm in London and on the tube, I'm too busy pretending to be foreign by talking to people - and doing the unthinkable by not leaving a space between occupied seats. Cry havoc...
Quote from: Padma on September 23, 2012, 01:50:16 PM
I've had to find very new ways to meditate since my PTSD became acute, for exactly this reason.
I find that cranking up the distortion and playing in a heavy rock/metal fashion helps, as opposed to just diddling around in a bluesy jazzy fashion.
Both work, but just slamming the piss out of my guitar and amp is a very satisfying way of coping with PTSD symptoms that are persistent.
Guitar playing is my meditation, I seldom think about anything in particular when playing.
I just wish I knew how to actually play...
(kidding).
Ativan
I drum. And sing. And dance in the dark. And I walk. Sitting still is the thing least likely to make me calm ::). Took me a long stretch of unnecessary self-torture to figure that out. I wanted it to work like it used to, so I was resistant to finding out how it works now. For me, anything that doesn't involve keeping it company ends in trouble.
Sometimes, in idle moments, I wonder how much taller I would be than the Buddha.
Quote from: Padma on September 23, 2012, 08:54:32 PM
Sometimes, in idle moments, I wonder how much taller I would be than the Buddha.
OK, seriously laughed out loud...
(OMG, now I'm wondering...)
Ativan
Well, you know, over 2500 years ago. I like to think of him as little and amazing. I get fed up with him being portrayed like a golden giant. Plus, well, I'm a bloody tall woman. I wouldn't have wanted to put a crick in his neck.
Quote from: Padma on September 23, 2012, 09:25:40 PM
Well, you know, over 2500 years ago. I like to think of him as little and amazing. I get fed up with him being portrayed like a golden giant. Plus, well, I'm a bloody tall woman. I wouldn't have wanted to put a crick in his neck.
OMB, you got me thinking, if the Buddha is portrayed as a golden giant in the golden triangle of SE asia, how would he be portrayed in the Pacific Northwest? As a green giant. Then it clicked: "Ho ho ho, Green Giant pada om."
Then I looked at Jolly Green Giant images to post one here, and I realized,
OMGG, the J-G Giant is Trans! and Buddha? Cool!!
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sillyamerica.com%2Fphotographs%2Fminnesota%2Fjolly-green-giant-5.jpg&hash=2b2eaf995fcdeaad48e01c41060b691dfd998099)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F6%2F68%2FJollyGreenGiantBlueEarthMN2006-05-20.JPG%2F220px-JollyGreenGiantBlueEarthMN2006-05-20.JPG&hash=74ef9a317130f7eebb09d3ae4df21d48adc74e3a)
The Buddha transcends gender identity - see OP ;D
or... what :)
Aren't we all :).
I don't really meditate much, because I have kind of lost patience with it... but different things will change the pattern of my thoughts and calm or inspire me.
Deep listening to music is one, and that includes when I'm making it.
Some kinds of not-too-challenging, not too fast puzzle games will do it.
Driving with the windows down and loud music playing. And often yelling along with it or just grinning like an idiot.
Walking in nature.
Walking at night.
Campfires.
Really good food, particularly Indian or Vietnamese for whatever reason.
People-watching, if it's not peoples' attitudes that are bothering me at the time.
Reading something new but interesting -- really out there bizarre science fiction, or well-written non-fiction about subjects I only know a little about.
I meditate sometimes, but usually have a "loving-kindness" thing going so it's something to focus on.
Like everybody else on this thread, playing music puts me into a trance. My college band director turned the basketball band into this classic rock/latin group. Which is awesome. So when I play that, I'm just focused on making swagalicious (now a word) sound and blending with the group. When we're done, I can't really judge the group (same with marching band) cause I was in the zone for like eight minutes. 8)
I dunno, I'm of the opinion that a consensus reality cannot exist, and I think that's kind of cool. We each perceive "reality" in our own entirely unique way based on our own biases and experiences, and to each person their perception is reality. And really, why can't all realities be true simultaneously? I think that kind of thing is awesome :)
As to the whole music-and-trance thread within the thread, I love to meditate and/or slip into a meditative state whilst making music. It's so powerful, especially in ritualistic settings.
I wonder how much taller I would be than the Buddha
How would you ever know, Buddha is always sitting down.
And the title reminds me of the old hymn In Christ There Is No East or West. That there are levels on which things like east and west, male and female matter, and lots of levels where they don't.
Quote from: tekla on October 08, 2012, 08:51:52 PM
How would you ever know, Buddha is always sitting down.
Nah, I've got a long torso :) - in any case, there are plenty of walking Buddhas.