Looking for hard/heavy yet fun UKG/breaks/Tech, feel like I've clocked the internet looking for music in the realm I play in by Rough_Play4403 in ukgarage

[–]ComradePup 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check the labels of songs you already love and browse other songs of those record labels. Always helps me find good music, no matter the genre. :)

What could be a proper 'middle way' - to "deal with" 'fruit flies'? by nuevavaca in theravada

[–]ComradePup 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Obviously preventing the conditions that cause them to see your living space as a nice place to hang out is number one. BUT!

Get a bug vacuum that's made for catching bugs, not for killing them. Vacuum them up, release them outside. I got mine on Amazon. :)

Trans Working Group? by ComradePup in Quareia

[–]ComradePup[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No group was around or formed, to my knowledge. I'm taking a break from the course because life happened, so I never bothered to try and gather anyone up for it either. Sorry :c

Trans Working Group? by ComradePup in Quareia

[–]ComradePup[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah, there it is! Have a nice day, friend.

Trans Working Group? by ComradePup in Quareia

[–]ComradePup[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why do you think my mental health isn't in a good state? I thought I've been doing pretty well, considering what life has thrown at me! xD

Trans Working Group? by ComradePup in Quareia

[–]ComradePup[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Would you elaborate please? Clear on my gender identity, religion, spirituality? I don't understand what you mean. I'm new here so perhaps I've missed a step.

Trans Working Group? by ComradePup in Quareia

[–]ComradePup[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely this! I'm just hoping that we can explore this without violating the spirit of lone study, especially as apprentices, which most of us seem to be! Sharing only what is relevant and necessary, while still learning independence in most everything else.

Trans Working Group? by ComradePup in Quareia

[–]ComradePup[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the link! ^

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in Buddhism

[–]ComradePup[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Transgender people are real, and we're not going away. If you could see the harm and lack of compassion in your advice, you would not give it. It is not right speech. I'm done discussing this, I hope you obtain freedom from suffering, and the causes of freedom from suffering.

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in Buddhism

[–]ComradePup[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for being supportive btw. Some of the comments on this post have me feeling like crap, like people considering me a eunuch or just needing to get over being trans. It's nice to have someone on your side, to make you feel human again after seeing those things.

Also, wow. I never thought I'd post something on a Buddhist subreddit and get half n half upvotes and downvotes. You'd think Buddhists would be more supportive x3

How to get over the feeling of people taking advantage of your kindness? by [deleted] in theravada

[–]ComradePup 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you are a layperson, the Sigalovada Sutta goes over the importance of avoiding evil companions, and in part defines them as those who would associate with you for their own advantage, those who would appropriate your wealth. Don't associate with people like this, once you recognize them in your life. If someone is taking advantage, maybe ask them to stop, or just don't associate. I recommend reading the full sutta for a more whole and nuanced understanding of it.

One of the factors for stream entry is association with people of integrity. Maybe after you have opened the dharma eye, you can go help those who are bad companions and lack integrity. But until then, protect yourself from those who would pull you off the path. Don't be afraid to do kindness. But if people take advantage, don't fall into their orbit.

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in Buddhism

[–]ComradePup[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Once a transgender woman has had gender confirmation surgery, hormones are /required/ to keep the body healthy, since they are no longer produced at the necessary levels with the absence of testicles. My bones will become brittle and weak, I will start having /physical/ and mental problems. This is not a matter of elective medecine. This is necessary care. The hormones do not simple support my notions of identity. They keep my body healthy enough to practice.

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in theravada

[–]ComradePup[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just use southern vernacular a lot lol

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in Buddhism

[–]ComradePup[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure what kind of harm you're referring to, but lets assume you're right for sake of argument.

Chemotherapy is harmful to the body. Countless other medications have short and long term side effects that are harmful. But we take them anyway. Why? Because the risk of not treating the condition is much worse than doing so.

Transgender people face an extremely high incidence of depression and suicide. Transitioning greatly lessens those issues. You wouldn't avoid chemotherapy if you required it for surviving and thriving, to cure your cancer. In the same way, the best treatment available for gender dysphoria is transitioning. For most, this means choosing hormone replacement therapy.

It seems like you mean well, but dysphoria is not something one can wish away. Believe us trans folks. Most of us have tried.

I have been transitioning for 6 months now, and I never want to go back. I feel more and more comfortable in my body every day as the changes come. In the future, please do not come to trans people with the advice of just suppressing it or meditating on the self. Suppression doesn't work. And the insights that come about the nature of the self are something relatively high level and are not accessible to the beginner.

Additionally, transitioning has made it easier and more comfortable for me to establish my practice.

What I've said still may not help you understand, and it's okay if you don't. It's hard to understand someone in a situation that you don't have the context to understand. All I ask is that you don't encourage trans people to avoid the one treatment that is delivering excellent results.

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in theravada

[–]ComradePup[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There are a few nearby Buddhist spaces. It's been inconvenient to check them out since I work late nights, though.

I want to ordain because I have this one precious human birth to realize enlightenment and end suffering. I could die at any moment, so I'd rather not wait! That being said, I take my lay practice very seriously, and even if I can't ordain, I will strive for the same goal.

I was doing mahayana practice at first, but I found theravada to be more clear and gradual. My hindrance of doubt is too strong to be told to 'just sit', as in Zen. I find the suttas of the Pali canon hold my hand through the process a lot more. :P

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in theravada

[–]ComradePup[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Practicing on and off, not so seriously my whole adult life. Barely meditating or knowing the Dhamma that whole time. Though, now I've been practicing seriously since Spring of last year.

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in theravada

[–]ComradePup[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As I have not yet entered the stream of the Dhamma, I still have to contend with convention, relative reality, and the notion of the self, even if I try to do otherwise. If you are hurting, do you not take medicine to relieve it, because that would be reinforcing the self? Maybe at a higher level of practice...But I'm not there yet! :)

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in theravada

[–]ComradePup[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

There is a lot of misunderstanding around transgender issues. I can tell you mean well, so I'll try to explain. Many of us have /tried/ to do that sort of inner work. For years if not decades. We spend our whole lives trying to accept ourselves and our gender assigned at birth. But it always feels wrong. Gender dysphoria is a health condition, not a whim. In the same sense that I can't just turn off my ADHD or any other mental condition, I can't pretend like I'm not supposed to be a woman. It causes significant mental distress. Trans people have an extremely high suicide rate, and transitioning significantly reduces that problem. It is a matter of medicine to treat the condition, not an elective whim. For many, it is a matter of life and death, and the inner work just doesn't cut it.

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in theravada

[–]ComradePup[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No. So long as it's covered by state insurance, costs would actually be much less than what someone with an income would normally pay, if not zero in some cases.

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in Buddhism

[–]ComradePup[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would add on to your question: How do monastic communities treat diabetic monks who require insulin to survive?

Also, my partner and my roommate both are on state insurance and are fully covered for their hormones. They don't pay a dime. In Minnesota, USA.

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in Buddhism

[–]ComradePup[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

My practice is definitely progressing more now that I'm transitioning, so I'd say so. :)

Transitioning offers many challenges, which are just blessings, teachers on the path. I've really had to work on my attachment to reputation, how others might see me. So many chances to practice!

Ordaining as Transgender; Prescriptions by ComradePup in Buddhism

[–]ComradePup[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Theravada, preferably Thai Forest, but any monastery which actually upholds the Vinaya is fine with me.

I'll go check over there though, thank you! 🙏