Search found 32 matches

by Angelic Fruitcake
Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:37 pm
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

I find that some of my features that are connected to autism are beneficient as a buddhist but tricky with respect to the world. Other features are just plain tricky. Basically, I think my chances of enlightenment are about as good as those of an average person, but I might have slightly different ...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:07 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Finding a teacher when you dislike interaction
Replies: 97
Views: 20860

Re: Finding a teacher when you dislike interaction

Mundane life and wordly responsibilities in combination with a personal crisis have meant I haven't mustered up the energy required to seek a teacher out. So far my strongest connection is to the words of Thich Nhat Hanh. There is a small sangha in his Plum Village tradition here which I have been m...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:36 pm
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

I find that some of my features that are connected to autism are beneficient as a buddhist but tricky with respect to the world. Other features are just plain tricky. Basically, I think my chances of enlightenment are about as good as those of an average person, but I might have slightly different c...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:49 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Finding a teacher when you dislike interaction
Replies: 97
Views: 20860

Re: Finding a teacher when you dislike interaction

"The Heart of the Buddhas Teaching" I'm reading that one too, for the umpteenth time. I have actually read quite a few books, more or less advanced. Several by HH Dalai Lama, but also Suzuki, Aitkens, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, Words of My Perfect Teacher and a few more. I'm wa...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Mon Feb 06, 2012 2:53 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Finding a teacher when you dislike interaction
Replies: 97
Views: 20860

Re: Finding a teacher when you dislike interaction

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I have no intent of diving into complicated sutras about tantra and such. I'm solely focused on the eightfold path and mindfulness meditation. I will keep reading and see if any particular lineage appeals to me enough that I will go look for a teacher. :nam...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:29 pm
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

I will bow out of this discussion now, as it stirs too much negativity in me. Thank you for your input. :namaste:
by Angelic Fruitcake
Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:38 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Finding a teacher when you dislike interaction
Replies: 97
Views: 20860

Re: Finding a teacher when you dislike interaction

At ZFI I was adviced to keep looking for a teacher, meditate for stillness only and be careful about reading without the guidance of a teacher. This is a nbit demoralising for me. What do I do then? How do I keep my motivation for meditation without reading?
by Angelic Fruitcake
Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:27 pm
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

I know how difficult autistic children can be, as my son also has autism. I also have friends whose families have suffered immensely as a result of their childrens disabilities. Believe me, I do not glamourize autism, but I cannot see it as a positive thing when children are told that a part of them...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:36 pm
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

I call myself autistic as I do not consider my autistic features separate from myself any more than the color of my skin or eyes. I may say I'm white or I'm a person with white skin. Granted, my personality may be easier to start working with than my skin color, but nonetheless. Actually, the backgr...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:30 am
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

I don't want to say that autistic people are enlightened. I would say that given the uneven cognitive profile we typically have, we're likely to have some stronger and weaker points than the average person. Autistic people are often very different from each other. This was explained to me once with ...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Fri Feb 03, 2012 5:57 pm
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

Going back to the OP's original question, the Pali scriptures say that it is not possible for one to know whether the condition we are born with is the result of previous karma (until we are enlightened). Furthermore, they state that not everything is the result of karma I asked my teacher (a lama,...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:35 am
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

I really enjoy reading these posts from Angelic Fruitcake. i would be interested in knowing how dharma connects with her (??) situation. "Normal" may be in the eye of the observer, but being without cognitive independence is not just a matter of opinion. I'm a "her" yes. I would...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:31 am
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

Autistics are tacitly seen, especially by themselves, as choosing their condition -the 'path less travelled by'. I have never heard this opinion expressed before. Of course some people question the validity of the problems and think it's a matter of will-power, but I have never encountered anyone w...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:27 am
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

however, I don't see much compassion or insight in your picture.
Please explain? I don't understand. Maybe we mean different things by sense of self. For me it means not having clear boundaries between yourself and others. It's true for some aspies and not for others.
by Angelic Fruitcake
Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:30 pm
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

Thanks AF for sharing. I had no idea about AS or autism besides the severe cases I have seen online. I guess internet has helped communication with more people in your own way. Online you seem normal. :smile: I hope you find a teacher you can relate to soon. I can pass for normal IRL, but it takes ...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:51 pm
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

Clarence: I'd be happy to explain my terms, though now it seems a poor choice of words. I struggle with group interaction. I can't keep track of multiple conversations at the same time. This becomes a pretty big problem since I constantly have to monitor and adapt my responses. All the little things...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:48 am
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Looking around for answer and a path
Replies: 6
Views: 2050

Re: Looking around for answer and a path

Thank you all! Just being here reading has made me so much more motivated. I have ordered books in topics I feel I know too little about, i.e dzogchen, modern Theravada and more zen. I feel it really is time for me to figure out which school suits me better. After all, it will be much easier to deci...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:46 am
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Autism
Replies: 163
Views: 45984

Re: Autism

I often felt that if I was a recluse, I would no longer be autistic. The disability only exists when I have to interact with people on their terms, while they have no understanding for my terms. I agree.. This considering AS to be some kind of deficiency is extremely negative and counter productive...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:14 pm
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Looking around for answer and a path
Replies: 6
Views: 2050

Looking around for answer and a path

Hi all, I just jetted right into questions here without actually introducing myself. I'm 30 (well on Wednesday), single mother with two small children. I've been reading buddhism for about ten years, off and on. I have a strong analytic mind, but I struggle with emotions and understanding them. Some...
by Angelic Fruitcake
Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:50 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Finding a teacher when you dislike interaction
Replies: 97
Views: 20860

Re: Finding a teacher when you dislike interaction

Hi This was a thread from a month or so ago which contains some links to online study options. Hope it helps... http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=5937&start=0&hilit=lone" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Thank you. It did have some useful links, thou...

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