Angelic, you should be able to see the danger here. The notion that your limitation is only a "perceived" limitation and is actually empty is fine doctrine, but not practical and typically not safe depending on where we are on the spectrum. I'm sure your doctor will confirm this. You won't see Dharma practitioners violating the limitations they "perceive" they have, such as not walking straight through traffic, teaching Dharma to their cats, or leaving their infant children home alone all day. Neither should you. Until you are well able to get past the limitations of AS, don't be afraid of centers, but remain cynical about this sort of prodding and this sort of prodder:
gregkavarnos wrote:Falling over is an integral part of learning to walk. Aspergers or not, we all get hurt by social encounters that have derailed.
In other words, you can, should, and will participate in Dharma according to convention. All kleshas are equivalent, so no avoiding anything. It's all empty - no excuses!
gregkavarnos wrote: If you don't open up then of course you may avoid being hurt by an encounter but you will also avoid being healed by an encounter. It's a double edged knife. It cuts both ways.
Assuming you heal at all, which is often unlikely with aspies. We tend to move on, which is a shame if we lose connection with a teacher, especially our Root Teacher.
gregkavarnos wrote:Who is "we" and what is "correct"?
Do we really lead with emptiness, and to a person facing these challenges? What tradition endorses that? Yikes.
Wishing you find your own, Angelic Fruitcake version of "correct".