Autism and the Triratna Buddhist Community (Part 4) - Approaches to the Transcendental
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- čas přidán 7. 12. 2023
- We are back with Ratnaguna and Prajnanandi in the final of our four-part interview series on Autism and the Triratna Buddhist Community. We shift our focus from the challenges faced by neurodiverse individuals within our Buddhist centres to celebrating the positive attributes they can offer, such as highly developed clarity, resolve, honesty and a different way of seeing the world. All of which can help neurotypical people to see the world differently too, if there is a heartfelt willingness to communicate with one another.
Prajnanandi sheds light on her personal journey and how being neurodiverse has shaped her spiritual path. Expressing ourselves openly and honestly can be a challenge that many people face, including neurotypical people as well. She speaks candidly about how hard she’s had to work to find a language in which to express her emotions with friends within the sangha. She also describes seeing, from an early age, patterns and connections between almost everything. So when she got into Buddhism and found that it taught that everything is conditioned and connected, it was a strong affirmation of her own experience. Dive into a rich discussion that seeks to bridge understanding and foster inclusivity in our spiritual communities.
Really great series.
These four conversations have helped me accept my neuro-divergent self. I'm 37 years old, and finally discovering how I sort stuff. I wish you both, and your team a happy new year. Thank you so much.
Thanks for these great 4 episode about autism. I am a mitra, and also an animator and also teach children with autism animation here in The Netherlands, and recognise a lot of what you are saying in them.
Also for myself, not being autistic but very sensitive to outside stimuli, especially sounds and moods of people, these talks have helped me to accept that a little more and to learn that it actually can be grouped under the term 'neurodiverse'.
What I admire about you is that you dare to speak out, to take in the space, and explaining exceptionally well, without falling back in a victim role. It is something that I sometimes struggle with. I tell myself that I don't want to fall back in a victim role with the result that I don't say anything. I am wondering where do you think is the line between falling in a victim role and just explaining ?
I've heard all 4 interviews and found them all interesting. I've also appreciated the honesty. I've only had 2 concerns. One minor and one not so minor. The minor concern is that I, as an as yet undiagnosed autistic person, love myth and symbol so much more than the 'rational' stuff. The rational seems, to varying degrees, lacking in life/ feeling/ emotion. The less minor concern is the tendency of not quite owning what is being said. It would be more honest/real to prefix (?) what one is saying with " So far as I know/understand (autistic people tend to be quite literal minded, or, whatever it is your wanting to state)" .Rather than "ALL autistic people are.....". Unless, of course, you know for sure that ALL autistic people are.... Generally, the word 'ALL' is, I would say, misused, inaccurately used quite often. What do the panel feel/ think?
I've really enjoyed listening to these four conversations. But as the old saying goes "Once you've met one autistic person, you have met one autistic person" we are all different based on our conditioning. I prefer to say I have autism but a lot of people prefer to say they are autistic. We all have preferences and ways of operating. Also, not all autistic folk have the special qualities that were listed in the conversation....we are all individuals 🙏
I can’t see the first three “Buddhism & Autism?” interviews on The Buddhist Centre CZcams site; any explanation/links available?
HI Paul. You can find all the conversations here: czcams.com/video/3S-4XR0NBsw/video.html&pp=gAQBiAQB