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BIID, Buddhism, Christianity & Sainthood
Written by Sean on Wednesday, August 5, 2009
What do Body Integrity Identity Disorder, Buddhism, Christianity and sainthood have to do with one another? Perhaps not all that much, but I saw some relationships emerging in my mind. Bear with me while I try to verbalise those thoughts…
You may have read that I recently went to see a new therapist. He said a few things that made me think (which I guess is good for a therapist).
I thought of one of my favourite books "Siddhartha", by Herman Hesse. Specifically, the fact that in the end Siddharta was fully at peace, and "enlightened". Many Eastern religions/philosophies have this concept of enlightenment, sometimes also referred to as sainthood. Saints are at peace, completely serene.
During the meeting last week, there was the talk of being able to achieve "full & complete healing" through letting go, through shedding "layers". And in many ways, I see full & complete healing as a way of reaching that peace and serenity called bodhi by the buddhists.
The therapist also said that to shed those "layers", the resistance to perfect healing, is painful. You have to let go of past negative habbits. So there’s emotional pain involved. The more complete the healing, the stronger the pain involved?
Which leads me to Christianity, particularly Catholicism. There is a concept of martyrdom that runs through that religion. One must suffer on the path to Heaven. Ok, I admit, my interpretation is likely very loose. This is not intended as a slight against Christianity, it is merely expedient to simplify for the sake of argument :)
So everything is linked, in a way. Suffering is a path to Christian sainthood, and is also a path to full & complete healing. Buddhist’s bodhi seems to me to be equivalent to full & complete healing. Buddhist’s bodhi is often referred to as sainthood. It’s all linked, isn’t it?
But then… Something’s fishy here.
I remember being *really* angry when a psychiatrist suggested that the answer to BIID was Zen Buddhism. I don’t believe it. By that standard, I don’t believe that this new therapy can help either. But it might, might it not? It’s worth a try, is it not?
I’m not seeking sainthood (doubt I could get there under any religious understanding or otherwise anyway ;) ). But I could do with some peace of mind.
Hmmm. All that’s quite complex.
Tags: BIID, Buddhism, Christianity, Healing, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist
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5 Comments
2 On 5 August, 2009, Sophie said:
what do you mean many are called but few are chosen Becs? Jesus died for all of us, not just for a select few.
Sophie – check out http://www.gotquestions.org/many-called-few-chosen.html
A bit fundamentalist, but that’s what it says.
4 On 8 August, 2009, Phil said:
What makes me suspicious is when somebody says he has or knows the solution
- for everything and
- for everybody in
- any situation.
In eastern religions and philosophy, there is also the notion of “the path is the goal”.
In my eyes Buddhism concentrates too much on suffering. What about joy, happiness and all that? I think we have both, and I still think Goethe’s advice is the wisest:
“enjoy when you can
and suffer when you must”.
IF I can see a way for myself to live with BIID, it is a way on which I learn more courage to do what I spontaneously feel like doing, a way on which I try to overcome fears and social conventions, on which I free my (true, inner) self (and not overcome all of myself).
A firm belief is like a crutch or wheelchair. But I try to overcome the desire for these! What I want to become is more open and vivid.
I was away for some days on a conference. The atmosphere was great and very easy-going. I felt good. And I didn’t dream of being an amputee, but just felt right (and if I dreamt of anything, it was of getting close to one of the beautiful men there).
Maybe I just was distracted. But hey, distraction as a therapy is not bad, is it? Maybe BIID is the distraction?
A free, easy-going atmosphere and approach to life helps me, at least a bit. I don’t know what helps you.
And that’s where I see how good it is to let fall layers and everything rigid. But not to adopt another kind of rigidity, be it “Christian”, “Buddhist”, “Taoist” or whatever.
5 On 8 August, 2009, Phil said:
Many are called – few are chosen.
“God creates life, grants repentance and gives faith. Man is totally unable by himself to do these things which are necessary to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Isn’t it amazing that those who write texts like this MUST be among the chosen ones, otherwise they wouldn’t even dare to talk about the Bible and God?
These are the pharisees and scribes the Bible warns us against. And they don’t even realize it in their geek megalomania…
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1 On 5 August, 2009, Becs said:
The Buddha said that desire is the cause of all suffering. That’s a pretty big task, divorcing yourself from all desire. It could take several lifetimes.
Achieving peace in Christ sounds simple, but on the path remember that “many are called but few are chosen”.
You’re right, it’s hard work but isn’t it worth it?