Toward the end of high school, I was intent on clearing and distilling my mind. Some very important events led me to the realization that life, mine and that of most of the people in my environment, isn't ours. It was as though reality was spread upon a stilted foundation. My ideas about reality crystallized over the course of the Buddhism unit of my modern world history class instructed by the man with the white beard and ponytail, Mr. B.
My current buddhist practice provides a Bullish Buffer. Having such space allows me to keep my mind open and look at things for what they are: to observe reality instead of following automated thinking configured in my brain by my past and present experiences, encounters, environments.
Our environments- from childhood through adolescence, especially, and to adulthood- condition us and we develop physical and mental patterns. Or, neurological and physiological Automated-Autonomous-Habits (AAH), e.g., biochemical happenings such as arising anger and heavy tightness in the chest and throat area as a day-laborer nods and stares at your young, fresh tush as you walk by. Such a reaction may be a manifestation traceable to ageist, racist, and sexist values inherent in our culture, household, media, education, and nation. And what of our civilization?
Asexuality does not require a person to be forced into any experience they do not desire, just for the sake of confirming their orientation. Would it be fair to force homosexuals into “straight” sex just to confirm they are gay? If you think of it that way, the demand seems not only silly but downright cruel.Most of our thoughts are inauthentic. They have been instilled through repeated conversations, popular quotes and culture.
- Ace of Hearts, "What asexuality is not…"
(http://www.frogthis.com/ace-of-hearts/?p=162)
Therefore, it seems apt to start with a meme to instill integrity throughout this blog and the Asexual-Buddhist web. I have come up with a few points of agreement mirroring the Buddhas' four "Noble" truths. The premises are as follows (to reconcile Buddhism and Asexuality, and, on the sidetrack, to contribute to the nurture argument in psychology, and metaphysical rambling, rants):
1. Life is filled with assumptions and premises that are imbued with ignorance and inattention.(That fourth one was a mouthful, I know.)
2. Lack of thorough, unbiased observation and lack of concentration are the causes of these assumptions and faulty premises.
3. There is a way to awaken ourselves; it is possible to gain access to the controls of our automated patterns, reactions and psychic formations.
4. Living life on purpose, with conscious positive or neutral(izing) intention, attention and awareness, will provide for a heartfelt, honest, authenticity.
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