Amazing Young Lady
Apr 30th, 2007 at 2:02 pm by Maya
I have several friends who are transgender so I have some understanding of what a struggle claiming your gender identity can be. This story warms my heart. What an incredible kid to be so willing to assert herself, and what incredible parents to be so thoroughly supportive. May a time come when every child is so supported in being who they are, even if it’s not what most would call “normal” (whatever that is).
I think the Vedic model is interesting as it pertains to these kinds of issues. It states that the soul, who is the actual living entity, does not change, but is given a material body based on the state of mind when the soul left the previous body. In Bhagavad-gita (8.6), Krishna tells Arjuna, “Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kuntī, that state he will attain without fail.”
It has been elaborated that, for instance, if a man’s consciousness is like that of an animal, focused on satisfying the body, then he will get an animal body. A more advanced man, who is significantly attracted to women may take birth as a woman. Similarly, a woman thinking of the male body will take birth as a male. In this way, our bodies change innumerable times, with many smaller changes in between.
This process is a divine arrangement, and there are no mistakes. However, from our perspective, what would seem like mistakes do occur. There are also stories in the Vedic Puranas of sex changes occurring by way of curses or benedictions, for various reasons.
No doubt it would be quite stressful being in a body that does not correspond with one’s mind. It does not mean that nature has made a mistake, but then one must also understand that nature includes the crude adjustments that doctors make. It’s all part of the big picture. Like any rare occurrence in nature, there is probably a lot to learn from unusual people like this.
Perhaps the best lesson to take is one that is fundamental to Vedic teachings, which is that the imposition of material body, mind, and false ego upon the spirit soul is always an unnatural and uncomfortable situation. In that way (and no doubt others), we’re all very much like this little girl.