I have a very unusual scenario and I really need unbiased advice from strangers to help me figure it out. For the past 5 years (now 20) I have been seriously contemplating changing my gender. I feel as though I was meant to be a women. I have basically had gender dysphoria all my life and don’t feel comfortable on my own skin... I feel as though to be myself and to continue my life in society I need to transition and become a women.
However, recently I have become very interested in Buddhism and have started to feel a calling towards monastic life. I have researched heavily and feel that this conflicts with a gender transition. I feel that becoming a monk will help me to realise that there is more to life than my self and my gender identity and that I won’t feel these same pressures once I isolate myself from society.
I can’t really do both as to feel confident as a women I will need to go through many surgeries to fit into society and get myself into more debt, meanwhile, if I become a monk I can be debt free... which is a requirement for most of not all monasteries. I also can’t just try out becoming a monk for a while and see what I feel as that would require you to shave your head in ordination... and I have been growing out my hair for 2 years... so if I make the decision to be ordained i will have to be certain.
I know this is quite a strange predicament but would love any advice. Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.
Submitted July 28, 2018 at 06:26PM by bct488 https://ift.tt/2K72Ga8