As some readers of my posts will know, I am a student of the ancient Tibetan Buddhist practices known as Lojong. These practices are, today, most closely associated with the Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön.

In a nutshell, the practice is summed up in the Signature quote that appears at the end of each of my posts. (See below.) I couldn't say exactly where I read it. But somewhere in Pema Chödrön's writings she says if one follows through consistently with the practice, over time, difficult emotions will subside. Could Pema be wrong?

In addition to struggling with depression, anxiety, & some OCD-type behaviors, I have also struggled my entire life with Gender Identity Disorder. It is as strong today as it was half a century ago... maybe stronger. (Dr. Anne Vitale, Ph.D. who has studied & written on the lives of transsexual individuals confirms that this is "normal" in the course of non-transitioned transsexual individuals.)

Anyway, as skilled as I have become with regard to sitting with my powerful "transsexual imperative", depression & anxiety... sitting with it & accepting it with lovingkindness & compassion, it does not lessen. I find it difficult to believe it ever will. This is not to say I can't continue to do the practice. But it does occur to me that perhaps, in this instance, Pema is wrong. There may be some circumstances in which no matter how skilled one becomes, there is no diminution of emotion. There is only the sitting, on-&-on...