Adina M. Ascher, PhD, LCSW : Professional Psychotherapy Services 

Online/Remote throughout California

Comparing and Contrasting Buddhist and Western Conceptionsof Self

by Adina Morguelan

                It will be helpful to begin with a brief sketch of the Buddhist concept of the self before beginning to compare it with the Western viewpoint.  According to de Silva (1979), “The Buddha denies the existence of any permanent entity” including the self and sees it rather as a ̶...

Ardhanarisvara:  The Divine Androgyne

by Adina Morguelan

Introduction

Ardhanarisvara is an Indian deity which represents Shiva and Shakti (the male and female aspects of the divine) combined into one image of ultimate reality.  This image of God/the divine/the Self is of particular interest to me because it attempts to unify and balance the seemingly opposing forces of masculine and feminine.  According to the psychological theori...

Outlining the Social/Cultural/Religious Role(s) of an Institutionalized Third Gender Category:  The Native American Berdache/Two-Spirit and the Indian Hijra/Hijara Traditions

by Adina Morguelan

Queering the Academic Space             

Both queer and gender theory have strong connections to feminist theory.  The pioneering work done by early feminists seekin...