If God is a concept he will soon die with his creator.

While it is arguable that there is evidence for the creation of the universe, there is nothing to suggest what was there before it became what we generally accept as manifest. If its like everything else in known reality, the universe is the result of previous energies and conditions.

Its not hard for mind to paint a picture of God, its incredibly easy for mind to do that and we've been doing it with instances of supreme vanity for quite some time.

If you accept that God IS everything holistically as some Christians now emphasise more and more then the movement AND stillness of your own mind is inherently 'God' and you need not look nor think further.

If you accept that he's some seperate sort of wise guy who stands back with his hands up as we make assholes of ourselves and each other then imagine 'him'  to your hearts content: everybody else in this school is.

All the best,

Harry.

A hermit was meditating by a river when a young man interrupted him. "Master, I wish to become your disciple," said the man. "Why?" replied the hermit. The young man thought for a moment. "Because I want to find God."

The master jumped up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him into the river, and plunged his head under water. After holding him there for a minute, with him kicking and struggling to free himself, the master finally pulled him up out of the river. The young man coughed up water and gasped to get his breath. When he eventually quieted down, the master spoke. "Tell me, what did you want most of all when you were under water." "Air!" answered the man.

"Very well," said the master. "Go home and come back to me when you want God as much as you just wanted air."

"Very well," said the master. "Go home and come back to me when you want God as much as you just wanted air."

fnh...then"struggle'"/question won't important ;)

Quote: "  I have a question , which came first God or the Universe?"
.........

Where would they come from?

Quote: "The chicken"
.........

Nobody ever mentions the rooster.

Chicken (species) Rooster (male) Hen (female)

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No, those are little chickadees’, they came after… or at the same time... depends on your point-of-view.

Quote: "Did I ever tell you about my ancestry? "
.........

don't tell me you're a chicken Pustic!

In the market, in the cloister--only God I saw.
 In the valley and on the mountain--only God I saw.
 Him I have seen beside me oft in tribulation;
 In favour and in fortune--only God I saw.
 In prayer and fasting, in praise and contemplation,
 In the religion of the Prophet--only God I saw.
 Neither soul nor body, accident nor substance,
 Qualities nor causes--only God I saw.
 I oped mine eyes and by the light of His face around me
 In all the eye discovered--only God I saw.
 Like a candle I was melting in His fire:
 Amidst the flames outflashing--only God I saw.
 Myself with mine own eyes I saw most clearly,
 But when I looked with God's eyes--only God I saw.
 I passed away into nothingness, I vanished,
 And lo, I was the All-living--only God I saw.

   Baba Kuhi,

God was invented because we're scared of dying.  We are scared of dying because we are attached to our notion of ourselves as individual selves.  If we wake up to the awareness of no-self we can dispense with god, too, and see the world the way it really is, unmediated by our concepts.

if we have no self then how come i projected out of my body and scared my mother?

word God can be used for not imagining-a-God

"if we have no self then how come i projected out of my body and scared my mother?"

was imagining-projection (a self that could be "projected")

Quote: " . . and why was the universe invented?"
.........

So you could ask that question.

it really happened. the doors opened and closed by themselves and she was freaked out for two days.

yes

Quote: "Someone says, "no one knows" - first and second doesn't matter - it doesn't matter that no one knows, so you objectify it. "
.........

hehehe...if that's the case then you just did

Quote: "A light snow is falling, the wood is split and stacked for another week. "
.........

sunning
morning glows
musicing 'ectasy on the road'
marios

B'Resheit bara Elohim . . .

Quote: "There's a fire awaiting my match.

Oh, and why do you sit on a jury in a capital murder case? "
.........I sat on the jury because I couldn't think of a legitimate excuse not to and I couldn't afford the 30 days jail time and/or fine a contempt of court citation for refusing. I was shocked and dismayed when out of some 80 odd potential jurors my name was called. A very depressing business. 

Actually, this is a problem for Buddhists especially since they generally do not believe in creation per se.  If there was no beginning and will be no ending, as the Buddha apparently taught, then where does the "Big Bang" figure in?  I see Buddhism as the most scientific of philosophies/religions, but there are problems when dealing with physics and astrophysics.  I would like to see a Buddhist physicist answer these questions.

Andrew

Quote: "The question of the existence of God, does not have a beginning or ending, as question in the sense on one answer making it any more or less apparent or real within anyone's life. First, drop the name, or drop the misunderstanding of making God happen through a name, of the past.

Proper names themselves are assigned from external sources. Any one being can be described with many names, definitions that encapsulate that person's characteristics.

If you search for God in a name there will be no answer, only words, assigned authorities.

But if you search out silence, if you search out sadness in yourself,  you may find a beginning and ending in that. The beginning and ending of sadness comes from being disillusioned, and looking at things a whole new way, without the sadness, or the anger and disappointment whatever that may be, whatever makes that state seem solid. One has to look inside for the answer, it is between you and God alone.
"
.........

Well said. That is truth.

On a lighter note---"which came first? the spigot or the keg?"

Quote: "Is it riding a skateboard?  Or was that before he was a chicken? "
.........

hahahaha

Quote: "Maybe in another 50 posts I'll get the joke too."
.........

hee hee... no just this one

Quote: "Quote: "  So Im really trying to learn what so many try to unlearn, I think its good to understand first hand something than to look through the window at it .. you cannot peel the potato with out peeling it. I can meditate all day but i feel like its a waist of life and is non productive when my intentions are good . maybe someday i would bring a smile to your face and my life would have been worth living .
"
.........

glugshgob

;)

Quote: "I am not responsible for the "many millions of Christians, Jews and Muslims" interpretations of scripture.

Xt: Before Abraham was, I am. "
......... Agreed. And I'm not rresponsible for the pious, puritan Buddhists you refer to.

I?

Quote: "I don't even like chocolate. Until after my coffee, then it's ok I guess. "
.........

hahahahahahahaaaa

• A Zen master had a faithful but very naive student who regard him as a living Buddha. One day the master accidently sat down on a needle. He screamed "Ouch" and jumped into the air.
• The student instantly lost all his faith and left, saying how disappointed he was to find that his master was not fully enlightened.  Otherwise, he thought, how could he jump up and scream out loud like that?
• The master was sad when he realised his student had left, and said:"Alas, poor man! If only he had known that in reality neither I, nor the needle, nor the "ouch" really existed."
• Man's first duty is to work out his own salvation from himself, god and the universe.So don't waste time speculating.

speculating on what?

rocks?

Quote: "There isn't a side that tragedy doesn't have... a bitter irony in that it can lead one out of birth and death, if one comes to understand it's purpose, but can lead one further into despair if it is not seen as transient as decay. One's life force still rises out of tragedy as in any ending.. "
.........

When One  Observed Dharma Such Mind Abide Nowhere.

Quote: "I dunno, I find trajedy has an ironic side."
.........

Zen Enlights Nothing     True Understanding  Requires Total  Lost Ego

Quote: ".."
.........

Listening You  Need Notion Of  Hearing

i do?

Wise Ones Overcome  Delusions  So Mind Attains Nirvana
.........

SIT

Suchness Is Thusness

"woof!"

With Ocean Of  Feelings

Metta -Loving Kindness

the

Wilderness One Overcome Detach Sorrow Mental Agony 4-Noble Truths

Quote: "She just gave birth to you, hope you enjoy as much of it as she did. "
.........

Wonderful Overcoming One's Delusion Samadhi  Mind Attains Nibbanic-bliss

(which is uncreated.)

Quote: "In the beginning was the male. "
.........

and who delivered it?

Quote: "Lighten up, Kelv, it's almost spring. :)"
.........

Blessed One Yoke Mind On Noble-Truths' Knowledge

of Suffering, the origin of Suffering, the extinction of Suffering and the Path leading to the extinction of Suffering.

May all living beings come to know, practices and benefit from the Sublime Dharma.

May all share the merits of this Dharma-giving and attain wisdom that can liberate from all suffering.

With metta.

Quote: "Of all mental activity, and of all thoughts that arise in the mind, the I-thought is the first. After this thought, other thoughts arise - second and third personal pronouns. Push from exterior to the mind inward and interior pull to self and so abide in silence. One who sees no difference between oneself and others, is free of the idea that he/she is enlightened and others are not. "
.........

Well said.  Right  Understanding, Speech, Thoughts, "I"?,  Concentration together with Action, Livelihood, Effort and Mindfulness are Noble Eightfold Path.

"I"nquiry - Enlightenment itself has no abode, as it is pure and void, so is mind has no origin, no abode, void and calm.

Thoughts do not bind us - only believing in them binds us.

With Metta

Authority is evil. Authority destroys, authority perverts, authority corrupts. The follower destroys the master, as the master destroys the follower.

J Krishnamurti

hehe

By Opening-up Yields Many Opportunities Need Knowing

If there is acceptance or rejection, all kinds of  thoughts would be created.

If there is acceptance or rejection, all kinds of  thoughts would be created.

"
.........

imagining someone/noone accepting/rejecting

Quote: "Ok, so I'm stupid. "
.........

Without Our Own Direct Seeking   Mind Awakens  Not

Your are not  Ab-normal.

With Metta

Life's Experiences Help Individual See Hope

With Metta