Is there a God or gods? if so, what is he( or they) like?

There is no God.

What is the Nature of the universe- its origin and structure? Unknown

What is the essential nature of Man?

Buddha Nature / Pure and Clean
What is the basis of Morality and ethics?

The Noble Eightfold Path

What is the cause of evil and suffering?

The First Noble Truth:

All is suffering (Dukkha)

                                      Suffering = life is insufficient

                                      A profound and ongoing dissatisfaction.

                                      Life is fleeting and unfulling.

                                      The world can not satisfy that which we crave.

                                      Permanence does not exist.

                                      Change is the inevitable.

The Second Noble Truth:      

The origin of suffering (Samudaya)

                                      Wanting a permanence of self.

                                      Ignorance.                              

Craving.

                                      The 5 hindrances of being aware.

1. Attachment to the physical and mental aspects    of the environment.

                                                2. Ill will.

                                                3. Torpor of mind and body.

                                                4. Worry.

                                                5. Wavering doubt.

                                      The 3 poisons which hinder “seeing”.

1.     Greed.

2.     Anger.

3.     Foolishness.

Quote: "I know that there are a few of my answers scattered around the sight, but if some one has time to let me know these answers instead of me looking around for some, and the rest not being answered, any ways if you could reply fast, that would be great :) "
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I would not recommend you not to go the way of answers
for every answer is a new haunting demon

just be with your original nature
that needs no explanation

which post was it read as if HA was posting as if "responsible" for rustic?

Quote: "My my.  So  we really don't know, its more your own personal view and path you choose to follow?

"
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what are you talking about?

or was the post not responding lehish post bigiawa? :)

Quote: "hey :)"
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:) hey

Is there a God or gods? if so, what is he( or they) like?

-There are only the gods that you create.  You are the creator of this world and you are the creation. The painter and the painting; the creative unique one who forms everything from nothingness. Gods are ideas elevated into masters.

What is the Nature of the universe- its origin and structure?

-No matter how much you grasp at perceived truths you’ll only have a handful of meaningless perceptions. Accept that it is thus, stop grasping and start playing.  

What is the essential nature of Man?

-I can describe “Man” all day because “Man” is a concept. Does this concept describe you? Do you need to be told what you are? “Man” is the harshest god of them all. Everywhere you see fools whipping themselves, restlessly trying to become “Man”. I must become my true self! They scream as they try to hold on to their thoughts of otherworldly holiness. You are thus and can be nothing else. You are everything, what else are you trying to be? Stop worshiping your own creations or you’ll always be a miserable slave.

What is the basis of Morality and ethics?

-You are the basis of everything, why are you asking for permission. You’ve created this idea of morality, is morality now your master?

What is the cause of evil and suffering?

-You are.

what happens to man at death?

-Do your thoughts of death bother you? What god is those thoughts threatening to kill? Strike it down and your thoughts of death will be meaningless.  

what is the meaning of history?

                -I must babble today because I babbled yesterday. When you are no longer a slave to your own creations there is no yesterday.  

If you are looking for Zen Buddhism forget what I said.  

There is only God.  You are God.  We are God.  All is God.

Everything that God has created It has created out of itself, because there is nothing else.  There is nothing that is not God.

The only limit to God's creation is God's imagination.

You will not find your answers here.  But you will see that other monks are as lost as you are.  That may be comforting.  Those who profess to know are the most ignorant, because there is nothing to know. 

Only in your meditation will you learn anything.  And that should mostly be unlearning.

When Chon Tri reached the top of the mountain, he let out a yell that shook the universe.  I understand what he means.  I know what he says.

When I reached the top of the mountain, I spread my wings and flew like a raven into the night sky, unseen, never to return.  He will know what I mean.

But only through your own meditation can you learn, or unlearn, and reach the top of the mountain.

what'-who is professing to know all that-stuff-asheera ?

> Ms Asheera,

You missed your words here.  This forum is not a Zendo at all.  It is just a website page that Mr Alan created and offered to anyone who'd like to come to do some conversations with friends who get the same interest.  ChonTri is one of those people.  He doesn't have any intention to do anything else.  As he said several times: Here no one is teacher or master or guru...no one is pupil or student or follower...at all. 

If you or anyone else would like to find someone and make him or her as a Master, it's up to you all.  ChonTri has nothing to do with it. < 

Chon Tri 

Quote: "Can it be that there is no such thing as enlightenment?"
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Enlightenment is nothing.  Who is there to be enlightened?   What is there to be enlighted to?

God is not God to God. 

It may be a useful reference, in the meaningless activity of talking, but as a label it is as empty as any other.

As the ego-me, I am nothing, I am no one, I do not matter.  Is it enlightenment to know that?  That is what I meant, metaphorically, when I said I disappeared like a Raven into the night sky, never to return.  Can my ego ever matter again?  Can Oz ever be so magnificent as it was before you saw behind the curtain?

You are nothing. You are no one. You do not matter.  Is it wisdom to know that?  Are you insulted, or do you nod in quiet agreement?

How should I know?  I am just a sheer A..., after all.

I think the best definition of enlightenment is to not use apostrophes on this site.

And also to not split infinitives, I suppose.

........

'define' , "split",is imagined

This is a Buddhist site, so the prospect of Satori, which in Japanese means "understanding" should not be off limits.

I prefer the term 'Spirit', but Buddha, God, Allah, Universal Consciousness,Great Googamooga, etc, all work the same for me.

I don't get offended here, although I seem to offend others.  So I don't come here very much.  Whenever I speak of awakening, or enlightenment, or Satori, people's egos get tweaked and they snap back with, essentially, "Oh yeah?  You're enlightened, huh? Well, what makes you think we're not?"

Firstly, if you are awakened, as The buddha called it, then no one can ever tweak your ego again.  You may not like them, or whatever, but that is not because of a threatened ego. 

The other thing is that those who get their egos tweaked are assuming that I am claiming to have some kind of elevated position over them because of awakening, and anyone who is awakened would know that there is no such elevation involved.  Moreso probably a benevolent deflation, as you know then you are the equal of everything, not less, not more.

I try to help, even if by shaking some people.  You have a good opportunity in this lifetime to attain awakening.  You know about it for one thing.  You know how to meditate.  You may not be so lucky in the next lifetime.

I came to this site looking for others who had experienced Satori so that I could compare notes and validate the experience.  I didn't feel that I needed anyones approval, or certification, but I wanted to see if the experience was the same for everyone.  No, it isn't.  It seems to be tailored by Buddha to the individual.

A common element I have noted among experiences is that the person went into meditation with sincerity.  Not expecting to gain anything.

I am not elevated above anyone.  I will help if I can.  I have helped a couple of people. But I have nothing to gain or lose here.

Quote: "Firstly, if you are awakened, as The buddha called it, then no one can ever tweak your ego again."

,,,,,,,,,

"your ego" ?

what "again" ?

May I tweak your nose, Sherry? 

You're the original sheer A..., remember?

But I would also remind you again that Nothing is not the real reality either.  It is just another of an infinite number of possibilties bound up in what is sometimes called Nothingness, or The Void.

Nothing is describable, and quantifiable.  Also it is mathematical value, comparable to all other mathematical values. 

Nothingness is whatever it is being, including Nothing, maybe.  Sometimes called, The Void.

I do agree that the only way to understand Nothingness is to be Nothingness, or to remember being Nothingness, which in Japanese Monasteries is called returning to the original position, but it is really a metaphor for that which cannot be described.

Nothing is not the answer, to the question for which there is no answer, because it is an answer.   Therefore it is disqualified.

Quote: "Firstly, if you are awakened, as The buddha called it, then no one can ever tweak your ego again."

,,,,,,,,,

"your ego" ?

what "again" ?

"
.........

May I tweak your nose, Sherry? 

You&apos;re the original sheer A..., remember?

But I would also remind you again that Nothing is not the real reality either.  It is just another of an infinite number of possibilties bound up in what is sometimes called Nothingness, or The Void.

Nothing is describable, and quantifiable.  Also it is mathematical value, comparable to all other mathematical values. 

Nothingness is whatever it is being, including Nothing, maybe.  Sometimes called, The Void.

I do agree that the only way to understand Nothingness is to be Nothingness, or to remember being Nothingness, which in Japanese Monasteries is called returning to the original position, but it is really a metaphor for that which cannot be described.

Nothing is not the answer, to the question for which there is no answer, because it is an answer.   Therefore it is disqualified."

...........

'asheera' didn't any meaning, didn't mean 'sheer A', though is which some people posted thinking it meant

what post are you referring to which you read as if lehish was answering a question saying there is "Nothingmess" ?

"to remember being Nothingness" ....not of memory

is this don????? haha

Quote: "yoo don....whats up!! haha"
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I suppose it was rude of me to steal Sherry's moniker, which she dropped some time ago when the site was reorganized by Alan.

So here I am again.  It kills some time when I really don't have anything to do except stand in front of this computer, and it makes me look busy.

Other than that, I doubt if I can help much.  The routine hasn't changed throughout recorded history.  Monks wrestle with logic until they are exhausted, and then, sans logic,  they see.  But this cannot happen, it seems, until logic has run its course, like a fever.  That's what Koans are for.  Insoluble riddles to help exhaust logic.

How are you doing Shayne?  Last time we talked you were wrestling with telekinesis.  Did you get past it?  Very tempting, eh, the idea of having power?  After one escapes the Trap of Logic, there are others, like the Trap of Power. 

Maybe I'm in another one, the Trap of Trying to Help.  But I think I'm just about past it.  In this lifetime or another, people will see when they are ready.

Quote: "I think it all sounds very noble, but you, whoever you is, whoever you think you are, cannot help me. Self-realisation, awareness, is the realisation that there is no self to realise. "
.........

This is very close, but still it seems trying to make things fit into a logical framework.

Is is a very dangerous word.  To say that something Is is to say that something else is not.  And that is where there is a need to get past logic, so that all possibilities can exist equally at the same time.

: )     GOOD GOOD GOODDDDDDDD

LOVE,boopoom

"
.........

The trap of Nirvana.

There could be a Trap of Nirvana.

The thing about traps is that if you accept them, or become attached to them, you go no further in your spiritual development until you let go of them.

Osho in particular, in his writings, referenced another state beyond Satori, Nirvana, or whatever one may call it, and he claimed to have attained that state of being.  I do not remember what he called it. 

I guess there is no way to know what is next for you until you let go of where you are, or what you have.

I am very happy with what I have, since satori, but then I was pretty happy with what I had before that.  Not so much before that though. 

I've had psychic experiences since the age of one, and visions since the age of three.  So I've been at this pretty much my whole life, over 50 years, and it has continually developed along the way. 

Quote: ":)"
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Oh, good.  At long last we agree about something.      ;)

telekinsis? maybe physic,,,,,dont remember anything about telekinsis.

maybe when i was at the height of my bipolar.

but this is par for the course. thinking you have special powers.

since then and medication later ive adopted a way differant course of action.

i just assumed it was you don.

anyway im doing GREAT!

Quote: "telekinesis "
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what about it johny

ah i spelled it wrong. thanks.

Quote: "i don&apos;t drink "
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neither do i.........but what does this happen to do with anything?

Quote: "what? "
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huh? dont ya listen?

Quote: "i have to go levitate some feet. "
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alright then.

babble away.

Quote: "that too "
.........

lol. ok. have fun with that.

so johny cat...........are you married and have kids????

just wondering

i have three.........named mercedes ( 16 )...tykota ( 11 ) and tanner ( 8 ).

was married.........lol.

Quote: "those are nice names "
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thanks johny cat

whats your kinds name johny cat

Quote: " I suppose it was rude of me to steal Sherry&apos;s moniker, which she dropped some time ago when the site was reorganized by Alan.

.......

:) it wasn't rude

This site is about Zen Buddhism.  If you want to depart from that, its set up so that you can say anything, Buddhist, Aetheist, whatever.  I don't argue with that.  If you want to repudiate Zen Buddhist beliefs, thats okay, but dont expect your aetheist views to become the accepted standard here.

After Satori I have 'understanding', exactly as is according to Zen Buddhist principles.  If you care to read Herrigel's The Method of Zen, about what can be expected before and after Satori, that is exactly what has occured with me. 

Its been going on for hundreds of years.  But just because its been happening to hundreds of people for hundreds of years doesnt mean you have to believe in it.

If there is more, a next, I guess I will find out in due time. 

When I was a boy, I tried to push away metaphysical experiences.  They were intrusive, and told me things I didnt want to know or believe.  It always seemed to be bad news. 

Then later I came to depend on these 'warnings'.  Then to meditate.  Then a very rich meditative existence grew, in addition to my life here.  And then Satori came unexpectedly.  And now I am not only not afraid to die, I am also not concerned with the prospect of ceasing to exist, which I would consider inconsequential. 

And life is much easier and better when you have acceptance of your universal will, rather than the needs and demands of your personal will.

I thought about this and the religion of Zen Buddhism seems to have grown out and away from Hinduism because of a belief that Nirvana is a trap.

The Hindus believe that Nirvana is permanent and you become immortal.  Zen Buddhists believe that Satori frees you from the recycling of reincarnation, but that nothing can be considered permanent.

Fortunately, an eternity only takes a moment.

Then later I came to depend on these &apos;warnings&apos;.  Then to meditate.  Then a very rich meditative existence grew, in addition to my life here. 

"in addition to" ?

And then Satori came unexpectedly.  And now I am not only not afraid to die, I am also not concerned with the prospect of ceasing to exist, which I would consider inconsequential. 

what is thought to "ceasing to exist" ?

And life is much easier and better when you have acceptance of your universal will, rather than the needs and demands of your personal will.

"will" ?

don....no such thing as a universal will.

their is your own personal will which is another name for the attention.

dont worry about the ego. its a word.

cmon don.........you make it more complex then what it is.

Actually, it couldn't be more simple.  Unitl you try to talk about it.

Quote: "Is this where it ends then? Now look here, you stated an avowed aim to help because you helped a couple of others. Then, it got watered down to trying to help. And then you fell in a trap-hole you dug and kept on digging. So, I have made two requests for material help which appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Now, am I to assume that the help I requested will not be forthcoming? And if not, why not? Oh and will you explain how you are able to communicate that which you cannot experience? Thank you for your close attention at all times. "
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My, I'm at a loss for words.

Sorry, no lifesaver will be tossed to you from the goodship Asheera.  How long can you tread water?

I have come to believe that the help, whatever it may be, can only come from Buddha itself.  Its just happenstance that I was there when a couple of others met Buddha.  Mere coincidence.  I really have no help to offer.  Thanks for your kind attention.

id toss anyone a lifesaver.