Quote: "hahaha.. Did it not occur to you yet that Zen has nothing to do with believing of any kind...lol

Yes, Zen does require a little faith.
But, you are not there yet.


Are you implying that you have the experience already...lol.. no way...hahaha..

No, I would never say I have had any such experience.
Would you??
"
.........

I think people should just be honest.  I know people who are awakened and write books and make speaches around the world because of it.  And others who are awakend and deny it, like its some kind of disease that they dont want to admit having.

If you have had a kensho experience, you may wonder about it.  But if you have had a satori or nirvana experience there is no doubt about it.  Even if others dont believe you that makes little difference to you personally, as their awakening has nothing to do with yours, and they can take it or leave it, just the same either way.  No difference.

I came to this site years ago to meet other awakened people, and I have, here, and elsewhere.  My fatther and I talked at length about it after he became awakened.  Those discussions are enough for me, regardless of the *opinions* of other people, some of whom even say there is no such thing as awakening.  How would they know ? 

Its a phenomena that has been reported by a few people throughout recorded history.  It can happen to anyone, at any time, sort of like being struck by lightening. Its unpredictable.  My father was intensely opposed to anything metaphysical, being a devout Catholic, and yet it came to him anyway.   For some people, it seems, if it hasnt come to them then they dont want anyone else to have it either.

What should interest people here is that most of the people Ive met here who are awakened dont post here regularly.  Some have gone away and not come back.  Others drop in briefly from time to time, post a few lines, and they are gone again.  Its like they are visiting doctors to a leper colony.  The want to help, but dont want to risk too much exposure.

Quote: "Killing time in the leper colony ... "
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I dont know why the others dont spend more time here.  I like it.

Of course, the last time I said that, and that I sometimes find a nugget here, esoteric called me a crap nugget, again.

But I really dont care. I am me, and you are you, and thats fine.

An enlightened being recognize easily who is enlightened. An unenlightened being can never recognize one. An enlightened being usually don't proclaim he is enlightened. An unenlightened being recognize unenlightened beings are enlightened...lol
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I dont believe this to be true.  The world is full of buddhas, but many keep their mouths shut about it because it invites scorn or ridicule from those who are unawakened, because their fragile egos become offended thinking someone is ahead of them or above them.

But awakening is neither ahead nor above.  Awakening transcends the ego assessments of ahead or above, making them meaningless.  To someone who is awakened there is no ahead or above, there just is IS.  So then someone says *Youre claiming to be ahead and above, so your ego must be really jacked up*.  And the awakened person responds, *No, thats your own ego you are listening to.  I just am me, just as you are just you.*

Its not always easy to spot other awakened people.  And its not a static condition either, as growth goes on forever.  But I am more comfortable with them than anyone else.  Like were in the same club or something.

Quote: "Jesus said it to the leper colony in your head. "
.........

So this leper said to me, *Hey, man, need a hand.*  And then gave me one.

Lepers dont need corn pads.  They just fall off, with the rest of the toe.

These jokes really made the leper raise an eyebrow, and put it back on with scotch tape.

I am sorry about the reference to the forum as a leper colony.  I dont know why some other awakened people I know dont post here more often.  But I like it, even when it is contentious, its still interesting.

I have met some here who are awakened and deny it.  Yet they rarely hang around, where judgemental people can hit them with sticks of scorn and ridicule, calling them paper buddhas.  Why should they ?  They have nothing to gain here.

I on the other hand dont care what you think.  You are not awakened so *esoteric* is the paper one, who will fade away into another life with another ego.  According to the scriptures, the awakened will be free from the wheel of birth and rebirth.

I doubt you will become awakened, at least in this lifetime, because you do not have a fragile ego.  Yours is very sturdy, very strong.  It will no doubt hold up.

But then I used to have a stronger ego too.  I had what could be considered a satori experience at 17, but my ego was so strong I breezed right past it.  I did consider it to be a miracle I had witnessed, there being no rational explanation for it, but I didnt see what had been shown to me.

In many of the satori experiences that have been shared with me, a common theme is *humility*.  If you dont have that, I dont think you will be joining our club any time soon.

"
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False humility, Mr. "I've done this and I can do that, and I am this and you are not."

You are not.  Simple fact.  Good luck.