Merle, 'God' is a mental concept, an invention of the human intellect. That makes it(he/she) an illusion in my book.
...Bill! --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > > > Â the greeks and romans had gods...they were not wise nor good...so what > definition of god do you hold to, bill?...merle > > > Â > Merle, > > Another good question. > > Here is my working definition of 'Buddha Nature': "Buddha Nature is a quality > of all sentient beings. It is pure, unadulterated, holistic awareness of > sensual experience." In other words it's just sight, sound, smell, taste > and/or touch BEFORE you intellectualize it (perceive) by giving it a name, > classification, valuation (good/bad), associations, etc... > > Here is Merriam-Webster Online's definition of 'God': > "1: the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is a : the Being > perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is a : the Being perfect in power, > wisdom, and goodness who is worshiped as creator and ruler of the universe > 2: a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers > and to require human worship; specifically : one controlling a particular > aspect or part of reality as creator and ruler of the universe" > > The main differences IMO are that 'Buddha Nature' is natural and holistic > (not separate from you), and 'God' is supernatural and dualistic (a separate > being from you). > > You EXPERIENCE Buddha Nature, whereas most people would say you WORSHIP God. > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > > ÃÂ buddha nature bill... you say no god then you say buddha nature..please > > clarify..thanks ... merle > > ÃÂ > > Merle, > > > > Good question... > > > > The terms 'zen' and 'atheism' are not the same classes of things. > > > > My current working definition of 'zen' (not Zen Buddhism) is: "Zen is a > > human practice that assists in balancing the interplay between Human Nature > > and Buddha Nature. It does so by employing a variety of teaching > > techniques that are used to temporarily halt intellectual processes (Human > > Nature) which can obscure Buddha Nature. After an initial awareness of > > Buddha Nature zen practice consists of re-integrating Human Nature and > > balancing it with Buddha Nature." > > > > Merriam-Webster Online defines 'atheism' as: > > "a : a disbelief in the existence of deity > > b : the doctrine that there is no deity" > > > > So...I would say IMO zen practice is atheistic. It would be hard to > > imagine a deist (someone who believes in a deity)practicing zen as I know > > it. There is some wiggle room here if you describe the experience of > > holism (Buddha Nature) as 'God', but most uses of the word 'God' or 'deity' > > refer to some being separate from yourself. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > question:...what is the difference ÃÂ between zen and atheism?....ÃÂ > > > > > > is enlightenment ÃÂ merely an illusion? or perhaps even a delusion? > > > > > > ÃÂ > > > Merle > > > www.wix.com/merlewiitpom/1 > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
