bill..i see so you are an atheist?..
then you tell me there is buddha nature..again i ask what does this mean?... how does jesus christ fit into the scheme of things?...was he perfection of buddha nature?.. and if so... he says he was the son of god then was he deluded? how come the western world has been transformed by the power of christianity since the time it became an accepted religion how come atheists are not interested and accept buddhism...especially zen? merle 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: > > > >  the greeks and romans had gods...they were not wise nor good...so what > definition of god do you hold to, bill?...merle > > >  > 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: > > > > > > > >  buddha nature bill... you say no god then you say buddha nature..please > > clarify..thanks ... merle > >  > > 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  between zen and atheism?.... > > > > > > is enlightenment  merely an illusion? or perhaps even a delusion? > > > > > >  > > > Merle > > > www.wix.com/merlewiitpom/1 > > > > > >
