Consider what a bunch of subjective nonsense it is. Some reclusive monk pulls his beard or makes a fist, and the other reclusive monk recognizes his enlightenment and certifies that monk as a member of the Enlightenment Club.
Is there such a thing as true Enlightenment? Isn't it just as much a belief or faith as Jesus coming back from the dead and ascending to Heaven? Does Enlightenment exist? Does Heaven? The only people that claim they really know Enlightenment and have been there are also the people who have the most to gain from selling Enlightenment. It is just another Pyramid Scheme. One guy or gal and his/her inner circle at the top claiming to be enlightened, and the grasping acolytes under them lusting to join the Enlightenment Club. They work hard, study, participate, donate, do their zazen, answer the koans, and if they play their cards right, they become "Enlightened." Then they have to hoe their butts some more and become "Teachers" and eventually they might become the Major Domo and lead their own School, Temple, Retreat, Monastery, etc. Sadly, because the Zen folks have the least Heaven to offer, they are usually the most impoverished. But it is still the same deal as any other religion. It is all about jumping the hoops and proving to the next gal on the ladder that you can absorb their dogma and perform like a trained Organgrinder's Monkey. The really amazing thing about Zen is that it is the ultimate joke on those who are skeptics. It looks for the sucker inside all those people who think that they are too smart and/or too agnostic to get suckered by the same old same old. It is like selling virtue to a prostitute. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Would you Help a Child in need? It is easier than you think. Click Here to meet a Child you can help. http://us.click.yahoo.com/0Z9NuA/I_qJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> 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/
