Disqus - Latest Comments for Zen

Re: Its 12:00 at night here & my anxiety panic attacks are getting worst? They tend to start playing up at nights?

Zen — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:44:59 -0000

I take Paxil and it works well for me. I used to get really bad anxiety when I was ready for bed. There's no chores or t.v. to fill your mind, so it's you, your brain, and your fears. Sounds like ya need a different med, absolutely. And the fear of dying or thoughts of death just go along with the mood disorder. Go tell your doc, okay. There's lots of other meds to try. One will work well for you, don't worry. I had to try a half a dozen to get the correct results.Now, I look forward to night night!
References :

Re: How study can change you - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 04:14:00 -0000

Anonymous wrote:
It can´t be easy in Indonesia nowadays... I heard they have a Sharia police nowadays. I worry.

Zen’s comment:
Sharia is only in Aceh Darussalam (Darus=State, Salam=Peace/Islam) as a part of peace treaty between Indonesian government and GAM (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka) or Freedom Aceh Movement. Islam in Aceh is the most fundamentalist one. Indonesian calls Aceh as "Mecca's veranda".

SpaceMonk wrote:
Indonesia is a neighbour country to mine, I knew it was the biggest muslim population in the world, but I never realised it was the biggest chinese population outside of China.

Zen’s comment:
Actually, in Taiwan, there is around 20 millions Chinese but most of countries in the world look Taiwan as a part of China. Indonesia has around 9-10 millions overseas Chinese. Thailand has around 8-9 millions overseas Chinese, and Malaysia has around 8-9 millions overseas Chinese too. Overseas Chinese in Indonesia-Thailand-Malaysia is about 60% of overseas Chinese outside China and Taiwan

Nvrgoingbk wrote:
so I am not suggesting we replace Jeebus with Buddha. There are some tenets of the "faith" that I do not agree with, but it's definitley closer to the "truth" than Christianity.

Zen’s comment:
as a Zen or skeptic, I don’t agree with many of “Buddhism” tenets. For example, I don’t agree with celibacy. I think becoming a monk or nun is not humane because sex is natural or biological. My father ever said that as a Chinese I must marry and have at least one child as an appreciation to my ancestors. I can accept my father’s opinion because biology told me something nice about gene and genetics.

Anonymous wrote:
I really enjoyed your post. I'm majoring in Chinese and I hope to be studying abroad soon. I love Asian culture and although I haven't really looked into Zen or Dao, your post has definitely encouraged me to do so.

Zen’s comment:
You must try it by yourself. Be independent, don’t be a follower of such a Zen or Dao master. To be a follower is to be a slave. To be a leader is to be a slave owner/trader. That's my only advice. Be free and be natural (Zhuangzi).

Joy wrote:
Zen, it was good to read your story. I'm a christian, but i can agree with you that the concept of being able to do anything through the week as long as you made it to Mass is messed up. It's not only hollow, but, if you'll accept my saying so, it's not what Jesus intended either.

Zen’s comment: Joy, I see religion as merely an institution established by human. My father ever said: a religion is a business! A business for its leader! I do believe there were wise persons like Laozi, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, etc but I believe they never wrote a holy book or established a religion. Their followers did it and exaggerate it. The truth is inside not outside (Buddha). Holy buildings or holy books are outside anyway.

Re: How study can change you - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 05:45:00 -0000

Dear All,

This is my liberal poem. I hope you can understand my thinking by this poem. Please note that i don't want to convert anyone to any religion. I want all human free and happy! It sounds like "boddhisatva" goal, doesn't it?

ENLIGHTENMENT

Enlightenment is free
Free from greed
Free from fear
Free from heaven
Free from hell
Free from angels
Free from devils
Free from religions
Free from scriptures

RELIGION

Religion is a mix of fear and greed
You do the good because the greed of heaven
You do not do the bad because the fear of hell

Religion is a nice trap
If you enter it, it will welcome you as an angel
If you leave it, it will curse you as a devil

Religion is a hypocrite
If you criticize another religion, it will say, “Heaven is for you!”
If you criticize yourself religion, it will say, “Hell is for you!”

Religion is a schizophrenic
If you are rich and healthy, it will say, “God bless you.”
If you are poor and ill, it will say, “God test you.”

Religion is scriptures
If you have a question, it will say, "Let us look for the answer in the scriptures!"
If you have a problem, it will say, "Let us look for the solution in the scriptures!"

HUMANITY

Humanity is conscience
You do the good because it is good
You do not do the bad because it is bad

Humanity is friendly
If you enter it, it will say a welcome to you, “Nice to meet you.”
If you leave it, it will say a farewell to you, “See you again.”

Humanity is honest
If you criticize a bad person, it will say, “Aren’t you worse?”
If you criticize a good person, it will say, “Are you better?”

Humanity is normal
If you are rich and healthy, it will say, ”Don’t be arrogant!”
If you are poor and ill, it will say,” Do something!”

Humanity is reason
If you have a question, it will say, "Let us think together the answer."
If you have a problem, it will say," Let us think together the solution."

Re: How study can change you - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 22:58:00 -0000

Dear Brett,

"Dao" is pronounced "Tao". There is no difference. Since Communist ruled China, great reformation occurs including in Chinese words. And one of the reformation is to Roman-ize the spelling of Chinese word. "D" for example is considered to spell as "T" because "T" is considered to spell as "Th".

Re: How study can change you - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 05:24:00 -0000

Anonymous : How can you leave the One and Only true God Who created everybody, everything and all that you believe?

Zen: If you believe in Creator then who creates the Creator? I don’t believe in Creation or Creator. It is too absurd.
The one and only true “God” (in my Dao perspective) is UNIVERSE.
The one and only true “God” (in my Zen perspective) is CONSCIENCE.
“God” is not in the bible or other holy book. Not in the religion or cult.
UNIVERSE is the “God” outside. CONSCIENCE is the “God” Inside.
And what is Conscience? Compassion (Love) and Reason (Wisdom). Humanity and Freedom (from religion, cult, slavery, oppression). That’s my very simple faith/belief.

Anonymous : John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
God proved his love for you when he sent his only son to die for your sins and so that you can have a relationship with the Father.

Zen: Jesus died for your sins? Do you try to teach me about being irresponsible? If you have sins you must responsible with your sins yourself.

Anonymous : But this relationship is built on His Son Jesus Christ, this what he said john 3:18 "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son".

Zen: If you ever study Egyptian/China history a bit, this kind of condemnation was regular practice. Egyptian Pharaoh or Chinese Emperor was believed as the one and only Son of God and every citizen who did not believe it would be condemned and punished.

Anonymous : We know for ourselves that we will face death on day but my questions is "What if it is a True God? and What if it is life after death with Him?
I believe we are FOOLS if we don't search the Holy Bible and find out for ourselves.

Zen: I believe I am fool because I ever believed Bible. And "What if Jesus or Father is a False God? What if there is NO life after death with Him?

Anonymous : We are all held accountable for our own actions and if we choose not to search for the truth, we choose not to live in His Glory.

Zen: Yes we must responsible for our own actions and we must search for the truth but not in the “Zeus” glory. Study Greek/Roman history well and you will know that Father = Zeus = Jupiter.

Anonymous : My friend, I believe you gave up because you could't find the answers to your questions.

Zen: I gave up because I found that Christianity is a cult. And I can find the answer of my question (Is Christianity a cult?) in Ex-Christian website…

Anonymous : The truth is not looking for you, you have to go and look for it. It is written in John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

Zen: Well, Krishna said that too (I am the Way and the Truth and the Life) long before Jesus born. Study Indian and Hindu history well. Logically, Jesus went to India and studied Hindu and then said those popular words of Krishna to Jewish people.

Anonymous : He is all the truth you need and the truth is that his life and death was for you, me and all who would believes in Him.
What was the reason God did all this? Acts 17:27 "God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us".

Zen: I think your God is very greedy for popularity. If He was and is trying to be celebrity, well, He has an awful success now (2 billion of fans/slaves). But I am not His fan/slave.

Anonymous : Seek is a transitive and intransitive verb. It means to search for something: to try to find a person, thing, or place. He rewards those who seek Him. The scripture says Heb 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him".

Zen: it means BLIND faith. Just believe without proof.

Anonymous : Jesus revealed himself to me March 17, 2004 and that was the best thing that ever happen to me. I know for myself that he is REAL. No one didn't have to tell me, I find out for myself and He is ALIVE.

Zen: Jesus revealed himself to me 13 years ago that he was neither prophet nor God. He died 2000 years ago and will not live again.

Anonymous : He living in me and I am honored that He chosed for me for His Dwelling. Try Him and I promise you never leave Him. I am a product of what Paul said "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain". Gain what? LIFE.

Zen: LIFE (after death)? Do you mean HEAVEN or REINCARNATION? I prefer the second than the first. But let me tell you the truth: BOTH ARE SPECULATIONS.
And about “product of Paul”, I think you must study that the teaching of Paul is totally different with the teaching of Jesus (Yahowshua). Here I give you an article from a Christian website: www.essene.org/Yahowshua_or_Paul.htm. This article say that if Jesus was the good man then Paul was the bad man. If Jesus was the Christ then Paul was the Anti-Christ.

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 22:54:00 -0000

Nvrgoingbk wrote:

I have found comfort from reading about Near Death Experiences. People around the world from every culture and religion-including athiests-have had these experiences and are forever changed by them. In nearly all of them, the lesson learned is that we are all a part of something bigger than ourselves, and we are all intricately woven together. The lesson learned is LOVE.

Zen’s comment:

As Daoist/Pantheist, I certainly believe that we are all a part of something bigger than ourselves: UNIVERSE.

LOVE? As a Zen, I believe that we must LOVE all beings. You know from my previous post that I am vegetarian. Monks in Shaolin temple in Henan Province, the famous Zen temple in China, were (are?) vegetarian! So am I. Vegetarian has natural/biological reason (we are similar with apes/herbivores), health reason (prevents degenerative diseases), and ethical reason (don’t violate to the WEAK).

I believe animals are our brothers and sisters, based on evolution theory. They have brain and heart too like us. Their lives are woven with our lives. “I don’t eat my brothers and sisters” (George Bernard Shaw). But animals are WEAK because they can’t talk like human, they can only scream and cry when we kill them for our food. Just think if extremists or terrorists kill our babies we LOVE. Our WEAK babies can only scream and cry in front of us. Horrible! I believe someday civilization means vegetarian!

I want animals live free and happy in the nature (not in the stall or house or circus). I like to be such a “bodhisatva” (the liberal one, the compassionate one, the highest goal of Mahayana) who make all beings FREE (from any cult/ religion/ oppression) and HAPPY (in this temporary LIFE). Sorry if I am too “Buddhist” in thinking. Please note that I don’t want to convert anyone to any religion because I like to be such an “arahat” (the independent one, the logical one, the highest goal of Theravada). I hate to be a follower and I hate to have followers (just read my previous post). I want all beings independent and use their brain.

All beings appreciate LIFE, and try to avoid DEATH (the survival of the fittest?). Near Death Experience? I know it but it is not the answer of my question about God and Universe. God x Time is equal to Universe x Space. This puzzle is the center faith of Pantheism/Dao. That’s why I always think of it for years and HOPE there is a physic expert to support me.

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 02:47:00 -0000

Dear Lorena

I appreciate your advice but I think I don’t believe Deepak Chopra’s argument about Intelligent Designer in creation-evolution controversy and I don’t believe meditation like Wayne Dyer.

Like a Zen Master ever said: Just sitting and doing nothing will not make you a Buddha! So what do I do? I just kick the greed and the fear out of my brain and heart and then fill them with a lot of jokes about everything. I love to make people smile with my jokes (some of them think over my jokes and find a wisdom in it). A life spent in smile is better than a life spent in glum.

Please note that I don’t underestimate Deepak Chopra or Wayne Dyer. Like you said, others should believe whatever they wish to believe. I never watch the movie that you’ve told me, it is not easy to find it in Indonesia, but I will try. Thank you anyway.

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 06:49:00 -0000

Dear UnAwakenOne,

I appreciate your invitation to your blog. But I am a “Zen” & “Dao” one, or in modern term is “skeptical” & “natural” one. I think I will not fit in it.

Suffering? Without suffering, how can we know happiness? Suffering-Happiness is Yin-Yang, regarding of my Dao/Naturalist point of view.

Buddhist version of Genesis? I am skeptical with any Buddhist sutras, regarding of my Zen/Skeptic point of view. Did Buddha write the book himself? Their followers did. Some false some true, like Christian holy books. You can call me a fool because I only believe in my conscience, my inner truth, like my father did. My conscience will judge holy books; determine their fault and their truth.

Application of Dharma? Gong-fu-zi (Confucius) did it with his simple “Golden Rule”. Gong-fu-zi is a Great Dao Master for me.

Ego? Self? If I don’t have a self or an ego, how do you know my existence or my life in this temporary earth? I will not deny my ego like hypocrites or religionists try to deny their egos.

I want to listen to scientists, especially physic experts, about UNIVERSE. The thirst of science knowledge, especially the COSMIC SCIENCE, is the thirst of Dharma/Truth for me.

Sorry, if you feel I am too harsh to you. I don’t mean to be harsh; I am just a simple, honest, and straightforward man.

Regards,

Zen

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 08:27:00 -0000

Dear beepbeepitsme,

Sorry if my English was bad enough. As far as I know, atheism is an ideology and atheist is a person.

A=No. Thei /Theo (Greek)=Dei/Deo (Roman) = Devi/Deva (India) = Dewi/Dewo (Java) = Goddess/God (English).
Atheism is an ideology that does not believe there is God.
Atheist is a person that does not believe there is God. Am I right?

“Atheism doesn't have a worldview”. Well, I ever read the article of atheism long ago, I forget the author’s name (of course he/she is not you), he/she said that “universe is eternal”. But anyway, I appreciate your view. A human is unique. And you are unique too. Thank you anyway. Peace.

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 07:17:00 -0000

Dear UnAwakenOne,

Yes, I think there's much common ground in our views. I love to have a friend like you.

Dear All,

I had left all religions and sometimes I feel I am alone, especially in Indonesia where people always have religions, but my conscience always tells me: don’t give up!

When people see my vegetarian life style, they call me a Buddhist (although it is not quite right).
When people ask me, ”What is your religion?” I answer, “Buddhist” just to avoid another questions if I answer, “I don’t have a religion!”
By the way, you must know that Indonesian Identity Card informs us about the religion we have. Atheism, of course, is forbidden in Indonesia.

In this large country with large Moslem and Christian people, who will know the Chinese old “sages” like Fu-xi, Shen-nong, Huang-di, the skeptical and natural ones, who built Chinese civilization by the inventions of house from clay, food from grains, medicine from herbal, and clothes from silk?

Lao-zi ever said to Gong-fu-zi, “The sages were all dead. Their bones had already become soil!” and then Lao-zi laughed out loud (LOL) and made Gong-fu-zi surprised but then Gong-fu-zi realized the meaning of life from the Lao-zi saying about that death.

We will die someday. Death is a natural thing just like life is a natural thing too. Only few people are brave enough to see the death as it is.

Heaven or hell? Reincarnation? They are speculations.
I just want to become One with this Great Universe when I die!
And I know exactly I will be, at least as soil when people cremate me as a “Buddhist” when I die.

Buddha is in Nirvana! Zen Master: Wrong!
Buddha will not reincarnate! Zen Master: Wrong!
Then Buddha will reincarnate? Zen Master: No!
Then what? Zen Master only showed his point finger up. People think that we must shut up our mouth and never talk again about the status of Buddha whether he is in Nirvana or not. But only few know that it means BUDDHA is ONE with UNIVERSE!

I have explained you the Chinese Pantheism or DAO.
I hope you enjoy it. You will never find these in the books you ever read.
It’s very simple and natural but yet it’s amazing me every time.

In the great threat of racial and religious riots in Indonesia, I find my treasure: my ancestor’s secret teaching: DAO, with the helping of ZEN.

Smile. Cheer. Laugh. Enjoy your last day. Close the door of yesterday and tomorrow. Live just for today. Right here right now.
Face the life now. Face the death tomorrow. And maybe tomorrow will never come because maybe I will die when I sleep tonight. Death is a long peaceful sleep without dream.

LIFE & DEATH! I always remember a Zen parable about a man who fell into a cliff, hanging on the roots of a tree. He saw tigers in the bottom of cliff trying to catch and eat him. He also saw rats gnaw on the roots he hanged on! But suddenly, he saw a beehive with honey flowing out. He tasted the honey with happy smile. DEATH (tigers) and ILL (rats) always threaten our LIFE every time but we must try to enjoy the LIFE (honey) fully.

At least in this LIFE, I have a happy son who always smiles and laughs in joy. Recently he always runs fast and hugs me tight every time I come home. Kiss me when I am home and kiss his mother all the time. I know he will be a happiest man someday because I always try to not poison his brain and heart with concepts of hell-heaven or devil-angel like Christianity and Islam do, right from the very start.

And I have my wife, oh I thanks a lot to the Nature that I have a beautiful wife with beautiful mind and character too. She is really a partner to me in everything: heart and brain. How lucky I am. I am in paradise. I don’t need a paradise after death.

My wife and my son both are the meaning in my life! Although I know maybe someday they will leave me or I leave them. It doesn’t matter for me because I have a full happy LIFE although I still don’t (and maybe will never) know entirely about UNIVERSE and GOD.

Oh I hate to spell GOD as “GOD” like Christian do, I like to spell GOD in Mandarin as “TIAN-DI”. TIAN means SKY and DI means EARTH.

Yes, SKY and EARTH is our truly GOD, without sky and earth how can we live in this UNIVERSE? We need oxygen that given by the sky/atmosphere and we need things that given by the earth; our food, clothes, homes, electronic equipment, vehicles etc.
We must thank to the TIAN-DI for bless and grace in our life!

But humans now are destroying the sky and earth with oil exploration, illegal logging, and meat eating causing more global warming, more holes in the ozone layer, more holes inside the earth, more earthquakes, more tsunamis, more climate chaos, more thermohaline chaos, more harsh tornados, more harsh typhoons, more harsh winter, more harsh heat wave, more El Nino, more La Nina, more famines, more thirsts, more Mc D, more mad cow, more KFC, more bird flu, more cancer, more heart attacks, more strokes, etc. This planet is full with crazy suicidal people.

Christians: Human is ruler of the earth and animals and plants! Sick! Did you ever learn biology? Humans, plants, animals, earth, and sky are ONE ecosystem!

People are polluting the sky and earth with fossil fuels, cutting forests for furniture and ranching, and slaving and killing animals for food, and never ever realize that they suicide themselves slowly.

USA, EU, Japan, China, India = petroleum suckers + Brazil, Indonesia, Congo = illegal loggers + Christians, Moslems, Jews, etc = meat eaters. The result: DOOM!

And this is my best joke: religionists want to be saved by their GOD but I want to save their GOD (read: TIAN-DI or SKY-EARTH). LOL.

If I am, death is not. If death is, I am not (Epicurus).
Live in Conscience then you will not regret when you die. (my father saying)

Zen

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:23:00 -0000

Dear Lee,

Yes, i agree with you it is a flawed analogy (maybe). You know from my previous post that i am skeptical about (can't get away with) this “childish” formula. It is just to make Christians and Moslems skeptical with their faith. LOL.

But think about Space and Time! We are live in space and time!
Is Space Universe? Is Time God? Is Universe unlimited? Is God eternal?

I want you realize that most of “modern” people in this world look "God" as an abstract thing (and eternal thing) and not a concrete thing like “ancient” people.

Christians or Moslems never see that the earth is "God". I think pagans were right enough when they worshiped their Mother Earth.

Christians or Moslems never see that the sky is "God". I think ancient Christians were right enough when they said about their loving "daddy" in the sky": "Our Father in the Heaven!" But then the “modern” Christians think their “Father” always watching them every time from the Heaven, recording every mistakes, errors, sins and their Father had created Hell to punish eternally the “naughty” kids. LOL.

Christians or Moslems never see that the sun is "God". I think ancient Egyptians were quite right when they worshiped “Ra” as Sun God.

Christians or Moslems never see that the moon is “God”. I think ancient Arabs were quite right when they worshiped the moon as God (you can see today that Islam symbol is moon, instead of star!). But then “Moslem” Arabs create “Allah” who will punish everyone in the eternal Hell if they don’t do the sholat five times a day! LOL.

We live with "God(s)" but we never (or are ashamed to) realize it (them) as it is (they are). Without (these) "God(s)" (Sky, Earth, Sun, Moon, etc) we will certainly die.

Christians or Moslems still think there is "abstract" God out there rather than realize the "concrete" God out there: UNIVERSE.

How about thousands (millions? billions? unlimited?) of galaxies with their billions stars and planets? Can you imagine how big the Universe? I can't. And if you can I want to hear it from you about the size of Universe. I hope you can tell me the borders/limits of Universe. Really, I mean it. I search it for years as a pantheist. I will thank you very very much if you can explain the size of Universe.

Humans can create thousands of "abstract" God(s) as they wish and then sell the religion to others. Most of people buy the religion because they fear DEATH or wish there is LIFE after DEATH provided by “abstract” God. They can’t realize that (maybe) their “abstract” God is only their imagination. They never think that (maybe) the LIFE after DEATH (Hell? Heaven? Paradise? Rebirth? Reincarnation?) is only an imagination too. Think!

The certainty is we now live in this planet, suck oxygen, drink water, eat rice/wheat/corn, etc. We know our life is depended on Sun, Moon, Sky, Earth, etc or simply depended on UNIVERSE or NATURE or ENVIRONMENT whatever you want to call it.

Universe is our LIFE! Universe is concrete not abstract! Universe is the reality not the imagination. Think!

Does somebody out there know the size of this Universe?

Universe is very very big. Moslems say: “Allah hu Akbar” and i think, as a pantheist, Moslems are right if only they replace “Allah” with “Universe”.

Universe or Nature is the origin of every religion. But when religions were well established, they were ashamed to recognize Universe or Nature as their God and changed the concrete Universe with abstract God. It is my strong opinion as a pantheist.

When you see people fighting for "small" things like "religion", ideology, politic, economy, and whatever you can name it, you can only laugh or cry.

We are stupid people who are fighting for nothing and never realize that we are destroying our own planet, our own LIFE, simply because we have wrong views, religions, or philosophies about our LIFE and our ENVIRONMENT/NATURE. We are the next dinosaurs, DYING, vanishing from the surface of the earth, and then replaced by other beings (maybe by rats. LOL). Think!

Think that we are a part of Nature! No more or no less. And my question is simple but very important: does Universe has border/limit or not?

Forget Buddha, he refused to answer! I will search the answer from "enlightened" men and women out there. It doesn't matter for me if he/she is atheist or (pan)theist. I just want to know the answer. I will appreciate if physic experts can give some opinion with strong evidence about the universe: limited or unlimited? temporary or eternal?

Zen

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 21:46:00 -0000

"Time will continue to scatter wonderously (wondering aimlessly) in no particular order, time will stand still, presumeably in random chaos.”

Dear Anonymous,

Do you know why DAO never been a “state religion” in China like Confucianism? Because, DAO means CHAOS in the eyes of Emperors. Yes, LIFE itself is naturally CHAOS anyway.

Dear Anonymous,

Thank you for your opinions. Oh, there's a lot similarity between your thinking with my thinking. I hope all people in this world have the same thinking. Then I HOPE there will be PEACE in this earth.

Dear Dave8,

Wow, you are really great! I admire you and your explanation. Your words are very clear to me. And yes there is conflict even in science. But you are genius anyway.

Let me tell you a secret. Actually, Dao has a terminology for the puzzle of LIFE and UNIVERSE: ZHEN KONG MIAO YOU (really void miraculously exist) and Buddhism has a similar terminology: SUNYATA. Well, I often find PEACE and HAPPINESS when I realize this simple secret enlightenment of Laozi or Buddha about LIFE and UNIVERSE.

But sometimes I don’t satisfy with these answers (zhen kong miao you / sunyata) cause sometimes I am not very sure. They are old rotten teachings, you know that. LOL. Thank you anyway

Zen

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 01:10:00 -0000

Dave8:
Does matter exist in this non-existence?
Does matter, "stir" in the "void", to create cause-effects, i.e., consciousness? Nirvana?
Is consciousness a process or a product?

Zen’s comment:
Dave, these are hard questions. Actually, I had thought these questions too for years, but maybe my honest answers will make you disappointed: “I DON’T KNOW”.
Why am I AGNOSTIC upon these questions? Eastern/Chinese philosophies believe that object and subject, matter and consciousness, are woven each other, so it’s hard to determine what is the subject and what is the object, what is the matter what is the consciousness. Zhuangzi ever said: “Last night I dreamed that I became butterfly, now I don’t know whether I am butterfly has been dreaming as human or not.” Laozi ever said: “Sky and Earth have no feelings, they treat us like objects!” As a Zen/Skeptic, I don’t know whether Zhuangzi or Laozi ever really said these sayings or not, but these sayings reflect the typical Chinese thinking. And I must admit that I am a product of Chinese thinking. I am what I am with certain gifts and certain lacks. So I am sorry if I am disappointing you with my “agnostic” answers.

Dave8:
Is consciousness an inorganic form, or organic?
Is photon organic or inorganic?

Zen’s comment:
I will ask you back: Is earth organic or inorganic? Maybe you already knew from watching TV that recently in Porong, Sidoarjo District, East Java Province, a great mudflow disaster has been going on. Well, you can look this Earth like organic: bleeding, flowing out the mud, like the blood of animal.
By the way, there are about 6 millions oil drills that stab the earth and suck its oil since 20th century. And this is my joke: If we look the earth as a dog, so we are its bugs sucking its blood! Aceh Tsunami maybe was one example of this “dog” reaction that just want to scratch these annoying “bugs” (humans). LOL. But if we look the earth as inorganic, we can say that the mudflow just a natural phenomena, the high-pressures under the earth that make mudflow happened. Or we can look the earth core simply as such a nuclear reactor.
Anyway, an Australian guy said that USA made this tsunami with nuke to kill 250,000 “radical” Moslems in Aceh for revenge the loss of “Christians” on 911 and Iraqi war; “Did New York Orchestrate The Asian Tsunami?” www.joevialls.net/subliminalsuggestion/tsunami..... Huh?! Believe it or not!

Anonymous:
We are flowing with this substance, what we call God.

Zen’s comment:
Yes, I think we are flowing with substance we call God (Tian Di or Sky Earth). Our solar system is flowing in this milky way and this milky way is flowing in the Universe

All things are flowing with this substance, therefore if we are for this substance, whom shall be against us?
No one can be against us! Only ourselves! We ourselves are our greatest enemy here, on earth!

Zen’s comment:

You make me remember this Dao saying:
Tian Di shi wo men de Fu Mu (Sky & Earth is our Father & Mother).
Dao believes that we are the children of God.
We can do everything we want to do under the Sky & upon the Earth.
And yes the greatest enemy of us is ourselves.

An Old Dao Poem:
Sky is our Father, brings us protection.
Earth is our Mother, brings us nurture.
Sun is our Uncle, brings us the bright light in the morning.
Moon is our Aunt, brings us the soft light in the night.

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 22:38:00 -0000

Dave8:
"I will ask you back: Is earth organic or inorganic?"
Both.
Organic: "1. noting or pertaining to a class of chemical compounds that formerly comprised only those existing in or derived from plants or animals, but that now includes all other compounds of carbon."
It appears there was/is a conflict in the scientific community as to "what" organic really should be defined as.

Zen:
Now you and I have similar thinking. From chemistry, I know that Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen (CHO) are in the nature, plants, animals, and humans. And as a vegetarian, I learned a lot of Nutrition and I know that Carbohydrate and Lipid are CHO too (Protein/Amino Acids = CHON). So then I think the terminology of “organic” or “inorganic” is like “mumbo jumbo” to me.

Dave8:
Modern language has its challenges and has failed in many ways I believe, as well, but that is a different topic.

Zen:
Yes! You are true. I know that too. If you learn/study Chinese language you will face more challenges. You know that “Zhongwen (Chinese words)” is the only “pictorial” words that still exist today. (Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Indian “pictorial” words had been discarded by their own people). There are hundreds radicals (basic pictures) in Zhongwen to form thousands (to even millions) of words by combining radicals. In the last years of Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-221 BC), there were seven large kingdoms in China and every kingdom had his/her own words and language. Very complicated! It’s impossible to study all of them in one life! Then Qin Shihuangdi (from Qin Dynasty/ Kingdom: 221-206 BC) unified those kingdoms and simplified and standardized Chinese words and language. But it was still quite complicated! Need at least ten to twenty years to learn it (depended on how fast you learn). In the middle of 20th century, Mao Zedong simplified Chinese words again, so you only need around five to ten years to learn it. When I learned Chinese words, I knew how those ancient words created and their limitations. That’s why ancient Dao/Zen Master sometimes didn’t use words or language to make disciples understood the meaning of something. Yes, language has failed in many ways. That’s why I am skeptical with every religious book too.

Dave8:
I prefer to start with what exists, and move outward... I don't tend to like to start with "nothing", and try to work my way back into existence, if you know what I mean :-)

Zen:
Similar. DAO is always from inside/inward first then to outside/outward, from existence first then to void.
It’s nice to meet you. Peace.

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 22:55:00 -0000

Dave8:

“By 1973 anti-Soviet motivation increased efforts to spread pinyin,which was given further letters to represent phonemes of border languages in order to enhance Chinese unification with the non-Han Uigars and Kazakhs of Sinkian. However, these minorities resist, preferring the old Arabic forms that link them with their Soviet ethnic groups and their Islamic faith."
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~ozideas/wchinref.htm

Zen:

If you talk about Chinese history, please understand well the history of Turks! I know that most of Western people are blind enough with the origin of the Turks: Xinjiang & Kazakhstan! (before Turks invaded Constantinople/Istanbul and built the country called Turkey now) .

Xinjiang means New (Xin) Territory (Jiang). Because, traditionally, Xinjiang was not Chinese Territory. Manchurian Dynasty or Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) after attacked and destroyed Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) then made a great expansion. Manchurian attacked and ruled over the land of the Turks. That’s’ why Manchurian named the area as “Xinjiang”.

Now Manchurians are minority in China, like Mongolians and Turks. Most of Mongolians, Manchurians, and Turks had been assimilated into “Han” people (I predicted 500 millions of Northern Chinese people is Mongolian-Manchurian-Turk descendants based on genetic link that so much close with these minorities). It is like German, France, & Italian people had been assimilated to British (England-Scotland-Wales) people in the USA! Most of people in this world rarely know that China was and is a melting pot of many nations and races long ago before USA established!

And the Turks had been assimilated since Tang Dynasty (618-907). Turks brought Buddhism to Han people (but later the Middle East people attacked Turks and converted them to Islam). Don’t you know that the founder of Tang Dynasty was a half Turk (Tujie)? Uighur is one of Turk’s tribes and also the Kazakhs. Under the “half Turk” Emperor: LI SHIMIN, Tang Dynasty became SUPERPOWER in the world like USA now. Japanese, Korean, Manchurian, Mongolian, Vietnamese, Burmese, etc came to China to learn science and art. Now you know why Muhammad ever said this famous word to his disciples,” Study the knowledge up to China.”

And that’s why Chinese in Indonesia are still proud to call themselves “Teng-lang” (Fujian/Hokkien dialect) or “Tong-yin” (Ke/Hakka dialect) or “Tang-ren” (Beijing/Pinyin dialect) means “Tang People”. “Tang-ren” is often used as a substitution of “Han-ren” means “Han People”. “Han-ren” is used since “Han” Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AC). I think Chinese in Indonesia is racist and idiot enough because they don’t know their own history that they are actually plural/heterogeneous not homogeneous. LOL.

Between 1966-1976 China was under Wenhua Geming or Cultural Revolution when extreme groups of Communist persecuted most of Chinese/Han people, not only Uighurs or Kazakhs. The simplified Zhongwen run wild without rules, and it made people confused enough when they tried to study it.

Fortunately, Deng Xiaoping could defeat extreme groups of Communist in 1976 and started to build China all over again. Then investors all over the world started to go to China.

Deng Xiaoping et al then also made a silent reformation on Pinyin and simplified Zhongwen. Now China put simplified Zhongwen in order with certain rules and also with Roman “Pinyin” to make people in the world easy to learn it. But I must tell you that “Pinyin” or “Beijing dialect” is more like French than English. It uses “nose” voice and “tongue” flexibility, so it is not easy to talk in Beijing dialect. Try it and then you will believe what I’m saying! For Southern Chinese people like me, it’s difficult to speak in Pinyin, cause it makes my tongue slip and my nose out of breath. LOL. I bet your translator will fail on practice because actually Chinese don’t TALK but SING when they talk! LOL.

Now China is the “Awakening Dragon”. And I hope “humanist-secularist” DAO will rise up again soon. Give its light to the China and the whole world. I have strong intuition that this dream will come true in 21st century.

Together with “humanist-secularist” Westerners (USA & EU), the “humanist-secularist” Chinese/Dao can build the PEACE on this earth. To make poverty a history. To build East-West harmonious relationship. This will be the peak of HUMAN CIVILIZATION.

I think Communism (imported from Soviet) is actually blessing in disguise for Chinese because the very cruel Cultural Revolution had paralyzed all religions in China and make Dao possible to rise again. This time “humanist-secularist” Dao will be the State Constitution. It’s like Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson and Declaration of Emancipation by Abraham Lincoln. But the process must be step by step and not abrupt like Soviet/Russia under Gorbachev. I believe Mainland Chinese with Dao, their local wisdom, can make this gradual reformation naturally.

And yes, “humanist-secularist” Westerners and Dao common “enemy” is fundamentalist Christianity and extremist Islam. But again, the Christians and Moslems are not our enemy. They are only the victims of the long lasting cult. Frankly speaking: I want Christianity and Islam vanished from the surface of Mainland China. Their Churches and Mosques will be the Museums for Chinese to always remember about the cruel cult ever lived. That’s my dangerous dream and really a nightmare for Christianity and Islam in China. Just like Natives/Moslems in Indonesia want Chinese/Christians vanished from the surface of Indonesia. LOL.

Dave8:

I have a question for you now :-)
Can a simple set of [8] characters in a simple sequence, represent more than you could possibly know? If not, then, doesn't the [8] characters, represent "all" that you know? Dave"8" - Perhaps, we are... all that we know.

Zen:

From your words, I know you are very unique and very intelligent. My answer is “I don’t know”. Agnostic again. LOL. Take care.

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 04:05:00 -0000

Dear Jason Koh & Anonymous

To deny one action is not followed by another action is not wise at all. But to accept fatalistic theory that we will always reincarnate without endings because we can’t stop karma is really absurd. Does Nirvana exist to stop karma?

Nirvana has two meanings that antagonistic one to another; first meaning is “extinction”, second meaining is “no (nir) desires (vana)”. The first meaning is usually used by Theravada (connected with atheistic “anatman” concept) and the second meaning is usually used by Mahayana (connected with theistic “atman” concept) >> See Mahaparinirvana Sutra for Mahayana concept about Nirvana.

I am not a follower of Theravada or Mahayana. I have my own concept about Nirvana.

I must repeat my opinion that maybe life after death (including “Nirvana” in so-called Buddhism) is only our IMAGINATION.

In nature, there is no reason why we must live forever. If we never die then this earth will be full with humans (we and our descendants). So we die for our descendants to live. That’s why (natural) life is good and (natural) death is good too.

It doesn’t matter if there IS Nirvana after DEATH or NOT. The really matter is how we appreciate this LIFE. As Pantheist (Daoist) I always see life and death as a great mystery/miracle of this Universe/Nature.

Dao Master: “People always see walking on the water or healing as a miracle but do they ever see that LIFE itself is a great miracle?”
Albert Einstein: “The most beautiful and deepest experience a man can have is the sense of the mysterious. It is the underlying principle of religion as well as of all serious endeavour in art and science. He who never had this experience seems to me, if not dead, then at least blind.”

Realize that life is a great miracle then we will be happy. Nirvana? For me, NIRVANA means HAPPINESS. Theravada and Mahayana at least agree with one of Nirvana’s characters: HAPPINESS.

Why must we wait to taste Nirvana after death? Taste Nirvana RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW. That’s my simple opinion about Nirvana.

I hope my poem below can explain further my simple view on Buddhism.

“ZEN” ON BUDDHISM

Theravada: I believe PALI sutra
Mahayana: I believe SANSKRIT sutra
Zen: I disbelieve BOTH
Because Bodhidharma said that there is the Truth outside the books

Theravada: I use REASON
Mahayana: I use COMPASSION
Zen: I use BOTH
Because we are thinking and feeling beings

Theravada: I want to be ARAHAT (individual liberator, save myself)
Mahayana: I want to be BODHISATTVA (social liberator, save others)
Zen: I want to be BUDDHA (individual & social liberator, save myself & others)
Because Buddha never said, “I am Buddha and you are only Arahat or Bodhisattva.”

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 02:16:00 -0000

Dave: Does your variety of Buddhist belief have a school/sect of thought, or do you find that you must choose something close, and modify the parts you don't really agree with?

Zen: Dave, you know from my previous post that I don’t belong to any religion. Actually, I am independent and liberal one. Honestly, my mind and heart choose a part of Zen and a part of Dao. Of course I don’t agree 100% with so-called Daoism and Zen nowadays. I only accept the part that I agree from both. And my mind always develops everyday depending on what I find. Maybe because my mind is always open and skeptical (I think this is the Zen influence in my mind). And my heart always develops too especially when I see this miraculous and mysterious Nature (I feel this is Dao influence in my heart). I hope you know this simple mind and heart that I have.

Dave: However, you are not agnostic when speaking of death. Death is an experience, that you seem able to easily talk about, yet, I can’t conceive death as an experience. If there was anything that would require some agnosticism, it would appear that death, and the resultant happiness that may result would definitely be one of those areas at the top of one's list for agnosticism.

Zen: Death, for example, is a natural phenomenon (this is Dao view). The reason is simple; if we never die, this earth will be full with humans. So nature arranges death for our goodness. We die for our descendants to live. Maybe atheism is right, there is no life after death, maybe theism is right that there is life after death. But currently I tend to agree with atheism. But my mind is still open. Why? Because if you know better Dao (this time I must explain further, I hope it is still simple for everyone to know), you will find that Dao believes in Qi (pronounced: Chi) or (maybe) Prana in Indian language. This Qi is similar with soul or spirit in Middle East religions but not exactly the same. Chinese philosophers, especially Laozi (his followers then built Daoism) and Gongfuzi (his follower then built Confucianism) only knew about Qi, and of course they did not know the concept of Nirvana or Reincarnation (because Buddhism had not come yet to China) or Heaven and Hell concept (Christianity or Islam had not existed yet). So we must know that the original teaching of Dao about death is very simple. Death is a kind of COMING HOME to Nature for the Qi. How the process of this Qi comes home to Nature (not to Heaven or Hell, not to Nirvana or Samsara), frankly speaking, I still don’t know. But Chinese people believe that the Qi of their ancestors will always protect them, the descendants. Sometimes I think I feel this Qi, especially the Qi of my late father. But this Qi is still a mystery for me, so I think I would rather be skeptic, agnostic or even atheistic about this Qi. Why? Because I don’t want to be a victim of self-proclaimed Dao Master and I don’t want to be victimizer too. You know that I hate to be a follower of religion (a slave) and I hate to be a leader of religion (a slave trader). I love to be independent and liberal. And I always admire Zhuangzi saying: BE FREE! Zhuangzi always reminds me to be close to Nature: BE NATURAL! For Zhuangzi and me, NATURE is the ORIGIN (Life is from Nature) and DESTINATION. (Death is coming home to Nature. Is death the freedom of misery? Is death the journey to happiness? Maybe. For Theravada, Nirvana means extinction and maybe extinction is same with death, the end of misery and the journey to happiness). If you want to be glad and sane just to be close to nature, just perceive the beautiful green mountain, clear river, blue ocean, blossoming flower, birds singing, fresh air and wind, etc. We, humans, love to take a vacation when holidays come. Why? Maybe Nature is calling us. I agree with Robert Ingersoll that we must enjoy the beautiful nature instead of the sermon of priest in the church.

Dave: Are you speaking as one of samyaksambuddha? Do you believe in samsara? Do you believe there is merit in the Tibettan tradition of Buddhism, especially their view of their search for the yangsi?

Zen: Frankly speaking, I appreciate Buddha but I think Buddhism is just a religion. Every religion tends to be a cult. Buddhism is less cruel or even non-cruel cult. So it doesn’t matter for me if Buddhism becomes majority in this world. Buddhism is totally different with Judaism, Christianity, or Islam because these Middle East religions tend to be cruel cult. I don’t know exactly the WHY, but maybe because the people of Middle East were more barbaric if we compare them with Indian people in the same era. I hope someday Buddhism can defeat these cruel cults /religions.
In Central Java, for example, Buddhism, especially Theravada, starts to rise again, and I hope someday Javanese become Buddhist again. Javanese people made a big mistake when they welcome Islam 500 years ago because they never knew that Islam is actually a hyena. Don’t welcome a hyena because it will attack you! Indonesia, Pakistan, Mesopotamia / Iraq, Persia / Iran, Syria, Egypt (and Lebanon in 20th century) were victims of Islam. Christianity ever became a hyena in the Dark Age, but now Christianity is only a dog, a pet (but beware of mad dog!). Don’t be afraid with hyena because it will attack you if you are afraid! Stand still! Hyenas like to “laugh” cynically so I will give my best “joke” to make them laugh out loud and people will see how bad their laughing. That’s my mission in this life: to release humans from cruel cult (First Islam, Second Christianity, Third Judaism). I know most of people need a religion, they can not be like me, so maybe Buddhism (Theravada or Mahayana) is the best offering.
Samyaksambuddha? This term is actually from Theravada (Samyak (Sanskrit)=Samma (Pali)) and you know I am not follower of Theravada. Samsara? Well, you know that I am agnostic and even in the border of atheistic, so you know exactly my answer about Samsara. Tibetan Buddhism? Yangsi? Well, you know I am not a follower of Mahayana including Tibetan Buddhism. For me, Dalai Lama is similar with Pope. But Tibetan Buddhism or Buddhism in general is less cruel than Roman Catholic. Both have celibate tradition. Sex scandal? A lot of it. Roman Catholic or Buddhism is really a business for its leader. LOL. But I think Pope or Dalai Lama is better/less cruel than Mullah. LOL

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:11:00 -0000

Dave: "Be master OF mind rather than mastered BY mind" - Zen Proverb
Zen: LOL. That is what exactly in my brain.

Dave: Prana... is jainistic. I'm not sure you are going down this road, so, I'll ask before I go further. Do you believe in metempsychosis/transmigration?
Zen: That’s why I wrote “(maybe)” because I know Prana and Qi are not exactly the same. And Jainism is older than Buddhism. In fact, Jainism influenced Buddhism in many aspects. (It will be a long explanation, so I must stop it, you can study it by yourself).

Dave:Yet, water has no master, nor does it enslave. However, it can support those in life who become buyount enough to move on down the river of life.
Zen: LOL. You are very good in the basic knowledge of Dao. A person like you is very rare in the West. Yes, be like water and you will be the great Dao Master. But I am just a naughty Daoist. LOL.

Dave: What is happiness, if there is no misery? Does Nature speak of such things, and is happiness nothing but an act of humanity arguing with intself?
Zen: I have said the same too in the previous post. In this case I only try to compare Nirvana with Death. You know in Buddhism, the death of Buddha is called Pari-Nirvana, or Maha-Pari-Nirvana.

Dave: In your testimony you posted a comment... "Is God eternal or temporary? Buddha was silent." God is a fragile thing, it requires thought, without thought, god is no thing, per Buddah. He was silent, because the question, exposed the unlearned.
Zen: Yes, you are right. The reason why I asked about “God” is only to make people think again their concept about God. And I have explained it in my later opinion. For me, God is nothing but Universe or Nature. It is simple. It is Dao. Moreover, I had said from the beginning that I am Pantheist/Dao-ist. But I found that people, especially in Indonesia, did not know exactly what Pantheism/Daoism is really about. And I think this is not only happened in Indonesia but all over the world. Why? Because religions had brainwashed their brains so they can not realize the Nature. Lost their sanity and going insane with fundamentalist/extremist religions.

Dave: "The river has no shape, but it takes on the boundaries which it carves out for itself, so is the mind boundless, until it creates a prison for its own thoughts."
Those who create prisons, must be the ones to unlock their prison cells. Unfortunate, that many in the west, and around the world are profoundly proficient at creating prisons... it comes from being trained at an early age, by those who have become masters of their own prisons...
Zen: LOL. That is the main reason why I like to be independent and liberal for so long. Well, I think you are very smart to know this fact.

Dave: ... Much of all we perceive can be considered part of a "cult"ure...
Zen: …and don’t forget about tradition too. The origin of “tradition” word is “trade”.

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 04:16:00 -0000

Dave: What does enlightenment mean to you? Can a person ever become enlightened? How would one ever know?

Zen: Well, this time, I will explain you further. For me, enlightenment is nothing but realization. Realization of what? Realization of ourselves (Socrates: KNOW YOURSELF), of our LIFE (Life is a miracle), of our NATURE, of our UNIVERSE.

Universe is reality (I mentioned it before). But the deeper realization is: Universe is VOID.

Why? Because if you study physic, you know that 99.999999999% (I don’t remember exactly the numbers of 9 after the dot) of an atom is VOID. If we can shrink ourselves smaller than an atom then we will see that the size of an atom is like 100 football fields and proton, electron, neutron are like the footballs. So there is a lot of EMPTY SPACE in one atom. Lately, science have found that proton, electron, neutron is not the smallest. Have you ever heard about quarks? So inside the proton, there is a lot of empty space too! Believe me, science/ scientist will find smaller and smaller again. No one can predict the end of the searching of the “smallest”!

So actually a stone, a flower, an animal, a human are 99,99999999999999999% (you can add the numbers of 9 as many as you like) VOID! But we can see them. We can see this VOID. It is really MIRACLE (the “magic” of perception?). This is what Daoism said as Zhen-GONG-Miao-YOU (Really VOID Miraculously EXIST) or SUNYATA in Buddhism (I have mentioned this before). Our body is actually void but we can see the existence of our body. It is really a miracle. What a perception! (I guess/speculate this is what Buddha/Laozi knew in his ENLIGHTENMENT)

I must stop this explanation of PANTHEISM / DAOISM before it will be too long and I want your response first.

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:01:00 -0000

Dave: En-lighten-ment: En (to bring about) lighten (the release of a burden or oppression) ment (at some point in time).
Enlightenment, is to bring about the release of that which one finds burdensome in their lives.

Zen: Great semantic explanation. But don’t forget that “light” has another meaning. It is not only the opposite of “heavy” but also the opposite of “dark”. Ancient sages in East or West try to explain this simple truth to people but people failed to know it. Holy books and religions (or cult) always and still burden and darken the people’s mind and heart.

Dave: So, enlightenment is the release from the false perception of reality, in essence, it's the understanding that the universe is only an illusion dancing upon a void.

Zen: Indian people called this illusion as MAYA.

Dave: When you hear harmonic languages, do they exist?

Zen: Hear? Exist? Well you know from science, a dog can hear the voices/sounds that we can’t hear. In the contrary, a worm can’t hear any sounds/voices.

Dave: Actually, the application of reductionism you have described is more of a western philosophy/perception, applied to the eastern philosophy of Buddhism or Dao/Tao Te Ching.

Zen: I always try to unify “new” fresh western philosophy with “old” rotten eastern philosophy. LOL. My mind is actually not western/ eastern. My brain is always open to every idea. I appreciate western philosophy as well as eastern philosophy. And I always try to combine/harmonize both. So my study is not only Indian/Chinese philosophy but also Greek/Western philosophy. Every time I study science/philosophy/history/anything, I try to get the essence and then re-thinking them by myself. I don’t think I am clever or know everything. I am only human being like you and the other. Actually, I think the more I study the more I feel myself stupid because there is always something that I don’t know. I think that’s why Laozi was always low profile. Lao-zi’s hobby is reading so he knew what most of Chinese people didn’t know in his era (and that’s why Gong-fu-zi went to Lao-zi to study ancient literatures). People saw Lao-zi as a great teacher/ philosopher but he felt himself stupid. I admire him and follow his path. Everyday I study everything: politic, economy, religion, history, science, etc from newspapers, magazines, books, Internets, or TV, just to open/enrich my thinking. My relatives and friends see me as a clever man because they see I know “everything” and every subject, but actually I am only ordinary Chinese man with a lot of jokes and sense of humor. No more no less. LOL.

Dave: The origins of Buddhism/Laozi reflect the time of the philosophy. The "void" or "emptiness", describes "form", as "function" - where "form" is "emptiness" and "emptiness" is "form".

Zen: We can’t separate form / matter with void / emptiness. We can’t separate life (when Qi/vital force exists in our body) with death (when Qi comes home to Universe/Nature). Life and death. Form and void. Yin and Yang. It is simple, isn’t it? But most of (religious) people often/always make these complicated. It is ironic that most of people fear of death but then trapped in Islam or Christianity or Judaism that give them empty promises and even make them KILL other humans based on Jihad, Crusade, or Jewish-superiority-complex. I think Middle East religions use the fear of death to make humanity dead! It is our responsibility to paralyze Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. How? Just ridicule them. Make jokes on them. Then we will make them “void”. LOL

Dave: Thus, concludes my intuitive daodejing. By the way, the mountains of historic China are beautiful with snow this year. I could see how a pantheistic lean on Dao would fit quite nicely into the breath-taking presence of nature here. May you find peace in the "void", where suffering knows no voice.

Zen: Do you know that “Dao” word contains “Shou” word? Shou means Head. In this case, head means brain! So Dao is the way of the head/brain/mind/thinking. “Daoist”, for me, is same with the “Thinker”. Do you know why Qin Shihuangdi after unified 7 kinggdoms killed many Dao Masters? Because Dao Masters were the great thinkers even great critics. Dao-de-jing is actually a book that criticize Confucianism and Legalism, and of course Dao-de-jing is not Lao-zi’s writing. His follower wrote Dao-de-jing.
When Emperor said “I am Dianzi (God’s Son) and I have Dianming (God’s Order) so you must obey!”, Dao Master replied, “I am Dianzi too so why must I obey you and your Dianming?”, and that impolite answer certainly made every Emperor very angry.

Dave, thank you for your explanation that makes everyone in this blog knows better what the idea that I try to express. You know that my English is very bad. LOL.

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 01:19:00 -0000

When Emperor said “I am Dianzi (God’s Son) and I have Dianming (God’s Order) so you must obey!”

Sorry for errors, the right “pinyin” should be “Tianzi” not “Dianzi” and “Tianming” not “Dianming”.
Tian (pronounced Thien) means Sky, Heaven, or God.
Zi (pronounced Tze/Ce) means Child, Son, Lord

Re: How study can change you (part 2) - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 23:56:00 -0000

Dave:

Speaking of tradition Dao, I understand that self knowledge is praised, by that there is much criticism for one attempting to reach or use rationalization :-) Do you agree with that view?

Actually, it is said by some, that the banishment of wisdom and knowledge will bring someone benefit a hundredfold. If knowledge is associated to "desire", then it diminishes the value. The ancients believed that the rise of intelligence and rationalization was the beginning of the downfall for humanity... is that your perception in regard to the great artifice of civilizations?

Zen:

If you read all my comments that I have brought, you will know that I reject the banishment of wisdom and knowledge. In the contrary, I believe the rise of intelligence and rationalization will be the beginning of the peak of human civilizations. I have mentioned before that Chinese civilization was the result of “skeptical and natural” persons (like Fuxi Shennong, Huangdi, etc). “Skeptical and natural” means “using brain, intelligence, rational thinking, or whatever terms with same meaning.

It is always amazing me why most of people in this world don’t use their brains optimally. And after I search this amazing fact, I think I know the answer: the RELIGION had paralyzed their brains (with the FEAR of DEATH or HELL). And at least great ancient Greek historian Polybius (203-120 BC) agreed with me.

“HELL is useless to sages, but necessary to the BLIND and BRUTAL populace.” Polybius

That’s why my mission in this world is to paralyze all religions, the cause of paralyzed brains, the cause of human stupidity. At least Eugene Wesley Roddenberry (1921-1991), the STRATREK writer, agreed with me.

“Religions vary in their degree of idiocy, but I reject them all. For most people, RELIGION is nothing more than a substitute for a MALFUNCTIONING BRAIN.” Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991)

My priority is to paralyze Middle East religions first, because they are very cruel. Please note again I don’t hate persons but I hate cruel ideologies. I don’t want to kill persons but I really want to kill cruel ideologies. For me Middle East religion is the peak of stupidity and cruelness because of their Jihad, Crusade, and Jewish-superiority-complex. Believe me, as long as these cruel religions/cults exist there will be no PEACE in this earth.

“...the whole batch of religions with their aims and claims are a barrier to world PEACE. Religion does not unite people. It divides them. Religion is …a stumbling block to world PROGRESS.” G. Vincent Runyon, 1959, ex Christian Priest, an atheist.

In Buddhism, there’s a parable that Buddha try to pull the children out of “demonic” house. These children love to play in the house; they don’t know that the house is full with wild beasts. Buddha pulled these children out from the house and then burned the demonic house to dust. But then the children asked Buddha to build new house like the old one. Well, this parable opens my eyes widely, that Buddha actually did not want to build a religion! When I read history of Buddhist scriptures, I found that these scriptures were written two hundred till four hundred years after Buddha.

“Religion can never reform mankind, because religion is SLAVERY. It is far better to be free, to leave the forts and barricades of fear, to stand erect and face the future with a smile. It is far better to give yourself sometimes to negligence, to drift with wave and tide…TO FORGET ALL GODS, THEIR PROMISES AND THREATS, to feel within your veins life’s joyous stream… the rhythmic beating of your fearless heart. And then to rouse yourself to do all useful things … to look with trained and steady eyes for facts…TO DEVELOP THE BRAIN…To utter honest words, to love liberty, to wage relentless war against slavery in all its forms, to love wife and child and friend, TO LOVE NATURE …to cultivate courage and cheerfulness…. to destroy prejudice, to receive new truths with gladness … to do the best that can be done and then to be resigned--this is the religion of REASON… This satisfies the BRAIN and HEART. Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899), the Great Father of American Agnostic.

So my question about Tripitaka is like Bible or Koran: WHO wrote these scriptures? A business man! A politician! Islam or Christianity for example is a POLITIC that mixes with RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION (the concept of Jihad/Darussalam, Crusade/ Christian State). Judaism or Nazi-ism is a POLITIC that mixes with RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. That’s my finding. And at least M.M. Managasarian (Independent Religious Society of Chicago) agreed with me

“If you may keep religion in the dark, and cry "hush," "hush," when people ask that it be brought out into the light, why may not POLITICS or BUSINESS cultivate a similar partiality for darkness? If the king cries, "rebel," when a citizen asks for justice, it is because he has heard the priest cry, "infidel," when a member of his church asked for evidence.” Mangasar Magurditch Mangasarian (1859 – 1943), ex Christian Priest.

It is really stupid to believe holy books without critical thinking! That’s why I don’t believe 100% with holy scriptures because I know they are a mix of good and bad. Everytime I read a holy book, I try to separate the good from the bad. And I find that the goodness of every holy book is the teaching of HUMANITY, COMPASSION, and REASON. That’s all! Very simple!

And it is amazing me why most of people don’t know this simple Truth. And they fight each other because of their God and forget humanity, compassion, and reason! Suicide bombers, suicide “911/WTC” attackers, etc, (you can add other crazy actions).

I have an advice to your country (USA), why doesn’t USA prohibit Islam? Because Islam is actually a politic ideology just like KKK or Nazi-ism. Both Islam and Neo-Nazi/KKK can not assimilate with society they live among. Both make a lot of terrors in the society.
Doesn’t your government know that there is no single church in Saudi Arabia? Doesn’t your government know that Bible is forbidden in Saudi Arabia? Your government must fight back Saudi Arabia with prohibition of Islam, Mosque, and Koran in the entire USA as long as Saudi Arabia prohibits Christianity, Church, and Bible in the whole Saudi Arabia. But I know your government will not hear my advice because of OIL! What a big business!

I hope 20 years later, when oil era is gone, USA will prohibit Islam. Or I hope 20 years later, Saudi Arabia will fall down, because of poverty and lack of scientists. It is my prophecy based on my brain.

Hey, USA, hear me! It is useless and too expensive (1 TRILLION DOLLAR OF NEW DEBT!) to fight terrorism without knowing that ISLAM or KORAN is the source of TERROISM. Koran is like Bible, both are the source of cruelness and inhumanity. USA, you must prohibit Islam and Koran and you will survive! Or you will die because of this most barbaric Middle East religion! Islam is the enemy of Democracy and Liberty because Islam hates you (USA) and wants to build Authoritarian Islamic State all over the world and oppress the freedom of speech (that criticize KORAN).

Remember the rise of cruel cult Islam and the fall of great civilization of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, and Turk by Islam. Remember Crusade War that saved Europe from Islam. Study history well.

I know there are a lot of intelligent people in the USA. Why most of people in USA and in this world are still dumb? Because of the dumber: Middle East Religions! Leave them! Use your Reason! Time to make these cruel religions/cults a history! And at least Thomas Paine agreed with me.

“I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church (=Judaism), by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church (=Islam), by the Protestant church, nor by any church (=religion) that I know of. My own mind is my own church.
The Jews say, that their Word of God (=TORAH) was given by God to Moses, face to face; the Christians say, that their Word of God (=BIBLE) came by divine inspiration; and the Turks say, that their Word of God (=KORAN) was brought by an angel from heaven. Each of those churches accuses the other of unbelief; and, for my own part, I DISBELIEVE THEM ALL.
THE WORLD IS MY COUNTRY, TO DO GOOD MY RELIGION.”
Thomas Paine (1737-1809) THE AGE OF REASON

Happy New Year 2007 and Best Wishes for you, your family, and your great country, Dave.

Re: An ex-Felon and ex-Christian speaks out - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 03:01:00 -0000

Dear Nick Boer and Nvrgoingbk,

Religion (Christianity or Islam or else) is hypocrite in “sexual” topic, especially masturbation. Most of religions tell us that masturbation is a sin.
For me, masturbation is not a sin. We have bodies like animal but we have better brain anyway. The key is how our reason / common sense can control our sexual behavior.
In fact, Modern Law (based on common sense, not religion) will prohibit rape, incest, pedophilia, or polygamy but will not prohibit masturbation.

Masturbation is better than promiscuity. Think about sexual transmitted diseases.
In my personal life, when my wife doesn’t have mood to do sexual intercourse with me, she will kindly masturbate mine with her little hands while I caress her breasts. It is great to have sex or masturbation with someone you love. Orgasm is the only heaven in this life on earth.

God Father in the Heaven didn’t want to masturbate with many beautiful angels so He did promiscuity with Maria in “Holy Ghost” disguise. Jesus then was a bastard! Of course this unbelievable story is only a myth. Just like a myth of Zeus who did sex with a mortal woman to create a half man half god Hercules! Jesus is a son of Joseph and Maria, not a bastard, but then Greek and Roman people mixed Hercules myth with Jesus story.
Logically, Jesus married Maria Magdalene (in monogamy lifestyle like Joseph and Maria) but then religion covered it up. In this case, I believe Buddhism’s celibacy for monk and nun influenced Christianity.
Christianity/Bible says it is a sin even if you only imagine having sex with a girl. LOL. I think Jesus never said that but religion did. This is a kind of Buddhism influence too.

For Anonymous12/31/2006 6:35 PM EST who wrote:
Christians are nasty? Wait till you meet Islam.

Yes, you are right. Islam is worse than Christianity. Most of Christians will choose monogamy but most of Moslems will agree polygamy. Naturally, there will be jealousy in polygamy, except the wives had been totally brainwashed by religion (like Islam). In this comparison, I think Christianity is far better than Islam.
Mohammed was hypocrite; he had 9-10 wives (and some concubines) but he prohibited Moslems to have more than 4 wives!

Mohammed did long time monogamy with Khadijah, the “old” woman who gave Mohammed job, wealth, and high social status. After Khadijah dead, Mohammed did sexual affairs everywhere he went! For Mohammed, women were nothing more than sex objects. In fact, Mohammed was very nasty; he did pedophilia, rape, and incest.
1) Mohammed was truly a pedophilia, had sex with Aisha, a 9 years old girl, daughter of Abu Bakar.
2) Mohammed raped Safiyah, a very beautiful Jewish woman, after he killed her husband and her father.
3) Mohammed did some kind of “incest” with his cousin Ummi Hani one night long. But then in the morning Mohammed told people of Mecca that he did not do sex the night before when he slept with Ummi Hani. He covered it up with “Isra Miraj” or going to the “highest heaven” with “riding” a kind of bird with long tail (clitoris? outer lips?) named Bouraq. LOL.

Re: To be a wandering Jew - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 20:41:00 -0000

Yes, I agree with the WM... It's ok as long as they run their religion in private. But if they force their cult/myths on us, well, it's a big big trouble..

Re: Hypatia's Lover - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

Zen — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:15:00 -0000

Dear Philosopher D. R. Khashaba,

You are very old Philosopher, almost 80 years old. Very very old.
But something is missed here: you don’t mention when you left Christianity.

When did you leave Christianity? At 14? At late teens?
I left Christianity since 24 years old, 14 years ago. Well, my age is a half of your age!

My second question: Do you sell your book in Egypt?
Well, I don’t know the current situation in Egypt exactly. But one thing that I certainly know is Egypt is full with Moslems (around 80%?) and Christians (10 to 20 %) just similar with Indonesia where I live now. And you know that there is fundamentalist Moslems/Christians among the moderate ones.
Isn’t it dangerous to sell this kind of atheistic or agnostic book in Egypt with your name on that book? I admire your bravery. I want to write a book too (about philosophy, religions, ancient cultures, etc) but I don’t have the bravery like you. It is too risky for my life and my family.

By the way, Isis and Hotep in your book are nice names to be used. Reminds me with the myth of Isis (=Moon God? Earth God?) and the history of Amen-hotep IV (= Moses?). I study Egyptian myth and history by myself, as well as Chinese myth and history.

Zen (my testimonial in 7 & 14 Nov 2006)

Re: Morality and ethics without absolutes, part II - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Zen — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:44:00 -0000

Dear Dave the WM,

Commandment I: Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
Commandment II: No graven images
Commandment III: Taking the name of the Lord in vain.

In my opinion, those 3 commandments above was related to ATEN (=ADONAI=LORD) cult around 1300 years BC.

Please read www.greatdreams.com/moses.htm “WAS MOSES AKHENATEN (AMENHOTEP IV)?”
And here some excerpts from Wikipedia about ATEN:
Pharaoh Akhenaten and his family adoring the Aten
Aten is the name given to represent the solar disc.
The real change is the apparent abandonment of all other gods following the advent of Akhenaten, i.e., the introduction, apparently by Akhenaten, of monotheism. This is readily apparent in the Great Hymn to the Aten.
The timing of AKHENATEN's existence, together with his apparent, and significant, break from henotheism, has lead some to think he has some connection to the biblical character of MOSES, although what that connection is, is a matter of some considerable dispute.
Egyptologists have also vocalized the name as Aton, Atonu, Itni, Itn, and Adon (possibly from the Hebrew shortening of one of the many names for their God, Adonai).

Below is my argument:

Before Akhenaten/Moses ruled the Egypt, the state religion was AMUN-RA, combination of Air God (AMUN) and Sun God (RA). It was clearly polytheism. Then Akhenaten/Moses replaced polytheistic AMUN-RA with monotheistic ATEN.

Note: AIR GOD = AMUN = AMEN (Christians use this word in their prayer) = AMIN (Moslems use this word in their prayer too). Judaism, Christianity, & Islam were the children of ATEN-ISM or MONOTHEISM.

Egyptian gods have images of human and beast or half human half beast except ATEN. Look at the Wikipedia, the ATEN doesn’t have image of human or beast and symbolized with the SUN and its RAYS. Aten was different with Ra (Sun God) who had an image. We can say that Aten was Sun God without image of human/beast and Ra was Sun God with image of human/beast. Moses/Akhenaten prohibited graven images (of living beings). Look at Judaism, Christianity, & Islam. They prohibited graven images of living beings.

TEN COMMANDMENTS were from AKHENATEN (lived around 1300 BC) or MOSES (also lived around 1300 BC) who hated polytheism and graven images. Closed AMUN-RA temple and built ATEN temple but then Egyptian people rebelled and the LORD (=Akhenaten=Moses) was banished from Egypt to SANAI/SINAI desert.

It is too absurd to talk about MORALITY and ETHICS based on the teaching of ABSOLUTE BARBARIC CULT of ATEN / ADONAI.

Unfortunately, many fundies always try to make this "backward" commandments as AMERICAN LAW OR MORALITY. LOL.

Happy New Year 2007, Dave.
Best wishes.

Zen

Re: Morality and ethics without absolutes, part II - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Zen — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:28:00 -0000

Dear Audie,

Check this out too: www.domainofman.com. You will find a lot of great articles of Egyptologist Charles N. Pope (United States Library of Congress). He connected Egyptian Kings with Babylonian Kings too…

Chapter 25 "No Better than My Ancestors" (Smenkhare, Beloved of Akhenaten) will explain that Amenhotep IV = Akhenaten = Moses, Smenkhare = Elijah Tutankhamun = Joshua
Chapter 12 "At the Side of My Father" The Birth and Succession of Pharaoh Thutmose III (Covenant of Isaac) will explain that Thutmose III = Isaac,
Chapter 13 "The Day of Reckoning" Djehuty: Early 18th Dynasty Priest, King, General, Viceroy, Scribe and Treasurer (The Egyptian name and titles of Abraham) will explain that Thot = Djehuty = Abraham
Tutorial:Lesson 1,"His Eye Was Not Diminshed"(The Sons of Jacob and Leah in Egyptian Myth) will explain that Ra = Jacob, Horus = Leah, Geb = Ruben, Osiris = Isakhar, Set = Levi, Thot = Simeon, Isis = Zebulon.
And a lot more… It will need several days to read and understand all of his great writings.

Zen

Re: Morality and ethics without absolutes, part II - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Zen — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 03:06:00 -0000

Anonymous: Firstly, Jesus is the judge. Not anyone else. Don't you think that this upstanding man who has never sinned will judge fairly? If a person has not sinned, the Christ will judge them accordingly.
Secondly, are you this person. Are you without sin?

Zen: What is sin, Anonymous?
Well, the definition of sin itself is very confusing and very subjective. I think “sin” is similar with mistakes, wrongs, errors, etc. But I am sure you have your own definition about sin, and so do the Confucianists.
Confucianists, for example, maybe define sin as the breaking down of the Golden Rule: ”Do not do to others what you don’t want to be done by others to you”, for example: “Do not kill others if you don’t want to be killed by others.”
Okay, maybe “killing” is too extreme to be an example of sin, but how about “harsh words”? Just take this Golden Rule of Confucianism as a standard, “Don’t speak with harsh words to others if you don’t want to receive harsh words from others.”
Theravada followers said Buddha only used harsh words once: when he was injured by Devadatta (his cousin, his ex-disciple, his enemy).
But Jesus often used his harsh words, for example when he:
1) Insulted the Pharisees. Then people insulted him back when he was crucified.
2) Humiliated his own mother and brothers in front of his followers, so when he was crucified, his brothers did not take a damn care of him (only his mother did, maybe because of motherhood instinct).
3) Condemned a (fig) tree and then it died (some said the fig tree is the representation of Jewish people). It was really ironic that he was crucified in the of woods of cross (made from trees, of course) and then he died (some said that Jewish people was responsible for the death of Jesus).
So with this Golden Rule as a standard, Jesus did sins and was punished by his sins! And because he had sins, he doesn’t have the right to judge us.

Re: 300 million year old rock - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Zen — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 02:44:00 -0000

Lauren Becker: What if the question is about food? Decades of observation, research and field study have shown us there is only so much arable land that can produce only so many calories of food energy. Currently, we burn 10 calories of oil energy to make 1 calorie of food energy. Our world population of 6 billion people is barely sustainable, let alone the 12 billion projected in another 40 years. Should we answer with conservation or with prayer?

Zen: Great article, Lauren! I admire you..
Recently, the earth produces around 600 million tons of wheat, 600 million tons of rice, 600 million tons of corn, and 300 million tons of other grains. (See FAO website for more exact numbers).
Just consider the global warming (caused by petroleum pollution and illegal logging) and its effect on arable farming and grains production.
Can we survive by destroying earth?
3 billion of human races are only praying in churches and mosques, fighting each other (crusade versus jihad), and never think about conservation seriously like you and your colleagues (scientists).
I think there will be global famine first before we reach 12 billion of our population.
The end of the day will come true to meet their prayer!

Re: The Problem of Pain - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Zen — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 08:47:00 -0000

Talking about kidney failure or other degenerative diseases, I think, the most of cases are caused by junk food that full with cholesterol, antibiotics, and hormones (as well as caused by heredity or pollution). I bet Marjorie is not vegetarian because she is not Adventist I guess. So it is not “god” punishment but it is caused by her stupidity in eating. “You get what you sow”. She eats junk food then she gets sick.

Although I am agnostic, my mind is still open with the karma concept and reincarnation (LOL!) as further idea of karma concept, especially for Joey’s case. At least, karma or reincarnation doesn’t need “god” influences to make it happen (although the sickness caused by the “bad actions” from “previous birth” sounds similar with “original sin”).

Sometimes I think we only think about the pain of human fellows. How about “other” fellows, I mean the pain of cows and chickens in the horrible livestock farming? Livestock farmer is just like a cannibal says to me: “I’ll grow you up and then I'll eat your flesh!”

This world is full with pain and agony. All beings are in pain and misery. Maybe, as long as we torture livestock, the disease/sickness will torture us too. Hey, I talk about Thomas Paine 200 years old idea to stop animal “slavery” (read: unethical treatment to animal). You know that Thomas Paine talked much about the cruelness of “African” slavery and unethical treatment to animal.

I myself dream about the death in my sleep without the pain caused by disease or sickness, so that I am vegetarian. My “common sense” tells that the body of a plant is genetically very different with our body. So a disease of a plant can’t infect us. But animal’s genes, especially mammals and birds, are genetically close with our genes. So if an animal has a disease (for example; mad cow or bird flu), maybe it will infect us too if we eat its flesh. My reason tells: Better to prevent than to heal. That’s why I become vegetarian agnostic. Trying to prevent the threat of the pain physically, at least, in my own body.

Others can eat whatever they like to eat but I would prefer to be herbivore not omnivore or carnivore. I am very healthy now and enjoying my life but I am scared to death to imagine the pain resulted by disease or sickness, physically or emotionally. I hope I can die peacefully in my bed when I sleep without suffering pains or diseases. “So help me God” (oops, sorry, this was Thomas Paine’s popular words when he wrote the Age of Reason).

Re: Why Atheistic Arguments Cannot Work Against Christian Fundamentalism - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Zen — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 06:34:00 -0000

Dear John Blatt,

I am agnostic-Zen-Tao. I live in Jakarta, Indonesia. Chinese man. Left Christianity to agnostic Zen-Tao 14 years ago.

Universal Reconciliation… Hmmm, you make me remember with ancient Mahayana Buddhism in Afghanistan of first century that said everyone will be saved and will go to Nirvana. And that is the great task of Bodhisattvas: to save ALL people from darkness (read: religion/cult) to the light (read: conscience).

For me, “Zen” means “Conscience” because “true” Zen doesn’t believe in any scriptures, so Zen only believes in conscience, the logical and benevolent inner voice.

The dangers and conspiracy of Dispensational theology (Cult?)… Hmmm, you make me remember with old Zen parable below:

Human is like children who are playing in the house full with wild beasts (snakes, scorpions, etc) but they don’t know the danger. Then Buddha comes to rescue them. Pull them out and burn the house (=the cult) and kill the wild beasts (=the cult leader).

Talking about why arguments cnnot work against Chrsitian fundamentalism, I have my personal experience to share with you.

My brothers and sisters are Christians (some Roman Catholic, some Protestant). My wife’s brothers and sisters are Christians too.

FYI: The majority of Chinese in Indonesia is Christian. I am talking about indoctrination in the Christian/Western/Ex-Dutch School.

Only my wife and I are ex-Christian and A(aaaargh)gnostic!

Of course, my reason/logic is better than theirs so I can make them silent when they start to talk about Christianity teachings to take me back to Christianity.

Logic/science/history always defeats all their arguments successfully. But they are stubborn and still Christians because they fear to imagine like me: “maybe” there is no God or “maybe” there is no Heaven or Hell after death (they say John Lennon was going to hell with his song: Imagine).

They are afraid to escape from prison (religion/cult) and its warden (the fear of hell and the greed of heaven). They always go to Church regularly while I spend Sundays in home. They worship Father God; I worship nothing but Universe (based on my Tao faith) everywhere I go and listen to myself conscience (based on my Zen faith) everytime I breathe.

My late father was ordinary Chinese that went to the temple only in Chinese New Year and/or Qing Ming (5 April). My mother is ordinary “Buddhist”, so are my Father-in law and my Mother-in law. My mother goes to the temple every full-moon, and my parents-in law only pray in their home every full-moon (15th day of Chinese Lunar-Solar Calendar / Yin-Yang Li). My parents and my parents-in law can tolerate my agnosticism-Zen-Tao because sometimes I don't hesitate to follow them to pray Buddha and Bodhisattvas with burning incense just to appreciate/honor their ancient "good" religion. My elder brother and elder sister who are extreme Protestants always refuse to hold incense-stick, they say Buddha is Devil and burning incense is for satanic rites! What an arrogant Christians, always insulting their own ancestor's religion. So everything is in peace, as long as Christianity dogma doesn’t come in front of me to mess it up.
They say I am going to hell because I am skeptical about God but I say that they are now in hell because of barbaric cult called Christianity.

I remember I ever helped a bird that was injured. It couldn’t fly and bled terribly. So I buy a cage (btw, I don’t like any animals in my home, name it dog or cat or hamster, because I think animals are not hygienic and their original place was in nature, not home). Then I put that bird into the cage, took care its wound with antiseptic, and gave it fresh banana everyday, covered the cage every night with cloth to prevent it from cold weather. Then several days letter that bird was healed from its wound and I am so happy but I think I must put that bird in the cage for several days again until its wings strong enough to fly. In the next days, I could hear it sang very beautiful in the morning. Finally, I opened the door of the cage and I was waiting it escaped from the cage. And you know what? That bulbul didn’t want to go out from the cage. I think it is similar with religious a person who doesn’t want to go out from the cage of religion although we have opened the door to freethinker-ism.

I never closed again the door of the cage and it needs several days until that bird went out from the cage. The morning after he left the cage at night, I saw it on the tree in front of my home. It sang very beautiful, like a song of farewell to me, then it flew away to the blue sky and never came back. I hope someday my brothers and sisters do what that bird did: Go out from the cage of RELIGION and fly to the FREE blue sky of reason! But I can only support and hope, they must struggle themselves.

With Zen and/or agnosticism in my mind, I think I already become Arahat (LOL) and I feel I am Bodhisattva too (Mind you!), always trying to save my brothers and sisters (and close friends) from hell of religion to the heaven of freethinker!

I teach my only 8 years old son just like the way you are. I always teach him logic, honesty, and responsibility. I try my best to avoid religious words like “God”, “devil”, “angel”, “heaven”, or “hell”, replace those words with other words like “Universe” or “conscience”.

When my son was 6 years old, he asked me about the Father God (his school is Catholic, near my home), I replied, “My son, the Father in the Heaven is like your favorite Spongebob Squarepants in the pineapple under the sea. He does not really exist. The real existence is your conscience. And where is your conscience?” I held his hand and put it on his head and his chest and I said, “In your brain and in your heart. In your reason and your compassion. Don’t you see Papa always teach you to think logically? Don’t you see Mama always take care of you compassionately?” So then, if someone asks him where is God or Father, he will automatically put his hand in his head and his chest and say, “In my brain and my heart!” He will be freethinker someday. I will guide him to that way. Like father like son.

Zen

Re: Believe on the Lord Jesus and... - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Zen — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 03:13:00 -0000

Dave, The WM:

What I'm getting at, or attempting to get at, is that Christian salvation is really nothing but a cluster of ideas in people's brains.

Zen:

I agree with you. It is only an idea in brain/mind.

Well, maybe we can take the saying of Buddha in this topic: “Mind is everything.” That’s the magic!

It’s always interesting me to compare Buddhism with Christianity because I am very curious that Christianity was influenced by Buddhism in some teachings/thoughts.

Some (if not “All”) Buddhists believe that if you believe in Buddha you have an opportunity to end this circle of birth and death and go to Nirvana. If you believe in Dharma you will not reincarnate as animals. And if you believe in Sangha (Elders) you will not reincarnate as devils in the hell.

These faiths sound similar with Christianity, except that Buddhism doesn’t believe in so-called “God” and Christianity doesn’t believe in so-called “Reincarnation”. But the basic idea is same: “If you don’t believe it/him, you will not be saved (from hell, samsara/ unending reincarnation, etc).”

The only great difference is Buddhism allows the skeptical mind first before we believe it but Christianity not at all.

Buddha: “Do not believe merely because it is traditional or ancestor teaching.
Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely to respect your teacher.
Do not believe merely because it is written in the old scriptures.
Search the truth by yourself.”

And I think Buddha prefers GOOD WORKS:

Buddha: “And whatever you will find in your search, just remember to be conducive to the good, to the benefit of all beings.”

In my opinion, we can say that although both Buddhism and Christianity are religions or cults but Buddhism gives a room to be skeptical, and in the contrary, Christianity doesn’t give a chance to be in doubt, we must 100% believe.

And me myself tend to be agnostic because agnosticism gives a BIGGER room to doubt everything (not to believe everything 100%).

I think agnosticism is the Middle Way between theism and atheism. I think agnosticism is the path that Buddha tried to show to us (I believe Buddha is the great anti-religion / cult, but then his followers built a religion / cult. It's ironic).

You are what you think.
You are what you believe.

Re: If There Is A "Loving" God, I Hate Him for His Silence - ExChristian.Net - Articles

Zen — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 09:40:00 -0000

Dear Nvrgoingbk,

We were all shocked when we knew the lie of Christianity. Felt to be cheated. Then we would be angry or fallen into depression. I call this condition as NEGATIVE effect of leaving a religion/cult.

But we can’t stay forever in this negative condition. I, myself, continued my search, tried to grasp the essence of the life, and I found that although all religions/cults are very bad but at least they have one little truth: Compassion (in the so-called Buddhism) or Love (in the so-called Christianity).

I think it is nice if we can be “compassionate” agnostic or atheist.

Below is my thought. I DON’T WANT TO CONVERT YOU OR ANYONE into my faith. Just to make you know what I am thinking about GOD, LIFE, &DEATH.

God is a LOVING FATHER? I know that I should be LOVING/compassionate FATHER to my son. I know that I should be loving/compassionate husband to my wife. It’s very simple and I don’t need agreement or approval from anyone, any scriptures, any teachers, any gurus, and any gods. I only need my conscience’s agreement/ approval.

So am I God? Yes and no. “Yes” in the meaning of “conscience”. “No” in the meaning of “Universe”.

I believe that God is “CONSCIENCE” inside me (based on my ZEN faith) and God is “UNIVERSE” outside me (based on my DAO faith).

This is the Yin-Yang concept of the so-called “God”. For me, “God” has two sides: Inside (conscience) & Outside (Universe). Being (little personal “god” inside me named “conscience”) & Non-Being (big impersonal “God” outside me named “Universe”).

I name my faith as “agnostic-Zen-Dao” or “agnostic-skeptic-pantheist”. “AGNOSTIC” because I simply DON’T KNOW the connection of Being-Inside me & Non-Being-Outside me.

I know there is energy/Chi in this Universe. Some people call this cosmic energy as God or gods but some call this cosmic energy as Law of Universe (gravitation & electromagnet?)

And I know that energy and matter often mixed/blended each other. You know from the physics that the difference between energy and matter sometimes is very confusing, for example: Is light energy or matter? Is sound/voice energy or matter? We can say light/sound are both energy and matter!

The definition of energy and matter is sometimes really absurd! Is mind matter/brain or energy? Is God matter/universe or energy? Are we matter/body or energy?

So I prefer the SIMPLE definition of energy and matter from Dao. Energy is Yang. Matter is Yin. Complemented to each other. Not enemy to each other.

God and Universe is complemented to each other. God the energy Universe the matter.

Spirit and body is complemented to each other. Spirit the energy, body the matter.

If we don’t have a body, we (our energy) never exist. And if we have a body but don’t have the energy inside us, we (our body) stop to exist.

Dao proverb: ENERGY (QI) IS GOOD AND MATTER (BODY) IS GOOD TOO.

And what is LIFE? What is the difference of LIVING animals and DEAD rocks? If you define the LIFE as the ability to grow or move, well, this earth is growing and moving too (if you study astronomy).

Can we say the EARTH as LIVING carbon or only DEAD stone?

And from biology, we know about virus; a kind of substance between living being and dead matter.

For me, the definition of LIFE and DEATH is sometimes very absurd!

So I prefer the simple definition of life and death from DAO. Life is FROM Universe and death is BACK HOME TO Universe. Life is Yang. Death is Yin. Complemented to each other.

If we never die this earth will be full with human. We die for our descendants to live.
When we were born, we were crying. Can we smile when we die?

Dao proverb: LIFE IS GOOD AND DEATH IS GOOD TOO.

Since became Daoist/Pantheist 14 years ago , I always live with abundance energy to smile and laugh. I always love to joke on everything. But in the other side, I live with abundance energy to combat religions/cults too. Sometimes I feel I am harsh enough when I attack Semitic religions/cults as well as cults in Buddhism and Taoism because I HATE cults/cruel ideologies. I use my HATE in POSITIVE way. Not to persons (they are the victims) but to cults/ideologies (the victimizers).

Buddhism says that HATE is NEGATIVE and always tries to avoid hate, but Taoism sees HATE as positive as LOVE, if we know the right way to use hate. Taoism doesn’t avoid hate because it is natural. Sometimes, LOVE is as negative as HATE if we use it wrongly, for example, broken love sometimes triggers suicide.

By the way, Zen is the syncretism of Buddhism and Taoism after I study its teaching and its history. Zen adores how to control our own mind/brain just like Tao. Zen loves nature too just like Tao.

In my opinion, Tao from Chinese people is previously more NATURAL but less SKEPTICAL and Zen from Indian people is previously more SKEPTICAL but less NATURAL. When Zen Masters met Tao Masters in Tang Dynasty in 6th century, they empowered each other, and the result was amazing: SKEPTICAL and NATURAL in the optimum level for ZEN as well as for TAO.

Skeptical thinking makes me doubtful on religious scriptures.
Natural feeling makes me awesome on beautiful nature.

I always try to balance my compassion and my reason, my heart and my brain, my Yin and my Yang.

My life is not pointless. My life has meanings.
To love my family and friends. To hate the cults.
To love beautiful Nature/Universe. To hate “holy” buildings.
To love conscience. To hate “holy” scriptures.
To love freedom. To hate slavery/oppresion.
To love humanity. To hate discrimination of gender, race, belief.
To love compassion. To hate violence/terrorism.
To love reason. To hate ignorance/fundamentalism.

This simple and positive ZEN-DAO makes my brain and heart satisfied. It works for me for 14 years but I CAN’T guarantee it works for you. I am just sharing my thinking with you. I hope you can take the good/right and abandon the bad/wrong of my thinking.

Re: OhGizmo! » Archive » ‘Wear Your Seat’ Backpack Looks Convenient And Comfortable

Zen — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:26:15 -0000

talk about TMNT obsession.

Re: Rumors and Accusations Cast Shadows on Brown and Black Presidential Forum

Zen — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:36:23 -0000

"A Mind is a terrible thing to waste" You missed the point of this Report, it's about Ms. Clinton trying to persuade the public with a fixed forum.

Re: Sondage : EeePC 900 Linux 20Go ou Windows 12 Go ? - By Pierre Lecourt - microsoft, sondage, xandros, xp - Blogeee.net

Zen — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:07:53 -0000

La version 20 Go, et la Xandros vire dans la journée au profit d'un XP.
Ne pas oublier que pour l'Europe, il y aura 2 fois de stock pour les Kro que pour les nux, donc il va falloir se battre contre la pénurie, et les autres acheteurs :p)

Re: THE Moments Of My Life, Part 2

Zen — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:32:50 -0000

just a loyal blog-reader here to congratulate you on doing so well !!!

:D yay!

i'm considering taking up english lit and IT. How were the subjects for you? is it advisable to take them?

Re: THE Moments Of My Life, Part 2

Zen — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 05:55:28 -0000

i'm in form 4!

yeah, initially i thought IT was going to be in bm and because of that, i kinda ruled out IT as an additional subject.
but then i found out that it is now in english! yay! haha.

i was wondering if you had to complete any projects for IT?
and if you know any good literature tutors?

Re: THE Moments Of My Life, Part 2

Zen — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:54:43 -0000

hey thank you so very much for the info!

ss2 pj is way too far for me >_

Re: THE Moments Of My Life, Part 2

Zen — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:57:55 -0000

ss2 pj is way too far for me.. it's like a 40 minute drive away

i've been asking around for tutors and it seems like most lit tutors are tutoring around pj.. aik

Re: Alvin has PE

Zen — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 04:44:59 -0000

*both hands up* :D

cool pic!

Re: Why You So Like That

Zen — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:10:48 -0000

ahahaha.. i gotta go get cleo!

Re: KL’s Next Top Brownie

Zen — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 14:42:29 -0000

mmmm they look gooddd.. i wan brownies tooooo! i've only tried de secret recipe one.. BROWNIEEEEEEEEEE

Re: Epicurean Narcissism

Zen — Mon, 01 May 2006 12:37:58 -0000

they look great! good enough to make me feel like licking the screen :P

Re: Blog Crash of 2006

Zen — Mon, 08 May 2006 04:31:16 -0000

omg ur back! yay! hahaha

Re: Birthday Joy

Zen — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 07:36:46 -0000

belated.. but still..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Re: Hanoi Part Hai - Sofitel Metropole Chocolate Buffet

Zen — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:31:41 -0000

im heading to vietnam in december!
so much to look forward to :P
*drools*

Re: Lazy Afternoons

Zen — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 13:30:56 -0000

ooh a video of pinkpau o.O
nicee :P

Re: Lazy Afternoons

Zen — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 04:52:18 -0000

yes.
it's funny becaues it's so cute ^^

you must be very entertaining in person =)

Re: Now You Know Mars Is Hong Kong

Zen — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:15:20 -0000

pic B nicer wf the light shinning thru the exit door and all..

it might be greener on this side
but the other side is aloot brighter :D

Re: Interplanetary greeting

Zen — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:44:02 -0000

that was good.
uh huh :P

Re: Take Me Home

Zen — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:22:48 -0000

so cute lah the taxi driver! :D

good morning :)

Re: Selftimering in Singapore

Zen — Sat, 05 May 2007 11:27:59 -0000

u take cute pictures! :D

the last one, with the bear.. genius :P

Re: The Judiciary Issue

Zen — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:26:17 -0000

why do you think i'm out here? i just cant stand the fucking irresponsible government we have.half of the taxes we pay are used to feed these irresponsible lazy bums. The more I read about Malaysian politics, the angrier I get.
we have to 'thank' the government for wat Malaysia is up to these 50 yrs. we could be better than singapore or hong kong if we dun have such crappy government in our country.
the judiciary system is not the only thing. the malaysian government is so dark dat u dun wana look at it anymore.
BN will only start working when the general election is around the corner. they jz wana fish votes, thats it!
do you think they will rlly look into this judiciary thing? panel my foot. they love setting up panels to investigate unnecessary matters and they will take like years to investigate when the result is so obvious. the only thing they are good at is putting the blame on others. in this case, the person who took the video is wrong. another example, i spoke to a singaporean fren of mine jz now n she told me that the malaysian government is blaming singapore on the issue of brain drain. look at this. i mean what nonsense in this? they dun appreciate the intellects they have, they wana protect their own ppl and at the end of the day, they jz blame others wen it's their own fault.
conclusion, an unfair judiciary system = no justice in the country

Re: Euphoria

Zen — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:25:19 -0000

wheeeeee im excited :)

Re: Three Things To Talk About

Zen — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:53:42 -0000

how much did PODS pay u huh huh? :P
YES u can get pods at cold storage in malaysia.
i've seen it in the klcc branch :D

Re: College Admissions Decisions

Zen — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:11:54 -0000

that's amazing! :D congrats :D
i was half expecting it to be an april fools post after the cut but YAY.. i'm so happy for you (although i'm just a blog reader) :D

Re: Unpacked and Dazed

Zen — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:50:42 -0000

new york city is amazing! :D i want to go back again someday :(

all your comments seem to be siding columbia :P

Re: Sony Ericsson K660i

Zen — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:36:16 -0000

i voted for hanis :(

Re: About This Blogger who Blogs

Zen — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:12:41 -0000

i'm an old, old blog stalker. i remember the pinkskyes days! and that draco layout! my friend and i even stalked song jun's (very rarely updated) blog just cause he was your bf at that time! kekeke why am i admitting this lah :P

am looking foward to seeing you blog for purely yourself again :)

Re: http://vixandmore.blogspot.com/2008/07/vixvxo-ratio-now-at-110.html

Zen — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:12:00 -0000

The intraday high back in March was 1.24 and 1.372 in January. I'm not disagreeing that the market is overdue for a bounce, but this could go much higher.