What's the point of Zen koans?

Karen Sanchez19 said:And what kind of absolute God are we talking about here—one existing outside of which nothing else can even exist?🙄

Who says it actually has to be absolute?
If that were the case, how would you even pray to someone who encompasses you while you're simultaneously a part of them? You'd basically be one and the same. And you aren't.

Douglas Brown4 said:Who says it actually has to be absolute?
If that were the case, how would you even pray to someone who encompasses you while you're simultaneously a part of them? You'd basically be one and the same. And you aren't.

Well, I don't pray to anyone at all.😁

Karen Sanchez19 said:Well, I don't pray to anyone at all.😁

😁

Karen Sanchez19 said:Well, I don't pray to anyone at all.😁

It isn't about whether you pray. It's about the fact that others do. Being an atheist doesn't necessarily mean you're denying the existence of God.

Douglas Brown4 said:It isn't about whether you pray. It's about the fact that others do. Being an atheist doesn't necessarily mean you're denying the existence of God.

Enough with the fairy tales and the gods.😁

Karen Sanchez19 said:Enough with the fairy tales and the gods.😁

Those aren't really my fairy tales. I don't particularly pray, for one. But I am suggesting that my own sense of self and the essence of God aren't the same thing, nor is it just some broken symmetry of a universal self.

Douglas Brown4 said:Those aren't really my fairy tales. I don't particularly pray, for one. But I am suggesting that my own sense of self and the essence of God aren't the same thing, nor is it just some broken symmetry of a universal self.

And how on earth would you know that?🙄

Karen Sanchez19 said:And how on earth would you know that?🙄

Deep insight and strong faith, I suppose. 😁

To be honest: I don't know, but then again, what do any of us actually know?

Douglas Brown4 said:Deep insight and strong faith, I suppose. 😁

To be honest: I don't know, but then again, what do any of us actually know?

And what’s your move if I tell you that what I’m claiming isn't just some leap of faith, but something I actually *know*?😉 😁 😁

Karen Sanchez19 said:And what’s your move if I tell you that what I’m claiming isn't just some leap of faith, but something I actually *know*?😉 😁 😁

I suppose I'll believe you, though I might feel sorry for you.

Douglas Brown4 said:I suppose I'll believe you, though I might feel sorry for you.

Pity?

No, that isn't even the point. It’s about "SOMETHING"—something an individual can recognize as a distinct entity.

Douglas Brown4 said:Deep insight and strong faith, I suppose. 😁

To be honest: I don't know, but then again, what do any of us actually know?

Perhaps, we only truly know our own 😁

Karen Sanchez19 said:And what’s your move if I tell you that what I’m claiming isn't just some leap of faith, but something I actually *know*?😉 😁 😁

If you truly possessed such knowledge, would you even feel the need to assert it?😉

electricdrifter68 said:If you truly possessed such knowledge, would you even feel the need to assert it?😉

😉 😍 😁

So, some guy once asked Bodhidharma what an enlightened mind actually looks like.
Bodhidharma’s answer? He basically said, "Your own mind is the enlightened one."
What was the point there? It means you need to quit looking everywhere else and start looking inward. Stop trying to comment, judge, or overanalyze everything—that's just creating distance between you and the world. This is personal stuff. If you actually care about this, then go do the work instead of sitting around arguing about it.

Precisely! 👍

The entire essence of Zen Buddhism is found within the NOW.

Arthur Grant4 said:So, some guy once asked Bodhidharma what an enlightened mind actually looks like.
Bodhidharma’s answer? He basically said, "Your own mind is the enlightened one."
What was the point there? It means you need to quit looking everywhere else and start looking inward. Stop trying to comment, judge, or overanalyze everything—that's just creating distance between you and the world. This is personal stuff. If you actually care about this, then go do the work instead of sitting around arguing about it.

I suppose their minds are enlightened too, they're just perhaps a bit more convoluted than most.😉 Oops, there I go again, jumping to conclusions! But what else can one do?🙄
I am joking, of course, though I do think you hit the nail on the head.🙂

rowdydrifter7 said:Precisely! 👍

The entire essence of Zen Buddhism is found within the NOW.

Of course, it remains centered in the NOW, doesn't it?👍

The mind isn't enlightened just yet... 😍👍

Austin Hayes66 said:The mind isn't enlightened just yet... 😍👍

Of course, we are meeting TOMORROW at 6:15 PM 😉