Mormons

Q: MeditationMom - are you going to talk about Mormons now that you have moved to Utah?

MM: Not unless you have a question :-)

Q: OK...question...do you think it is a legitimate religion?

MM: Legitimate?

Q: Yes, does it teach truth?

MM: All religions are half truths. And all religious teachings are used by some to abuse and exploit people. Mormons seem to have the same reputation as other religions.

Q: Even Buddhism, Christian Science, the Tao...?

MM: Yes, every religion - even my favorite ones. The minute you put the truth into words - whatever you say about it - it is a half truth. Every word excludes its opposite. Silence is the only wisdom. "Be still - and know!"

Whatever is said about the truth should be thought of as poetry. Never to be taken literally. If you take religious teachings literally - all hell breaks loose - again and again.

Q: I guess I am trying to figure out if you are for or against Mormons.

MM: How can I be for or against Mormons? I left that kind of insanity a long time ago. I am not even for or against atheists.

Q: Then what is the use of you answering questions about religion or spiritual matters at all?

MM: There is really no point. But People keep asking questions. Answers - even if they cannot give truth - they can dissolve misunderstandings. That is all answers can do, really. Every spiritual or religious question - when you look deeply - contains a misunderstanding that needs dissolving. A resistance that needs to be relaxed.

Q: Does that mean that when you have no more questions you are enlightened?

MM: You have to transcend "questions and answers", which is a game of the mind. "Not knowing" is true wisdom. In this not-knowing all is known - beyond doubt. You can call it enlightenment but it is best not to call it anything. Enlightenment is like meeting your oldest and best friend after a long, long time - laughing is enough, joy is enough.

If A Buddha Got Drunk

Q: I was out drinking last night and it was interesting to see all the old habits kick back in the more drunk I got, it was almost like stepping in a time machine and observing my old character traits.

It got me thinking, how would a Buddha act if he / she got drunk? In theory, if he / she was completely enlightened, would they act exactly the same as if they were sober? (bar limb control)

MM: Alcohol removes inhibition. A buddha is already his most ancient self. We on the other hand, have an "old self" and an "improved self" that is easily undone by alcohol. When one is one's most ancient self, even "happy drunk people" seem in great suffering.

Then there is being drunk on the divine as in this video of Amma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIGidWtaMD8

and my post on this kind of drunkeness here

There is no question that an enlightened one would be subject to almost the same physical effects of alcohol - loss of coordination, dulling of the senses like smell, sight, etc, as mentioned above (maybe slower) - just as he or she would go unconscious with anesthesia and could be operated on, but there would not be any change in personality or behavior as in reverting to a more primitive or uninhibited self.

There is no uninhibited self. Even the most deep seated, primitive reactions and reflexes from the reptilian brain are well known and conscious to an enlightened one and are relaxed consciously and instantly before they manifest in behavior. Not suppressed, mind you - that is a different mechanism, which is easily undone by alcohol.

If you want to practice, try to make yourself sneeze - or when you need to sneeze, stop yourself. Or - learn to master your startling reflex. A gun shot goes off right near you and you don't have any reaction at all. Or your toaster. This takes a few decades to master. You need a friend or master to keep startling you. Actually this is just training that does not guarantee enlightenment, but - someone who is enlightened is very familiar with relaxing the most deep seated reflexes.

The only way to get enlightened is relaxing the most fundamental and deep seated reflex of all - the one of not wanting to die. If you can do that in meditation - the truth opens up before your very eyes and you are forever free. Unless - you then become identified with being enlightened, and being free.