There are two kinds of meaning, direct and intellectual. There are also two kinds of "making sense of things", direct and intellectual. The world has a kind of inherent logic that can be experienced through the body, and if the mind remains quiescent everything that happens "makes sense." Problems occur when the mind is used to figure out what's happening and why? These problems occur because the mind is always at least one step removed from the action and never deals with the truth of "what is." Here are some simple koans that, if penetrated, will lead to realizations about the nature of the universe. These koans can only be resolved by getting out of one's head and into the body.
1. What is the meaning of life?
2. How does the death of a child make sense?
3. Does the universe make sense?
4. Who/what is it that makes sense of anything?
5. If we believe in God, we can pray to God, but if we no longer believe in an external deity, to whom can we pray.
Two of the koans are "formal," meaning that they are used in the Zen tradition. One of the koans is an alteration of a formal koan. The other two are "everyday" koans that involve some of the issues raised in this thread. All koans, if penetrated, have very simple direct answers that arise and manifest through the body.
1. What is the meaning of life?
2. How does the death of a child make sense?
3. Does the universe make sense?
4. Who/what is it that makes sense of anything?
5. If we believe in God, we can pray to God, but if we no longer believe in an external deity, to whom can we pray.
Two of the koans are "formal," meaning that they are used in the Zen tradition. One of the koans is an alteration of a formal koan. The other two are "everyday" koans that involve some of the issues raised in this thread. All koans, if penetrated, have very simple direct answers that arise and manifest through the body.
