Hi Carmel! I too have a young family, so I understand completely.

So the way this works, is that I will ask you some questions. You think about them and answer with 100% honesty from your own experience. No need for any fancy metaphysical terms, just what you really feel and think in your own ...

1) Is there a 'me', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?

Not a me separate from my brain and body. Not a me that was in control of anything or directed anything. The only me that ever was, is the me that's still here, flesh and bones.

2) Explain in detail what the ...

What is real? What is imaginary? How can you tell the difference?
The only thing that is real is what we perceive through our senses. All the things we associate with those perceptions are imaginary. Sound is real. "Good" sound or "bad" sound is imaginary.

Who or what controls the body? Do 'you ...

"Well it’s a very simple thing that needs to be resolved….
There is this thought I… and once you see that I is just a thought
And you see that thought itself does not think….
It clicks!
It’s very very simple."

Mu! To quote joshu, hahaha. It means the "I" is empty. it's nothing. Everything that ...

Ok, for my name you can use choupick or just chou. I'm on the east coast. I have no problem posting once a day (or more).

Now on to business:

"What are your expectations of this awakening? You mentioned that you didn't feel different the next day.
What are you expecting? Please make a list of all ...

Hi, I'm new and looking to get started. I have some experience with zen Buddhism. I not really expecting anything per say, just trying to see reality as it is. Before I got posting rights I was just lurking around and I was following one of the threads. While following along, I had a pretty profound ...