Wow, that's one way to kill a thread, apparently. Go and have a reasoned, polite discussion with actual thought about religion and...

Well, I've been, er, busy lately. Thanks for the reply, Greg. It looks like mostly Tibetan Buddhism for you, then, which is distinct in many ways from Japanese and Indian Buddhism. I spoke with a Japanese Zen practitioner which would account for some of our differences in understanding.

I'll be glad to look at some of those books... in about 20 years when I have time. Sigh. So much to read, so little hours in the day.

dudes, he's a hippie. haha everything is one....collective....mankind....and uhhh jungles and shit...get it? hehehe