The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.

The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.

The object of opening the mind as of opening the mouth is to close it again on something solid.

The object of opening the mind as of opening the mouth is to close it again on something solid.

In man's life, the absence of an essential component usually leads to the adoption of a substitute. The substitute is read more

In man's life, the absence of an essential component usually leads to the adoption of a substitute. The substitute is usually embraced with vehemence and extremism, for we have to convince ourselves that what we took as second choice is the best there ever was. Thus blind faith is to a considerable extent a substitute for the lost faith in ourselves; insatiable desire a substitute for hope; accumulation a substitute for growth; fervent hustling a substitute for purposeful action; and pride a substitute for an unattainable self-respect.

Various kinds of ideas can be classified by their relationship to the authentication process. There are ideas systematically prepared for read more

Various kinds of ideas can be classified by their relationship to the authentication process. There are ideas systematically prepared for authentication ("theories"), ideas not derived from any systematic process ("visions"), ideas which could not survive any reasonable authentication process ("illusions"), ideas which exempt themselves from any authentication process ("myths"), ideas which have already passed authentication processes ("facts"), as well as ideas known to have failed- or certain to fail- such processes ("falsehoods" - both mistakes and lies).

Morality is of the highest importance - but for us, not for God.

Morality is of the highest importance - but for us, not for God.

The whole point of Christianity is that everyone in the world, from Charles Manson to Mother Teresa, deserves to go read more

The whole point of Christianity is that everyone in the world, from Charles Manson to Mother Teresa, deserves to go to hell.

Theology is never any help; it is searching in a dark cellar at midnight for a black cat that isn't read more

Theology is never any help; it is searching in a dark cellar at midnight for a black cat that isn't there. Theologians can persuade themselves of anything.

Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening.

Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening.

The prevailing legal and moral views of a time are held not only by those whom they benefit but by read more

The prevailing legal and moral views of a time are held not only by those whom they benefit but by those, too, who appear to suffer from them. Their domination is expressed in that fact- that the people from whom they claim sacrifice accept them.