The Universe is a Donut

I'm not talking about Dunkin Donuts here, I'm talking about a universe with no beginning, no ending, and the illusion of a big bang and expansion. Arthur M. Young was confused - but sorta on to something. This toroidal model for the universe solves a lot of perceived problems. What was there before the big bang? It was the same thing - call it the dharma wheel - turning or passing through the various phases.

The possibility exists that all elementary particles are resonant patterns of spatial energy in a grand toroidal universe. All "matter" may be NOTHING more than a harmonious organization of the nothingness of space arranged in specific acoustical patterns by consciousness. At this moment, it is not an entirely open and closed case.

Jumping Josaphat!

Philip Hitti mentions in "History of the Arabs" that during medieval times in Europe, there was a widely-circulated religious romance fable called "Jehoshaphat and Barlaam". Based largely on this fable, both the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches canonized Jehoshaphat, a "Hindu Prince". Apparently the fable actually described events in Siddhartha Gautama's life, who is known to occidentals as the Buddha. Jehoshaphat, it seems, is none other than the Buddha himself, which actually means that Buddha has been canonized twice as a saint in the christian religion.

see also: Barlaam and Josaphat in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Zen