A Belief in Spiritual Reality.

The mind interprets the world symbolically.
We are nothing but oscillating ions in various parts of the brain
on a planet with a magnetic field.
The mind cannot be located as being anywhere in particular.
What we have are mental processes.
A belief in spiritual reality enables perfect fluency with mentally
projected symbolism; totally free from all doubt and hesitation.
Life is lived to the full.
Just be careful what you believe.

Don't Know

Q: Is there any simple mantra or koan comprising of 2 words or a phrase that can be recited while inhaling & exhaling e.g. (Bud- dho) in order to strengthen our contemplation.

A: The expression "Don't know" covers so many facets of mindfulness development, it is surprising more people are not aware of it.  The Zen practice of the "Don't know mind" that 'empties' the mind, is not what is intended here; but of a meaningful enquiry so as to keep focused on just about any object of contemplation.  One of the basics of Dhamma is Anattaa, hence any object under investigation will respond to the _genuine_ exclamation of "Don't know" simply because all objects lack any substance and thus aren't objects.

Unwholesome objects will become 'stressed' or rejected; whilst wholesome objects will gladden and develop, until such time as increasing subtlety renders such objects unwholesome so as to give way to states of ever-greater subtlety and wholesomeness: etc, etc.

For some practitioners, the best results might come when the so-called 'heart' centre is focused on, whilst synchronising the breath. The space behind the sternum joint at the first visible rib pair: which is drifting off-topic!

For the Kalamas.

"Test what you know endlessly,
test it a million times,
on the million and oneth time it may change".
Kapilavaddho.

Perfect Wisdom

Perfect wisdom is the clear knowledge of total ignorance.
Paradox begins with the craving to know.
Dwelling in not-knowing is the final peace.
Perfecting that knowledge is the path.

All we are...

All we are:
Oscillating ions,
In various parts of the brain,
Living on a planet with a magnetic field.

If it changes ...

If it changes it can't be real.
If it doesn't change it can't be known.
Luangpow Pannavaddho

Is it possible to relate Buddhism to Western Culture?

There are at least two possibilities, and no doubt many more besides.

The first one turns around the Cartesian dictum, "Cogito ergo sum", "I think therefore I am".  René Descartes got off to a brilliant start and then promptly took a wrong turn, completely missing the point of his inadvertent discovery.

He turned right, taking the very 'doubt' that he took as evidence of his 'existence', making it the keystone of his entire intellectual edifice.  Instead, he should have turned left and investigated it.  So as to realise it's causal factors, thereby realising it's true nature, "... thus I am simply the result of that thought".

The second possibility considers the two Grail Legend questions.  "What does it mean?" and, "Whom does it serve?"  The first investigates the object of attention.  The second investigates the subject himself, using the same principles, in the same way, to find the same answer.

One could also think of a teaching given to Carlos Castaneda, Don Juan's "second attention": though others might not agree.