"ATONEMENT" [AT-ONE-MENT]

                                                           I was delighted and RELIEVED that there are parallels between Zen-ism and Sufism, the most important of which is the Necessity to "look inside" one's Being to locate Truth .   Zen phrases "IT" this way :  "Seeing into one's Self and the Attainment of Buddhahood", while Sufis describe, "...a form of direct perception of the Truth which has nothing to do with mechanical Intellection".   Compare these to Gnosticism's  "Direct and Immediate {Personal} Experiential Knowledge of the Divine" .    Gnosticism is Ancient, the 1st and 2nd Centuries A.D.,,,  and the question may be asked if what may be considered Modern Christianity, specifically the Synoptic Gospels, contains such an articulation of these Mystical -----> Alternatives can be found .   Not exactly, but I argue and have argued that the Parables found in said Synoptic Gospels are certainly close enough to qualify as SOMEWHAT Mystical, in that trying to Understanding the Parables is the same as trying to Understand Koans {Kong-ans in Korean} .   In All of the above MEDIATATION is Required to first Penetrate and then GRASP the Spiritual Significance of the Stories, Kong-ans, Messages and Parables .   ALL Require INTENSE Focus and Concentration, a Focus of One's ENTIRE Being .   Remember the Goal :  Truth .   The Truth of BEING "Nearer to God" where God is Code for The Infinite Divine {my tag} .   Being at ONE with the One, God, GUARANTEES "Inner Peace" which means "EVERYTHING IS EASIER TO DEAL WITH" .