Exercise making meditation an end in itself, so that you can put distraction behind you.

What is enlightenment?

A switch is thrown. You are no longer in the dark.

What can I do to make enlightenment happen?

Wind does not blow; it sucks. Approach vortices.

Do I have to renounce God, Gaia, Allah, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Mithra, etc. to follow the path of Zen?

Not unless He or She tells you to, in writing.

What does the word Buddha mean?

Buddha means "awakened one".

What's the quickest way to truly understand Zen?

Watch the Bill Murray/Andie MacDowell movie Groundhog Day one hundred times, then visit Zen Unbound's article on the zen of Groundhog Day.

If I follow the Zen path can I still eat cheeseburgers?

Warren Buffet's Cousin Jimmy does. Why not you?

Do I have to quit my job, abandon my spouse, parents, children and friends, and beg for a living to follow Zen?

Quite the opposite.

A mantra is a syllable or series of syllables that translates human will or desire into a form of action. A mantra may or may not have linguistical meaning. One of the most well known is "Om mani padme hum". To dig deeper click here.

Is it sacrilegious to make fun of Zen?

Click here for an answer.

If I do right, when I die will I go to Zen Heaven?

When you no longer care about such things, you will be Zen Heaven.

How will I know if I become enlightened?

First, you will smile that you ever asked such a question.