The Tenth of the 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

Gate Ten
Read the following, place it in your heart and sleep on it. Then, tomorrow, own it until evening when you leave a brief comment as to insights or revelations you may have received during the process until letting it go.

Mindfulness of Sangha is a gate of Dharma illumination; ,for [with it] attainment of the truth is steadfast.

A “Dharma Gate” is a teaching or practice we can study to gain insights into the deepening our practice. It's a way to integrate our understanding of reality.

The Koan:
"Master Unmon preached to the assembly; Everyone exists with their own light. However, when they try to look at it, it is invisible, and there is only deep deep darkness. How does this light exist?
The assembly did not answer.
So the Master himself said in place of the assembly: The Zazen Hall, the Buddha Hall, the kitchen and the temple gate.
He added: It is better if even good things do not exist."
-Master Dogen's Shinji Shobogenzo 1-81

A Most note worthy reply :
Sangha is connectedness. Mindfulness of Sangha is like a soft blanket you wrap yourself in. Sangha uplifts and helps us to see ourselves.

I can say nothing
As profound
As greeting a friend

js/stlah

[Shokai]

posted by Jakuden two years ago:

How we love to divide good and bad, sickness and health, light and dark in our daily lives.
Instead of Buddha Hall, Zendo, kitchen and temple gate, here we have computer screens and Treeleaf NOW.
We light up each others' rooms with our presence on their screens as we sit.

[Jishin]

I can say nothing
As profound
As greeting a friend

Gassho, Jishin, ST, LAH

[Tai Do]

The light that shines within can only be seen by others; the real fruits of our practice can only be realized by our mutual interaction. To take refuge in Sangha is to find true companionship along the Way. It is only with you all that I can see myself walking and advancing in this pathl toward where I always were.
Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah

[Kaitan]

A spiritual community gives strenght and reminds us how interconnected we are. Something that cannot be perceived by the senses or logic bouncess back and forth, like two mirrors looking at each other, maybe is not the best analogy because that reflection is still perceived by the senses.

Gassho

stlah, Bernal

[Seikan]

one tree may endure
but to thrive
it takes a forest


Gassho,
Seikan

-stlah-

[Tairin]

At times when my own practice sags it is this community that helps energize me.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Shokai]

At times when my own practice sags it is this community that helps energize me.

Nice to hear

[Nengei]

I will never disparage you.
I know that you will become a Buddha.

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat today. LAH.