The Fifty-sixth Gate:
Read the following, place it in your heart and sleep on it. Then, tomorrow, live it until evening when you can leave a brief comment on what you may have received during the process
The four right exertions* are a gate of Dharma illumination; for they eliminate all evils and realize many kinds of good.
A “Dharma Gate” is a teaching or practice that can lead to spiritual growth: some kind of positive outcome in terms of our practice. A way to approach the truth.
Koan:
A monk in all seriousness asked Joshu:“Has a dog Buddha nature or not?”
Joshu retorted,“Mu!”
Mumon’s Verse:
A dog, Buddha-nature!
This is the presentation of the whole,
the absolute imperative!
Once you begin to think “has” or “has not”
You are as good as dead.
When you have cast away all illusory thoughts and discrimina-tions,and inside and outside are as one,you will be like a mute
who has had a dream [but is unable to talk about it].
How then, do you achieve this? Devote yourself to Mu energetically and wholeheartedly. If you continue this way without intermission,your mind will, like a light flashed on in the dark, suddenly become bright. Wonderful indeed!
Most note worthy replies:
Notes:
* The four right exertions/ Right Efforts :
1) to prevent bad that has not yet occurred,
2) to cause bad that has already occurred to be extinguished,
3) to cause to occur good that has not yet occurred,
4) to promote the good that has already occurred.
[Exertion / Restraint: vigorous action or effort / the act of holding back, controlling, or checking]
gassho, Shokai
stlah
Read the following, place it in your heart and sleep on it. Then, tomorrow, live it until evening when you can leave a brief comment on what you may have received during the process
The four right exertions* are a gate of Dharma illumination; for they eliminate all evils and realize many kinds of good.
A “Dharma Gate” is a teaching or practice that can lead to spiritual growth: some kind of positive outcome in terms of our practice. A way to approach the truth.
Koan:
A monk in all seriousness asked Joshu:“Has a dog Buddha nature or not?”
Joshu retorted,“Mu!”
Mumon’s Verse:
A dog, Buddha-nature!
This is the presentation of the whole,
the absolute imperative!
Once you begin to think “has” or “has not”
You are as good as dead.
When you have cast away all illusory thoughts and discrimina-tions,and inside and outside are as one,you will be like a mute
who has had a dream [but is unable to talk about it].
How then, do you achieve this? Devote yourself to Mu energetically and wholeheartedly. If you continue this way without intermission,your mind will, like a light flashed on in the dark, suddenly become bright. Wonderful indeed!
- Daido Loori Roshi 'Sitting with Koans' Pg 162
Click on Image to EnlargeMost note worthy replies:
May we, together with all buddhas;
Reflect on the four right exertions,
That we may remove evils and realize many kinds of good.
Nurturing seedlings
Pulling weeds
Our garden blooms bright
Reflect on the four right exertions,
That we may remove evils and realize many kinds of good.
Nurturing seedlings
Pulling weeds
Our garden blooms bright
Notes:
* The four right exertions/ Right Efforts :
1) to prevent bad that has not yet occurred,
2) to cause bad that has already occurred to be extinguished,
3) to cause to occur good that has not yet occurred,
4) to promote the good that has already occurred.
[Exertion / Restraint: vigorous action or effort / the act of holding back, controlling, or checking]
gassho, Shokai
stlah
)
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