The Sixty-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 power of balance* is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we discontinue all thoughts.
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 Cup of Tea
Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring.The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull. No more will go in!”
“Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”
This is a classic Zen koan about the importance of learning, unlearning, and relearning so as to remain sharp and free from fixed thinking. The imagery of the cup overflowing is a powerful symbol reminding us to let things go so that we can “pour” more experience into our lives.
The paradox is that we can never truly let go of what we’ve learned. It’s always retained on some level. In muscle memory, for example. What we’re “pouring out” of the “cup” of our minds is the ego’s attachment to learning and memory and a releasing of fixed opinions and rigid expectations.
Indeed, a mind-dump a day keeps the brainwash away. Similar to the Zen proverb, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” [/I]
Nothingness.jpg
Most note worthy replies:
Notes:
* Power of balance is a great or marked ability to maintain mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment.
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 power of balance* is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we discontinue all thoughts.
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 Cup of Tea
Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring.The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull. No more will go in!”
“Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”
This is a classic Zen koan about the importance of learning, unlearning, and relearning so as to remain sharp and free from fixed thinking. The imagery of the cup overflowing is a powerful symbol reminding us to let things go so that we can “pour” more experience into our lives.
The paradox is that we can never truly let go of what we’ve learned. It’s always retained on some level. In muscle memory, for example. What we’re “pouring out” of the “cup” of our minds is the ego’s attachment to learning and memory and a releasing of fixed opinions and rigid expectations.
Indeed, a mind-dump a day keeps the brainwash away. Similar to the Zen proverb, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” [/I]
Nothingness.jpg
Most note worthy replies:
With the power of balance,
Our mind finds peace and stillness.
No waves of thought can disturb
The deep serenity we possess.
With balance as our guide,
We enter the gate of peace.
All thoughts dissipate like smoke,
As we find our inner release.
No ripples can form
In water
Of perfect stillness
Our mind finds peace and stillness.
No waves of thought can disturb
The deep serenity we possess.
With balance as our guide,
We enter the gate of peace.
All thoughts dissipate like smoke,
As we find our inner release.
No ripples can form
In water
Of perfect stillness
Notes:
* Power of balance is a great or marked ability to maintain mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment.
gassho, Shokai
stlah
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