The Eighty-second 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.
Right balanced state is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we attain undistracted samādhi.
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:
Chinese Emperor Wu-Ti asked Bodhidharma, “What is the underlying principle of Buddhism?”
The monk responded, “An enormous void. A vast sky, which accepts all beings – the enlightened and the unaware – as the same.”
Wu-ti, a fervent Buddhist himself , was nonplussed. Bodhidharma left his court, realizing that China was not yet ready for his “wordless tradition”.
Most note worthy replies:
In a balanced state/right samadhi, we don’t cling to the body-mind, to the thoughts and mental formations, to the feelings and sensations. Without judgement, we reflect reality in the mind mirror.
Notes:
* - The root words of samadhi, sam-a-dha, mean "to bring together."
The late John Daido Loori Roshi, a Soto Zen teacher, said, "Samadhi is a state of consciousness that lies beyond waking, dreaming, or deep sleep. It's a slowing down of our mental activity through single-pointed concentration." Samadhi is particular type of single-pointed concentration; focusing oneself on, for example, a desire for revenge—or even on a delicious meal—is not samadhi.
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.
Right balanced state is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we attain undistracted samādhi.
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:
Chinese Emperor Wu-Ti asked Bodhidharma, “What is the underlying principle of Buddhism?”
The monk responded, “An enormous void. A vast sky, which accepts all beings – the enlightened and the unaware – as the same.”
Wu-ti, a fervent Buddhist himself , was nonplussed. Bodhidharma left his court, realizing that China was not yet ready for his “wordless tradition”.
Most note worthy replies:
In a balanced state/right samadhi, we don’t cling to the body-mind, to the thoughts and mental formations, to the feelings and sensations. Without judgement, we reflect reality in the mind mirror.
Maintain the undistracted concentration
That we may practice Right Samadhi
Stillness in motion
The practice
Of a spinning top
That we may practice Right Samadhi
Stillness in motion
The practice
Of a spinning top
Notes:
* - The root words of samadhi, sam-a-dha, mean "to bring together."
The late John Daido Loori Roshi, a Soto Zen teacher, said, "Samadhi is a state of consciousness that lies beyond waking, dreaming, or deep sleep. It's a slowing down of our mental activity through single-pointed concentration." Samadhi is particular type of single-pointed concentration; focusing oneself on, for example, a desire for revenge—or even on a delicious meal—is not samadhi.
gassho, Shokai
stlah
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