The first of 108 Gates of Dharma illumination

[Shokai]

And now we find ourselves at the beginning of another 108 day trek from Winter solstice to Vesak. The Dharma Gates to me are a method of deepening our practice. A way to lighten (pun intended) our knowledge of the dharma. i hope you'll join me.

So, let's begin:

The First Gate: Right Belief/Trust

Right belief is a gate of Dharma Illumination for (with it) the steadfast mind is not broken. (Nishijima/Cross)

Right trust is a gate of realizing dharma; it keeps determined aspirations from breaking. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas;
Reassess our beliefs and intentions,
That our minds remain steadfast on the path

Reflection Prompts:

What does this mean to you ?

Capping Verse:
A well-tuned arrow
Straight and true
Never goes astray

gassho, Shokai

[Koriki]

I like the suggestion to "Reassess our beliefs and intentions" as it reminds me of working with the precepts. And it fits well with

A well-tuned arrow
Straight and true
Never goes astray

There always seems to be something to work on or adjust with this practice. While humbling, I trust that the process makes me more fine tuned.

Gassho,
Koriki
s@lah

[ZenJay]

Hi Shokai,

here were a few thoughts I had:

Right Belief, when you know and embody the truth, nothing can shake you from it.
Right Trust, the truth is already here. Aspirations aligned and formed in the dharma naturally flow forth, and ensures our intentions and aspirations stay true to the Buddha’s way

Gassho,
Jay

sat/lah today

[Shokai]

After experiencing a traumatic situation, have you ever noticed how you receive more and more evidence that your reaction was right …

all of us.png
And everyone else appears to agree !!
And, as time goes by, the story even becomes so true that you can’t tell it was made up

[Jundo]

I just want to say how wonderful that our Rev. Shokai begins this season of Dharma Gates again!

If anyone would like to look at some of the last several years of Shokai's Dharma Gates cycle, they are all kept here:

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/the-108-gates-of-dharma-illumination-with-shokai/archive-of-gates-of-dharma-illumination-past

I am trying to convince him to put them together as a book.

Wonderful!

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Shinshi]

I just want to say how wonderful that our Rev. Shokai begins this season of Dharma Gates again!

If anyone would like to look at some of the last several years of Shokai's Dharma Gates cycle, they are all kept here:

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/the-108-gates-of-dharma-illumination-with-shokai/archive-of-gates-of-dharma-illumination-past

I am trying to convince him to put them together as a book.

Wonderful!

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

That would be wonderful.

Gassho,

Shinshi

[Houzan]

To me it means practice with effortless effort. Continuing our practice with a no-gaining mind, no judgments, everything perfectly imperfect as it is, makes our practice flow smoothly, our life flow freely.

I’d love that book, Shokai!

Gassho, Hōzan
satlah

[Tairin]

The book idea sounds lovely.

I am so glad you are leading us through the Gates again this year Shokai.

To me Right Belief is an opportunity reflect and renew my belief and trust in this practice. From time to time my practice wobbles but in my heart I know it is right for me.


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Matt Johnson]

Great doubt, great faith... I have lost my faith in this practise many times...

Feeling like I've joined a cult

Feeling self-conscious about hanging out with a bunch of people playing Asian appropriation and cosplay...

Feeling like I'm making no progress

Feeling bad because I don't think there is such a thing as progress

Feeling like I'm making progress

Loosing trust in teachers either because of a lack of connection or becoming aware of their transgressions, or because following their example caused me harm

Lacking faith in myself such that I keep coming back to gobble the dregs of others

Losing faith in the fact that one must have faith when the Buddha very clearly suggested that we while faith is essential, it is meant to be validated through direct experience and not blind acceptance of dogma, authority, or tradition.

But I forgot the most important part... I'm still here...

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Shokai]

Matt;

You are your best and only teacher. What you practice you get good at.
( sorry to end with a preposition )

gasshp, Shokai

[Matt Johnson]

Mark_Wing-Davey_as_Zaphod_Beeblebrox.jpg

[IanSmith]

Entirely agree with your post Matt. Walking the tightrope between great faith and great doubt is not easy.
Gassho