The third of 108 Gates of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Third Gate: Delight/Rejoicing

Delight is a gate of Dharma illumination; for it is the mind of peace and tranquility. (Nishijima/Cross)
Rejoicing is a gate of realizing dharma; it keeps the mind calm and at ease. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas
Be grateful and delight in all things,
That our minds may know peace and tranquility.

Reflection Prompts:
Is delight the same as joy?
How might a “rejoicing” mind remain calm and at ease?
Do you think of this as a strong emotional state or a subtle feeling of contentment? Both? Neither?

Capping Verse:
The good and the bad
Nothing left
Outside joy's embrace

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Tairin]

Is delight the same as joy?

Same yet different.

Do you think of this as a strong emotional state or a subtle feeling of contentment? Both? Neither?

There are certainly times where joy is felt more strongly. Joy of being around the ones you love, like being with family for the holidays. But otherwise it is a subtle “yes it’s there” sort of thing that sometimes we need to pause to really notice.


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Matt Johnson]

Joy/delight = end of Christmas

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Shokai]

Practice Joy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53cqxEOuHNI&ab_channel=AliSherazi

[Matt Johnson]

17350538445001209254604414920541.jpg_/\_
matt

[Tairin]

Joy/delight = end of Christmas

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

Bah Humbug.

[Koriki]

Delight is a gate of Dharma illumination; for it is the mind of peace and tranquility.

I think that when we experience peace and tranquility, delight arises naturally. I feel delight when I see and hear the birds in my backyard, but I don't equate that with joy. It's more like marveling at the world around me (at a moment when I'm actually paying attention). Joy for me is more like when my son tells me about a musical performance that he received great feedback about.

And yes I frequently look forward to Christmas, but am so glad when it's over and I can move on with my life.

Gassho,
Koriki
s@lah