The fourth of 108 Gates of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Fourth Gate: Love and Cheerfulness/Love of Enjoyment

Love and Cheerfulness is a gate of Dharma illumination; for they make the mind pure. (Nishijima/Cross)
Love of Enjoyment is a gate of realizing dharma; it keeps the heart pure.(Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas
Realize the true nature of love, cheerfulness and enjoyment
That our heart/minds may be cleansed. (Pure)

Reflection Prompts:
Does "Cheerfulness” differ from “Love of Enjoyment”?
How does love purify the heart/mind?
Why is it important to have a pure heart/mind?

Capping Verse:
No storm clouds in sight
But if so
They are welcome too

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[Shoshin]

Thanks for suggesting I join you all in doing this practice.
I'm not familiar with the 108 Gates of Dharma Illumination so, I asked Chat Gtp about them and this was the answer. In my experience ChatGPT makes mistakes, so, could you please tell me of this is correct?

"The 108 Gates of Dharma Illumination is a classic Buddhist text traditionally associated with Zen Buddhism. It provides a structured list of qualities, practices, or realizations that a practitioner can cultivate to progress on the path to enlightenment. Each "gate" represents a key aspect of practice or insight, offering a way to deepen one’s understanding of the Dharma.

The number 108 holds symbolic significance in Buddhism, often representing the removal of 108 delusions or defilements. The gates in this text are intended to counteract these delusions and guide practitioners toward awakening.

Here’s an overview of its themes:

Emphasis on Virtues: Many gates highlight virtues such as generosity, patience, and discipline, which are foundational to Buddhist practice.

Meditative Practices: The list includes gates related to concentration, mindfulness, and the development of wisdom through meditative absorption.

Realizations: Some gates refer to insights into the nature of reality, such as impermanence, no-self, and interdependent origination.

Skillful Means: The gates also emphasize practical methods and attitudes for engaging with others, such as compassion and the aspiration to benefit all beings.

The text is often studied in Zen as a way to reflect on the integration of practice and daily life."

So, if I understand correctly, a new gate will be published everyday for us to reflect on it and for us to pay extra attention to it during the day.
Yup?

What's the "capping verse"?

Gassho,
Ester
Satlah

[Hosai]

Dogen's Shobogenzo 108 gates (Nishijima/Cross)

Dogen copied these rom Butsu-hongyo-jikkyo, a biographical sutra about Gautama Buddha.

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Shokai]

Ester;
ChatGPT seems to have a fairly good impression of what the Gates are about. But, as Buddha is thought to have said, "Don't take my word for it, Check it out for yourself" See the gates in an appendix2 to Book 4 (pg 229) of the Nishijima/ Cross translation of Dogen's "Shobogenzo" Treasury of the true Dharma Eye)

as for What's Next, the message I get is, stop trying to fix yourself, you are enough. Just relax, let go of the ego and enjoy life as it is happening

gasshp, Shokai

[Shoshin]

Ester;
ChatGPT seems to have a fairly good impression of what the Gates are about. But, as Buddha is thought to have said, "Don't take my word for it, Check it out for yourself" See the gates in an appendix2 to Book 4 (pg 229) of the Nishijima/ Cross translation of Dogen's "Shobogenzo" Treasury of the true Dharma Eye)

as for What's Next, the message I get is, stop trying to fix yourself, you are enough. Just relax, let go of the ego and enjoy life as it is happening

gasshp, Shokai

Thanks!!
Do you happen to have all the volumes?
Could you share them?
Gassho,
Ester
Satlah

[Shokai]

They are all at the site tthe above ;ink takes you to
gassho, Shokai

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
Does "Cheerfulness” differ from “Love of Enjoyment”?
How does love purify the heart/mind?
Why is it important to have a pure heart/mind?

cheerfulness to me is the ability to stay in a positive mind frame and behavior even in the face of negative situations or people. Love of enjoyment to me is almost the next step, in regard to enjoying every situation as it is with no regard to “good” or “bad” but as just experiences and to enjoy all as it is. This, I feel, would lead to a naturally cheerful state, and one that would be better maintained.

Buddha is pure love, casting away all shadows . It is our natural state, and one can’t fully embrace Buddha without a pure heart and mind.

Gassho,
Jay

sat/lah today

[Koriki]

I feel like cheerfulness arises the more we have a beginner's mind. When I am able to just observe reality with an awareness of impermanence it seems like cheerfulness just kind of happens. Setting that stage is the challenge.
Gassho,
Koriki
s@lah

[Shokai]

Want to feel cheerful. Just smile!! by forming a smile with you facial muscles you trick your brain into thinking you are happy and it immediately starts the flow of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, oxytocin, anandamide, endorphins and Nitric oxide. seven neurotransmitters known as the happy drugs. - D. Church " Bliss Brain"

gassho, Shokai

[Tairin]

No question that love, cheerfulness and enjoyment lead to a general positive outlook. Similarly having a generally positive outlook leads more naturally to feelings of love, cheerfulness, and enjoyment. It’s a wonderful feedback loop that helps keep the heart and mind feeling pure.


Tairin
sat today and lah