The Fifteenth of 108 Gates of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Fifteenth Gate: Compassion

Compassion is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we do not kill or harm living beings.(Nishijima/Cross)
Grieving is a gate of realizing Dharma; it keeps you from harming sentient beings. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all beings
Explore the dimensions of compassion
That we may appreciate the impermanence of life.

Reflection Prompts:
1. Can you explain how these two translations are so far apart and yet, not?
2. Is there a connection between Compassion and Grieving?
3. Comment on How either of these emotions/traits effect not harming living beings.

Capping Verse:
Embrace compassion
Our first step
To embrace the world

gassho,Shokai
stlah

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. Can you explain how these two translations are so far apart and yet, not?
2. Is there a connection between Compassion and Grieving?
3. Comment on How either of these emotions/traits effect not harming living beings.

1. These are two emotional states that may seem different at first glance, but intertwine at times. Both produce a similar appreciation for all sentient life and the well being of all sentient life. Compassion as defined in dictionary.com is : “ a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.“ So contained within compassion is a grieving for the sentient beings who are suffering, and in grief is compassion, whether felt for one who is suffering, or if one has suffered similar circumstances and can relate to another in a similar circumstance. Either way, compassion and grief both help to foster feelings of loving kindness towards others, and a deep appreciation of all life.

2. yes, in the sorrow one feels for the suffering of others.

3. When one is compassionate towards all sentient life, one is more mindful of their actions and intentions towards others and through compassion, treat all sentient life with utmost respect and with love. Grieving directly exposes one to sorrow of some kind and the impact that makes on someone can be powerful. The sorrow one feels during times of grief are something I don’t think anyone wishes upon another, and so compassion arises for those grieving in any way. This also makes one mindful of not being a cause or source of sorrow of grief for other sentient beings

Gassho,
Jay

sat/lah today

[Tairin]

Hmmm….. grieving is generally personal and individual …. For one’s self. Compassion is transference …. For another person. The connector seems to be empathy, where one (kind of) takes on the emotional state of another.

That’s all I can come up with this one.


Tairin
sat today and lah