The Sixteenth of 108 Gates of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Sixteenth Gate: Joy

Joy is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we abandon all unpleasant things.(Nishijima/Cross)
Joy is a gate of realizing Dharma; it keeps you from all joyless matters. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all beings
Practice Joy ( i.e. delight and happiness )
That we may be free of all unpleasant things.

Reflection Prompts:
1. Is this not just positive thinking?
2. Do we purposely avoid unpleasant things or is being joyful a practice?
3 How true do you feel the capping verse to be ?

Capping Verse:
A mind full of joy
Still has room
For everything else


gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Dainei]

Joy is a visceral emotion and encompassing feeling. Positive thinking is still simply thinking. So, in my humble opinion, they are different. I think Soto Zen practitioners differ in that we accept and not avoid unpleasant things but also try to experience joy if it arises. Thus the capping verse i think hit the nail on the head, the joyful mind can also be the sad, mad, happy, irritated, satisfied etc. mind.

Gassho,
Bill
Sat

[Shokai]

Are not all emotions visceral?

Gassho, Shokai

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. Is this not just positive thinking?
2. Do we purposely avoid unpleasant things or is being joyful a practice?
3 How true do you feel the capping verse to be ?

1. Joy to me is a happiness beyond thought, in essence, a cause of “positive thinking”!

2. oh I know I do! I think most people avoid unpleasantness. It definitely is a practice to be and maintain joyfulness, especially in a society that seems bent on negativity and glorifying all that negativity has to offer.

3. It’s not all fun and games… one must accept the bad with the good. It’s all Buddha. But one can still hold joy in the heart even during the bad times in life.

Gassho,
Jay

sat/lah today

[Tairin]

1. What’s wrong with positive thinking?

2. No, we do not purposely avoid unpleasant things. We accept everything. Pleasant or unpleasant is just the state of mind.

3. I think the capping versus appropriate


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Hosai]

Happy, happy, happy, joy, joy, joy

PHOTO REMOVED BY JUNDO

How soon till we're rounding up minorities.... oh wait...

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Jundo]

Originally posted by Matt Johnson
Happy, happy, happy, joy, joy, joy
PHOTO DELETED

How soon till we're rounding up minorities.... oh wait...

Hi Matt,

I removed your photo, and please consider this a caution. As I have mentioned to you a few times before, we avoid overtly political material here in our Sangha. However, it is fine to discuss social policy issues, such as hunger, poverty, violence and war, from a perspective of our Precepts.

I hope you will respect that. Thank you.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Hosai]

Hi Matt,

I removed your photo, and please consider this a caution. As I have mentioned to you a few times before, we avoid overtly political material here in our Sangha. However, it is fine to discuss social policy issues, such as hunger, poverty, violence and war, from a perspective of our Precepts.

I hope you will respect that. Thank you.

I think you are confused.

From the perspective of a citizen or soldier, defending (in this case verbally) your homeland is an act of necessity, love, and protection.

From a global perspective, others may interpret it as part of the geopolitical landscape and assign political motives, even if they’re irrelevant to those on the ground.

So from my perspective I am doing what is right. ESPECIALLY if there are members of the international community present!

_/\_
sat/ah
matt