The Eighteenth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Eighteenth Gate: Reflection on inconstancy.

Reflection on inconstancy is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we reflect upon the desires of the triple world.* (Nishijima/Cross)
Visualizing impermanence is a gate of realizing Dharma; it illustrates the desires of the three realms*. (Tanahashi)

*The realms of the five components, living beings, and the environment.
The 'triple world' of saṃsāra or rebirth. Buddhist cosmology adopts an ancient Āryan conception of the world having three strata or layers and names these as the Desire Realm (earth - kāma-loka), the Form Realm ( atmosphere - rūpa-loka), and the Formless Realm (sky - ārūpya-loka).

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas;
Reflect of the efficacy of constancy,
That we may dispel worldly desires.

Reflection Prompts:
1. Comment on the relationship of inconstancy and impermanence.
2. How do either cause reflection on the desires of the three worlds?
3. Can you see the relationship of desire, form and formless?

Capping Verse:
Leaf upon the wind
So pretty
But where will it land?

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. Comment on the relationship of inconstancy and impermanence.
2. How do either cause reflection on the desires of the three worlds?
3. Can you see the relationship of desire, form and formless?

1 and 2- One must be mindful of the fact that nothing is permanent, even our constancy with practice. This in turn causes us to desire that very constancy, or to desire that nothing changes and so on ... The result is suffering since this is impossible. This applies to everything in life. Everything changes, nothing is permanent... not even forum posts

3. All one

Gassho,
Jay

sat/lah today

[Tairin]

Ironically my comments on this gate were lost last night as part of data loss incident.

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/treeleaf-community-topics-about-zen-practice/539248-attention-lost-a-day-of-postings-repost-if-important

All things (including internet postings) are impermanent and inconstant.


Tairin
sat today and lah