The Nineteenth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Nineteenth Gate: Reflection on suffering

Reflection on suffering is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we cease all aspirations.(Nishijima/Cross)
Visualizing suffering is a gate of realizing Dharma; it frees you from all wishes. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all beings:
Dispel all of our aspirations.
That we may be free to perceive reality as it is.

Reflection Prompts:
1. How does the reflection of suffering remove aspirations?
2. Do you feel the Capping Verse is appropriate?

Capping Verse:
Rainbows disappear
All of them
Why keep chasing them?

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Meishin]

In the raging fires, all political spins are rendered cruel. In the bitter cold, who has the heart for useless speculation?

Gassho
Meishin
stlah

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. How does the reflection of suffering remove aspirations?
2. Do you feel the Capping Verse is appropriate?

1. When one reflects on or bears witness to the suffering in the world, it breaks all fantasies, dreams, and wishes for anything different than what is. There is no point to dwelling in such dreams and fantasies... Our way is to accept all of life as it is, while also working towards making things better for all beings everywhere the best we can, when we can.

2. I do, however, I also feel it is important to see the rainbow when it happens and to smile. We accept all of it

Gassho,
Jay

sat/lah today

[Hosai]

Reflecting on my Dad who has Parkinson's... He worked hard his whole life in order to retire and play golf in Florida. Now he can barely walk. What a difference 10 years makes. Why do we work so hard? Why are we so hard on others and ourselves?

I can feel how fast its all moving. So Im going to try to be as aware of it as I can be.

Suffering can be very subtle, wanting things we dont have, having things we don't want. Sometimes breathing seems a chore. Other times a subtle dissatisfaction pervades everything. Unable to enjoy life because we know we can't hold on to it... We must ultimately let it all go...

file-AHCsrFmPtroXjuu2jTAHbT_copy_256x256.jpg

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Tairin]

The definition of Dukkha… wanting X when we get Y.

Rainbows do disappear no matter how much we want them to remain. Enjoy them when present. Enjoy them when they disappear.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Shokai]

Tairin; IZ would have loved your rainbow

[Shokai]

gassho,Shokai