The Twenty-second of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Twenty-second Gate: Repentance.

Repentance is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] the mind within is stilled.(Nishijima/Cross)
Repentance is a gate of realizing Dharma; it keeps your inner mind in serene samadhi. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas;
Atone for all harmful actions, words and thoughts,
That our minds may be stilled.

Reflection Prompts:
1. Who benefits from your repentance?
2. How does repentance still the mind?
3. Write another capping verse.

Capping Verse:
Opening the cage
Of the past
We walk free and clear


gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Hosai]

因果応報 (Inga Oho)

Im sorry I was Kevin
Who smuggled blow and china white
Across 24 states and 1 Country
In a well kept, cream "Mack Daddy"
Was it the long greasy hair and wife beater
that finally gave me away?
25 years on ice to repent
and study the Dharma
Plese forgive me

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Tairin]

Reciting the Verse of Atonement can be quite liberating. If I am carrying something with me from the day then reciting the Verse of Atonement gives me an opportunity to clear my mind and put that thing down.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. Who benefits from your repentance?
2. How does repentance still the mind?
3. Write another capping verse.

1. The mind and heart, and if repentance is done correctly, those you’ve wronged or would have wronged from the wrongful word or deed, (which I feel one should renounce)

2. It allows you to express remorse for wrongdoing and to move forward and let go of your attachment to it.

3. Releasing the dam of wrongdoing,
Through repentance, the water recedes,
and clear, free air fills the lungs again.