The Twenty-ninth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Twenty-ninth Gate: Repayment of Kindness.

Repayment of kindness is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we do not cheat and disregard others.(Nishijima/Cross)
Repaying another person’s kindness is a gate of realizing Dharma; it does not ignore the debt.(Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas;
Be generous in our relationships,
That we may not cheat and disregard others.

Reflection Prompts:
1. We do not always get to directly repay Kindnesses, does that matter??
2. Do you feel that not cheating and/or disregarding others is different from Ignoring the debt?
3. Rewrite either of the verses

Capping Verse:
Kindness is received
Only so
We know how to give


gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Dainei]

Even if we can't repay kindness for kindness, we can act kindly and therefore repay kindness to all sentient beings.
Repaying kindness is an active undertaking but actively ignoring a debt is different, willful ignorance is consciousness of wrong action and is continually slighting the other.

Kindness is continually given
So we know to be debt free.

Gassho,
Bill
Sat

[Hosai]

Webs of obligation...

Giri (義理) and on (恩) are key concepts in Japanese culture that represent obligations in relationships. Giri (義理) refers to social duties like repaying favors or maintaining harmony often based on societal expectations. On (恩) is a deeper sense of gratitude or indebtedness, often toward someone who has provided significant help, like a parent or teacher. Together, they create a system of mutual respect and responsibility, strengthening personal and social bonds. In Japan this type of debt is considered good...

However, many good teachers I have met have cautioned students from having this idea with regard to them... The student-teacher relationship in Zen is not transactional as there is nothing they give you... It was yours from the beginning... You just didn't realise it yet... So while, being polite and nice is fine. You don't owe them anything...

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. We do not always get to directly repay Kindnesses, does that matter??
2. Do you feel that not cheating and/or disregarding others is different from Ignoring the debt?
3. Rewrite either of the verses

1. No, because all is one. We can repay kindness by also giving kindness to another. Just be kind to everyone!

2. No, cheating and disregarding others to me is in regard to paying it forward to others, so to speak. Ignoring the debt would be ignoring the repayment of kindness to one who has directly been kind to you.

3. May we, together with all buddhas;
Be kind to all sentient beings,
That we may repay kindness continuously for all.

Gassho,
Jay

sat/lah today

[Tairin]

We do not always get to directly repay Kindnesses, does that matter??

I feel as if I have said this before but anyways here goes….

i don’t think so. My experience and observation is that those who act with genuine kindness do so freely and without expectation of reward. They take pleasure in being kind and take pleasure in seeing others acting kindly.


Tairin
sat today and lah