The thirty-sixth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Thirty-sixth Gate: being without hindrances.

Being without hindrances is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] the mind is free of doubt.(Nishijima/Cross)
Not being hindered is a gate of realizing Dharma; it keeps your mind free from doubt. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas;
Be open to all possibilities,
That our minds may be free of doubt.

Reflection Prompts:
1. How does being without hindrance free our minds of doubt?
2. Is keeping an open mind the same as being without hindrance?
3. Care to comment on the Capping Verse?

Capping Verse:
Obstacles are not
Obstacles
They’re just obstacles

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. How does being without hindrance free our minds of doubt?
2. Is keeping an open mind the same as being without hindrance?
3. Care to comment on the Capping Verse?

1. Any hindrance of mind is going to plant seeds of doubt in practice… when one realizes there is no mind, therefore no hindrances, no doubts, no worries, no troubles, no stress… just this.

2. no, keeping a No-mind is being without hindrance

3. ah yes, no-thing, just like everything else!

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Tairin]

One of my favourite passages of the Heart Sutra is

No hindrance of mind,
No hindrance, therefore no fear

Fear and doubt are entangled. I recently made a decision that involved a leap. I had to overcome my fears and doubts about the future. Those fears and doubts arise from my mind. Those fears and doubts were hindrances that where threatening to hold me in place.

Thank you for the Gates Shokai. I am having trouble keeping up this year but continue to read along.


Tairin
sat today and lah