The Thirty-eighth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Thirty-eighth Gate: reflection on impurity.

Reflection on impurity is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we abandon the mind that is tainted by desire.(Nishijima/Cross)
Visualizing impurity is a gate of realizing Dharma; it abandons the desire for defilement. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas;
Practice avoidance of impurities,
That our minds may be free from desires.

Reflection Prompts:
1. Although Reflection on impurity and Visualizing impurity are similar, does the slight difference make an change in the import of this Gate?
2. How does this reflection or Visualization cause one to abandon desire?
3. Write a new Capping Verse.

Capping Verse:
Mud contains much dirt
And water
Clear as the blue sky

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Choujou]

1. Although Reflection on impurity and Visualizing impurity are similar, does the slight difference make an change in the import of this Gate?
2. How does this reflection or Visualization cause one to abandon desire?
3. Write a new Capping Verse.

1. the difference to me is that in visualizing, one can separate oneself from the impure act/thought/words, where when one reflects upon impurity, I think one would tend to lean towards their own impurities and things they’ve done in the past that were not in harmony with the Dharma (or with things planning to be done…)

2. when one can look past the initial impure act and see the consequences and harm that would follow such an act, usually it is enough to realize that one’s desire is not worth the karmic trouble that would ensue as a result. Also, from a compassionate point of view, why cause anyone pain, including yourself!?

3. A mirror of equanimity
reflects all,
muck and moon

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Tairin]

If we can’t recognize our weaknesses how can we work to correct them?


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Furyu]

Desire (attachment/greed) tends to make us look at things only in their positive light. I think this is meant to bring balance by also looking at the down side of whatever it is we desire. Seeing how what we desire is impermanent and has no substance can lessen its draw. I suppose the gate also calls to mind the other 'poisons' - hatred and delusion. We can visualize the effects of actions driven by these fires and see that they are harmful, either to ourselves or others. Although all this functions from a dualistic prespective, really.

An aspirational gatha ...

exhausting all defilements
the skandhas are open gates
desire is just desire
there are no hooks


Fūryū
satlah

[Hosai]

1. Seeing all is pure including your obsessive compulsive need for purity, is itself also pure.

2. The extent of the difference I feel between my practice and a teachers practice is the tacit admission of ranks, levels and progress... I am broadcasting the fact that I look up and down at people... I see levels where there is fundamental equality.

_/\_
sat/ah
hōsai