The Fortieth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Fortieth Gate: not being foolish.

Not being foolish is a gate of Dharma illumination; for it stops the killing of living things.(Nishijima/Cross)
Not being ignorant is a gate of realizing Dharma; it keeps you from killing. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas;
Practice avoidance of foolishness,
That we may be free from the killing of living things.

Reflection Prompts:
1. What difference is there between Foolishness and ignorance?
2. How does either lead to killing?
3. Write a new capping verse.

Capping Verse:
Carelessness with life
So foolish
Why act like a fool?

gassho,Shokai
stlah

[Hosai]

"If someone asks about the mind of this monk, Say it is no more than a fool’s heart,
Worn-out sandals,
And a robe full of holes."

- Ryokan

What else did you expect?

大愚 Daigu was Ryokan's dharma name.... also the same gu as in Gudo 愚道 Nishijima.

_/\_
sat/ah
hōsai

[Furyu]

In their negative sense, I suppose one is a lack of care, foolishness, and the other a lack of knowledge, ignorance. The outcome of either is not necessarily the killing of living things, unless we take it in a very abstract way (killing someone's spirit, etc.). Though of course, it can result in the taking of life. Replacing these with understanding and care is the practice.

I like that hōsai brings up the positive view of foolishness as buddha. But that is a different kind of foolishness. Surely we are all fools on our zafus.

foolishness kills others
the fool kills the other
with a patched robe


Fūryū
satlah

[Tairin]

Not much to add beyond what Fūryū and Hōsai have said.


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Choujou]

I agree, not much to add… foolishness towards and ignorance of the Precepts and Dharma lead to all sorts of suffering. Either kills liberation.

open your eyes
follow the truth
and finally feel alive

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today