The Forty-eighth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Forty-eighth Gate: hidden expedient means.

Hidden expedient means are a gate of Dharma illumination; for they are sensitive to many kinds of suffering.(Nishijima/Cross)
Subtle skillful means is a gate of realizing Dharma; it knows all forms of suffering. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas;
Actualize many ways of teaching,
That we may improve our sensitivity and compassion.

Reflection Prompts:
1. Describe "Hidden expedient means" or "Subtle skillful means ."
2. How do these increase our sensitivity to Suffering?
3. Write a new Capping Verse.

Capping Verse:
So often unseen
Yet the moon
Keeps the tides flowing

Gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Shokai]

Apology, this should have been posted on Friday

Gassho, Shokai

[Hosai]

From one a**hole to another.

_/\_
sat/ah
hōsai

[Shokai]

Perhaps we should jump to the Gate pertaining to right speech

Gassho, Shokai

[Jundo]

Perhaps we should jump to the Gate pertaining to right speech

Gassho, Shokai

[Furyu]

#1 - I wonder if the gate is for the sake of the person using expedient/skillful means or the sake of the person on the receiving end. Both probably - ultimately, there is no doer/receiver. I suppose that is where the meaning lies. If I open myself to other's suffering, I am better able to respond appropriately. The part about "subtle" or "hidden" suggests that our acts of kindness should be done with no thought of reward or recognition. Maybe LAH at Treeleaf would qualify as a subtle expedient means. Everyday, we are conscious of doing at least one helpful thing for another but nobody needs to be aware of the details. Everyday we are pushed to reach out, even a little, not just for our sake. When we all help even a little bit, the world is better and we are too.

#2 - Reaching out to another, we take in their suffering.

#3 -

each hidden from the other
a sangha's thousand hands
realize Kannon's work


Fūryū
sat/lah

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. Describe "Hidden expedient means" or "Subtle skillful means ."
2. How do these increase our sensitivity to Suffering?
3. Write a new Capping Verse.

1. I agree with Furyu, that this points to all acts of help and kindness be “hidden” and with no expectation of acknowledgement or recognition. But I also think this refers to discovering and / or developing expedient means within one’s self in order to understand the suffering of others and to be better equipped to help those who are (not so obviously) suffering.

2. we better understand our brothers and sisters and how to really reach them, bring them to truth, and free them from suffering.

3. To save all sentient beings
Takes all the talent
You never knew you had

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Tairin]

When ever expedient means comes up my mind immediately goes to the Burning House Parable in the Lotus Sutra. In the parable a father saves his children who are oblivious to the danger they are in effectively through deception. While deception is not truly honourable action in this case it serves the purpose of saving the children. Intention in this case favoured preserving the life of the children while basically violating the Precept to telling the truth (Right Speech)


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Shokai]

And, a few random acts of kindness couldn't hurt