The Fifty-fourth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Fifty-fourth Gate: Mind as an Abode of Mindfulness

Mind* as an abode of mindfulness is a gate of Dharma illumination;for [with it] we reflect that mind is like a phantom. (Nishijima/Cross)
The ground of mindfulness of the mind is a gate of realizing dharma; it sees the mind as not different from a phantom. (Tanahashi)

*[Mind: the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities]

Gate Gatha:
May we, together with all buddhas;
Relinquish our mind to the home of mindfulness,
That we may reflect on impermanence and inter-connected-ness.

Reflection Prompts:
1. What do you think of when you hear "mind is like a Phantom?"
2. Compare the two translations of "Mind as an abode of mindfulness " and "The ground of mindfulness of the mind ."
3. Write a new Capping Verse

Capping Verse:
Mind is the river
We swim in
But cannot possess

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Hosai]

禍福未定 (Kafuku Mitei)

Oh no here it comes again!
Doom doom doom doom
Back breaking spasmodic DOOM!
But then again... Maybe... Maybe not
Look CLOSELY! Maybe, maybe not.
You walked this one back before
It might be ok. You can call in sick.
After all its just money...
You've lived off $800CAD a month.
The rest is just icing.

_/\_
hōsai

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. What do you think of when you hear "mind is like a Phantom?"
2. Compare the two translations of "Mind as an abode of mindfulness " and "The ground of mindfulness of the mind ."
3. Write a new Capping Verse

1. we put so much stock into our minds… our thoughts, our distinctions and choices… preferences, and yet when you really try to nail any of it down, when you really try to point to the “you” in “you”, one finds that it is difficult. The “you” are just ideas and thoughts, that change, disappear, and float away quickly sometimes (especially during zazen sometimes). You realize that the “you” isn’t actually there, but only in the mind. And like a phantom, you suddenly disappear. What is left?

2. Mind as an abode of mindfulness Seems to point to fact that we should be mindful of the “small” mind itself, and then we will reflect (see with the big mind) that the small mind is like a phantom… ever changing, morning, disappearing… flitting about here and there… much like a phantom (trust me… I should know! )

The ground of mindfulness of the mind Seems to be an explanation of the basis of mindfulness of the mind. From this “ground”, everything else grows from and draws from in regard to mindfulness of the mind. The basis of this is the mind is no different than a phantom. This points to the very fact that all of the small mind has this at the foundation. Passing, temporary, not physical… not “real” in the aspect that it isn’t a solid “you”. Our minds are always changing… much like the phantoms we chase.

3. Chasing phantoms in the dark
See one there! Turn on the lights!
And find a mirror staring back at you


Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Hosai]

Reflection Prompts:
1. What do you think of when you hear "mind is like a Phantom?"
2. Compare the two translations of "Mind as an abode of mindfulness " and "The ground of mindfulness of the mind ."
3. Write a new Capping Verse

1. we put so much stock into our minds… our thoughts, our distinctions and choices… preferences, and yet when you really try to nail any of it down, when you really try to point to the “you” in “you”, one finds that it is difficult. The “you” are just ideas and thoughts, that change, disappear, and float away quickly sometimes (especially during zazen sometimes). You realize that the “you” isn’t actually there, but only in the mind. And like a phantom, you suddenly disappear. What is left?

2. Mind as an abode of mindfulness Seems to point to fact that we should be mindful of the “small” mind itself, and then we will reflect (see with the big mind) that the small mind is like a phantom… ever changing, morning, disappearing… flitting about here and there… much like a phantom (trust me… I should know! )

The ground of mindfulness of the mind Seems to be an explanation of the basis of mindfulness of the mind. From this “ground”, everything else grows from and draws from in regard to mindfulness of the mind. The basis of this is the mind is no different than a phantom. This points to the very fact that all of the small mind has this at the foundation. Passing, temporary, not physical… not “real” in the aspect that it isn’t a solid “you”. Our minds are always changing… much like the phantoms we chase.

3. Chasing phantoms in the dark
See one there! Turn on the lights!
And find a mirror staring back at you


Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

Whoa... that pic actually made me recoil.... wtf!?

_/\_
sat/ah
hōsai

[Choujou]

Whoa... that pic actually made me recoil.... wtf!?

_/\_
sat/ah
hōsai

From “The Conjuring House”… scared myself pretty good on that one so had to grab a pic of the mirror! I figured it was placed there purposefully

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Furyu]

1. Makes a lot of sense to me. Our thinking mind is ever-present but no different from the other sense organs. Mind comes in contact with the information of sense organs and draws on memory and produces 'stuff' that we react to further - leading to more senses being activated (like emotions) and leading to more thoughts, etc. But in the end all this is not where we reside. (Whatever 'we' is).

(Edit: So, the sense of having a mind as something solid is illusory.)

2. Two sides of no-coin? Mindfulness manifests when mind recedes - It is already there. But Mindfulness seen as dharma is the empty ground that holds everything. (I'm not trying to be cryptic, I hope that makes some sense )

3.
a river swims a mind
when mind stays still
no source, no destination

Gasshō
Fūryū
sat-lah

[Tairin]

What I call mind is an illusion like a phantom. I think it is something real, physical, tangible but in reality it is ephemeral. If there is any doubt just consider the thoughts that preoccupy your mind today right now compared to yesterday. How much different are your thoughts on a “good day” vs “bad day”?


Tairin
sat today and lah