The Sixty-first of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Sixty-first Gate: The Faculty of Balance

The faculty of balance* is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] the mind is pure. (Nishijima/Cross)
The root of samadhi** is a gate of realizing dharma; it keeps the mind pure. (Tanahashi)

* [Balance: mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment]
**[Samadhi: The highest stage in Meditation, in which one experiences oneness with the universe]

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Develop balance in ourPractice,
That our minds may be pure.

Reflection Prompts:
1. Compare the root of samadhi with the faculty of balance.
2. How do these lead to a pure mind?
3. Write a new Gate Gatha.

Capping Verse:

Steady and stable
A clear mind
Stays out of the mud

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Tairin]

I tend to prefer the term equanimity. Meeting each moment just as it is rather than applying the labels “good” or “bad”. Easier said than done When faced with “good” or “bad” moments I try to pause and remember that ultimately this is all just the universe universing


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Shokai]

The subtle source is clear and bright,
the tributary stream flows through the darkness.
To be attached to things is illusion,
to encounter the absolute is not yet enlightenment.

The meaning is not in the words,
yet it responds to the inquiring impulse.
Move and you are trapped;
miss and you fall into doubt and vacillation.
Turning away and touching are both wrong,
for it is like a massive fire.

If you wish to see the truth, then hold no opinions for, or against, anything.
To set up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind.
When the deep meaning of things is not understood,
the mind's essential peace is disturbed to no avail.

What are the sources??

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. Compare the root of samadhi with the faculty of balance.
2. How do these lead to a pure mind?
3. Write a new Gate Gatha.

1. I like what Tairin said about equanimity, and essentially I think that is what is meant here. To be equanimous with all things, otherwise, no samadhi. As soon as we make a choice, a distinction, a preference, we’ve lost it.

2. Considering that if one attains Samadhi and is equanimous, you are neither pure nor impure, neither waxing, nor waning…

3. May we, together with all buddhas;
Be equanimous and balanced in mind
Firmly rooted in Samadhi

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today