The sixty-fourth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Sixty-fourth Gate: The Power of Effort

The power of effort* is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we do not regress or stray. (Nishijima/Cross)

The ability to make effort is a gate of realizing dharma; it is not remitting. (Tanahashi)

*[Power of Effort: great or marked ability to make an earnest or strenuous attempt]

Gate Gatha:

May we together with all buddhas
Practice the power of effort
That we may not regress or stray.

Reflection Prompts:
1. How does effort maintain the stability of our Practice?
2. What sustains our effort?
3. Write a new Gate Gatha.

Capping Verse:

Not forward or back
Striving hard
To stay where we are

gassho, Shokai
stlah
合掌,生開
gassho, Shokai

仁道 生開 / Jindo Shokai
"Open to life in a benevolent way"

https://sarushinzendo.wordpress.com/

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[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. How does effort maintain the stability of our Practice?
2. What sustains our effort?
3. Write a new Gate Gatha.

1. Unfortunately, it seems human beings will sometimes find any excuse to NOT exert or push ourselves, and yet that is the very thing that drives us and propels us forward in all we do, including our practice. It is not as easy as it seems to make sure you make time to practice, to study and deepen our understanding of the precepts and the sutras, to make positive changes in our world the best we can… but it all takes a lot of effort! Right effort ensures that we stick to it! We don’t let our small mind thoughts grab ahold and whisk us away from the dharma. It is what wakes you up at 5am to get out of bed, recite morning gathas, walk through dharma gates, and practice.

2. Our love of/for Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and our devotion to the triple jewel.

3. May we together with all buddhas
Continue to walk forward firmly on the path
With no backward glance

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today