The Sixty-ninth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Sixty-ninth Gate: Examination of Dharma

Examination* of Dharma, as a part of the state of truth, is a gate of Dharma illumination; for it illuminates all dharmas. (Nishijima/Cross)
Branches of awakening with dharma are a gate of realizing dharma; they illuminate all things. (Tanahashi)

* [Examination: the act of examining; inspection; inquiry; investigation.]

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Closely examine the Dharma, as a part of the state of truth,
That we may illuminate all dharmas.

Reflection Prompts:

1. How does Examination illuminate the dharmas?
2. Write a new Gate Gatha.
3. Do you feel the Capping Verse aptly captures the essence of this Gate?

Capping Verse:

Truth exists right here
Stop looking
And begin seeing

stlah
合掌,生開
gassho, Shokai
stlah
仁道 生開 / Jindo Shokai
"Open to life in a benevolent way"

https://sarushinzendo.wordpress.com/

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:

1. How does Examination illuminate the dharmas?
2. Write a new Gate Gatha.
3. Do you feel the Capping Verse aptly captures the essence of this Gate?

1. I feel that examination of the Dharma will illuminate the subtleties found within. Things that may not be as easily understood or seen at first will become clearer. It also ensures that one fully explores and understands as much of the fullness of the Dharma as one can. It is also good to explore others commentary of the dharma as they also provide a look from a different perspective, which can also illuminate things one did not realize from one’s own point of view.

2. May we, together with all buddhas;
Examine and know all awakened, branching streams
and realize the depths of the river of the Dharma

3. Yes and no. Taken at face value, it essentially is saying to stop examining and see that the truth exists right here now, which is true! But are you sure that you know the fullness of the Dharma right here, right now? Have you listened to every brook and stream? Not that one needs to hear it all, but unless one has achieved anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, then there may be more examination to do… and yet, I also agree that the truth exists right here now, in this moment, and that all can be realized in an instant!

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Tairin]

How does Examination illuminate the dharmas?

This Gate follows from the last gate regarding mindfulness. Attention through mindfulness is key but after that is experiencing the Dharmas. Working with them. Examining them for oneself.


Tairin
sat today and lah