The Eighty-fourth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Eighty-fourth Gate: Reliance

Reliance is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we do not incline toward Small Vehicles. (Nishijima/Cross)
Dependence [on enlightenment] is a gate of realizing dharma; it keeps you from desiring the Lesser Vehicles. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Be reliant in our practice
That we may not be misled from the way.

Reflection Prompts:
1. Would you agree that Reliance leads one away from Lesser
Vehicles?
2. If so, How does it achieve this?
3. Write a new Capping verse.


Capping Verse:

Trusting the Dharma
This small self
Grows a bit larger.

合掌,生開
gassho, Shokai
stlah
仁道 生開 / Jindo Shokai

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. Would you agree that Reliance leads one away from Lesser
Vehicles?
2. If so, How does it achieve this?
3. Write a new Capping verse.

1. Reliance on the Dharma, yes. No need for anything more… or less.

2. truth is truth… no need for anything superfluous to it.

3. Faith in the Dharma
Nothing more or less
Than the truth.

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Furyu]

I'm not so sure about the meaning of this gate. I think it means something like "relying on the teachings keeps one from a misleading path" (?)
Assuming we can depend on the teachings, they aim to keep us on a meaningful path.

relying on teachings
a clear mind meets a clear sky
nothing else needed


Furyu
sat-lah

[Tairin]

Not too sure I understand this Gate. I guess I interpret “dependence” and “reliance “ as “aspiration “. We aspire to follow this Path and stay the course.


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Shokai]

Reliance on a Gate / trusting or having faith that will get us to the "right" place ?
Whereas, dependance on a gate is a gamble that the gate will help mitigate a desire.
Both cases very similar, Do you use the gate with a goal in mind or do you use it as a starting point.
I read a Zen story recently about a monk giving a description of watching a snow flake melt. He broke the process down into so many steps that one has to wonder at the speed at which the moments were arising and passing wouldn't give you much time to figure whether you were trusting, having faith or depending let alone observing the phenomenons. Words; describe to me the taste experience of vanilla ice cream.