The Eighty-fifth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Eighty-fifth Gate: Right Belief

Right belief is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we attain the supreme Dharma. (Nishijima/Cross)
Right trust is a gate of realizing dharma; it leads to attaining the most excellent dharma. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Actualize Right Belief
That we may attain the supreme Dharma

Reflection Prompts:
1. How does Right Belief / Trust lead to attaining the most excellent? dharma?
2. Explain the difference between belief and trust.
3. Write a new Gate Gatha.

Capping Verse:

We know we have feet
Yet we walk
Because we believe

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

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. How does Right Belief / Trust lead to attaining the most excellent? dharma?
2. Explain the difference between belief and trust.
3. Write a new Gate Gatha.

1. Because we are only shown the way… one doesn’t have to believe or trust and can go off and do something else… but if your belief and trust is RIGHT, then towards the truth you will head. It is a leap of faith that in the end leads you to the most excellent Dharma, because there is no other way.

2. To believe is to acknowledge the truth about something you have no proof of. Trust is faith that what you believe is true, wholeheartedly, and you search for the proof yourself.

3. May we, together with all buddhas;
Realize the Supreme Dharma
through belief and trust in our practice

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Tairin]

It feel like we did a similar Gate a few weeks back.

We trust and believe in this Practice and follow this Path. We trust and believe in the value.


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Furyu]

It feel like we did a similar Gate a few weeks back.

Yes, some of the gates do seem very similar.

I think belief is founded on trust, but it includes a leap that is beyond rational thought - the point where we accept something as true and act on it. Trust acknowledges a possibility until experience clarifies whether our trust was founded. However, I think that 'belief' can also imply grasping at something that may not be real. Trust allows the flexibility to change our view. From the perspective of practice, they are just different mindsets. One approach to practice is to unreservedly give oneself over to the teachings and the other is to do so by suspending judgment. However, ultimately, understanding the teaching and actualizing Dharma is beyond both. Hope that made sense. I realize I am being nitpicky today, which I criticized a few posts ago ! Just some musings...


Furyu
satlah