The Eighty-ninth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Eighty-ninth Gate; The forbearance pāramitā

The forbearance pāramitā is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we abandon all anger, arrogance, flattery, and foolery, and we teach and guide living beings who have such vices. (Nishijima/Cross)
The realization of patience is a gate of realizing dharma; it lets go of all anger, pride, flattery, and amusement, and guides sentient beings who are filled with such emotions. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Practice the Patience Paramita
That we may be a light unto all beings

Reflection Prompts:
1. Comment on how Patience leads to guiding beings who have frivilous behaviours.
2 Expand on the Gate gatha.
3. Write a new Capping Verse.

Capping Verse:

Unswayed by rough seas
Dharma's ship
Can safely carry all

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

[Tairin]

Comment on how Patience leads to guiding beings who have frivolous behaviours.

This probably sounds demeaning or condescending, but I view patience in this instance as being like a parent. Anyone who has been a parent will know that there is an incredible amount of patience that is required. I once saw a sign that read "Parenting is not for cowards" which is so true. Anyway, any parent will know that one can't react immediately to every situation. There is some patience involved in watching the child fail, stumble, fall, try this, try that, push boundaries. Part of this is actually teaching patience itself. Part of this is waiting for the right moment to step in. Step in too early or too late and the opportunity to "guide" might be lost.


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompts:
1. Comment on how Patience leads to guiding beings who have frivilous behaviours.
2 Expand on the Gate gatha.
3. Write a new Capping Verse.

1. when one practices patience… and not just the patience that the word conveys, but the STILLNESS that we find in Zazen… THAT patience… where we can sit and look at what is happening around us without distinction or judgement… we come to see the frivolous nature of many behaviors that people get themselves caught up in through their attachments to delusion. As we drop away these behaviors and adopt new helpful and healthful ways, we not only can discuss this with others, but also teach through example, as an embodiment of Buddha..

2. May we, together with all buddhas;
Practice the Patience Paramita- embodying the stillness of Buddha
That we may be a light unto all beings-helping them to drop frivolous behaviors
And seeing the light within that was always there.

3. Still pond
Reflects the moon
And the party at the shore

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today