Gate 1/108 gates of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

2 Quaint gate.jpg
法明門 / HOMYOMON

[1] Right belief is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] the steadfast mind is not broken.

What does this mean? How does it make you FEEL ?? How is steadfast mind not broken ???

Provide an example from your experience to show how this works in reality.

Enjoy the process; don't be too hard on yourself.

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

[Seikan]

It's so exciting to be practicing with the Dharma Gates again this year. Thank you Shokai for getting us started once again...

For me, Right Belief is simply akin to faith. Even when I may feel like I am lost or headed in the wrong direction, I draw upon my belief in the three treasures (i.e., taking refuge) and know that I'm still on the right path. As such, it helps me keep a steadfast mind as I know that this path, no matter how steep or rocky at times, will not lead me astray.

And the more I practice, the stronger this belief becomes.

Gassho,
Seikan
stlah

[Choujou]

It makes me feel more capable than I think I am… this past year, as I have said many times, has been very difficult for me. But the one thing that kept consistent and strong was my practice and faith in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Despite the seeming chaos that was my life surrounding me, my practice and right belief brought me to the eye of the storm. Peace even amongst the confusion, sadnesss, and uncertainty. When in Buddha mind, we are steadfast… unbreakable… Turning to practice when things seemed hopeless changed my perspective and let go of some of those pesky negative thoughts and emotions. I know that I can always put my trust and faith in Buddha.

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[dorgan]

We are already enlightened. Zazen isn't a practice to become enlightened—it is enlightenment itself. When I sit in meditation, I'm not working toward something in the future; I'm realizing what's already true. I trust this because the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha all point to this truth. Generations of Buddhists have shared their stories affirming this. Each time I sit, my own experience confirms it: this is real, this works. Sitting meditation reveals to me my inherent nature and, in the present moment, ends suffering, not as two separate things, but as one reality. Without complete confidence in the truth of this understanding, it would be easy to give up and abandon practice when faced with the difficulties that life brings. Despite how I may feel before I sit in meditation, I return to zazen and find myself again; the quiet present moment fills me and restores me, and I see my enlightenment again, looking back at me, smiling. I welcome each day with zazen, and steady, dedicated practice is bringing me increasing peace, contentment and awareness. I feel gratitude.

合掌
gassho,
David

[Tegan]

On this dark night of the solstice, it seems like an excellent time to look towards the luminous Dharma Gates.

For me, right belief contributing to a steadfast mind stirs up feelings of confidence and conviction in the path. I feel the truth of the Dharma on and off the cushion, and sometimes think that 'belief' does not seem like a strong enough word.

Gassho,
Tegan
satlah

[Junsho]

I wrote a little explanation below based on my current understanding.

-----

The belief in Zen is not conditioned by faith. Instead, it arises from directly experiencing reality as it is. This experience occurs right here and now; there is nothing outside of this moment.

This moment embodies Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha all at once. It represents the entire reality itself and everything we can and cannot perceive.

As Master Dogen states in his chapter called Genjokoan:

“To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind, as well as the bodies and minds of others, drop away. No trace of enlightenment remains, and this no-trace continues endlessly.”

This is the right belief, and following it is to stand at the gate of Dharma illumination.

When the right belief is present, all of the Eightfold Path is present as well. When the entire Eightfold Path exists, it leads to the right belief, which becomes the gateway to Dharma illumination; for, with it, the steadfast mind is not broken.

Gassho and deep bows,
SatLah

[FlowingPastPatrick]

For me, right belief isn’t something I hold. It’s more like not fixing a position at all. When situations press in, the mind may be unsettled, but there’s nothing solid there to be damaged. Things function, then pass.

Gassho,
Patrick
SaT LaH

[Choujou]

I wrote a little explanation below based on my current understanding.

-----

The belief in Zen is not conditioned by faith. Instead, it arises from directly experiencing reality as it is. This experience occurs right here and now; there is nothing outside of this moment.

This moment embodies Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha all at once. It represents the entire reality itself and everything we can and cannot perceive.

As Master Dogen states in his chapter called Genjokoan:

“To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind, as well as the bodies and minds of others, drop away. No trace of enlightenment remains, and this no-trace continues endlessly.”

This is the right belief, and following it is to stand at the gate of Dharma illumination.

When the right belief is present, all of the Eightfold Path is present as well. When the entire Eightfold Path exists, it leads to the right belief, which becomes the gateway to Dharma illumination; for, with it, the steadfast mind is not broken.

Gassho and deep bows,
SatLah

Hi Junsho,
This is very true, our belief rises from direct experience… absolutely fantastic explanation my friend! I was curious; are there times where right belief helps you in day to day life? What challenges you? When you are challenged, how do you feel right belief helps you during those times? Does it bring you joy, comfort? What feelings arise when you think of right belief?

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Seikan]

I know we're sticking to the Nishijima/Cross translation of the Gates for consistency, but it's worth noting how translation can have an effect on how we interpret these for ourselves.

For example, in the Tanahashi translation, the first Gate is translated as "Right Trust", and in the newer Soto Zen Text Project translation, it is rendered as "Correct Faith". Those three words, Belief, Trust, and Faith, can have very different connotations for many of us. I only mention this as optional food for thought. I promise not to do this for each of the Gates going forward.

Gassho,
Seikan
stlah

[Junsho]

My dear friend Choujou ,

The right belief can also be interpreted as the right view, and as I mentioned before, in the way I understand it at this moment, it is related to every practice of the 8-fold path.

This means that following the 8-fold path makes our lives brighter and more fulfilling. So, to answer your question, the right belief and practice help me perceive reality more clearly and see through the turmoil.

Certain feelings and nuances can be perceived very clearly when practiced diligently. You know that inner voice that sometimes appears, asking for attention to feed the 3 poisons? Our ego, saying we are better than everyone else, even though we are interconnected in the web of existence? That’s what I’m talking about.

When one walks in accordance with the right belief, one can perceive these poisons with clarity, like pristine water, and with compassion, work to diminish the power of these illusory conditions. Living according to the right belief means living in calm and contentment, practicing day after day. The practice is not separate from life itself, and life itself is not separate from the practice.

I hope that I was able to answering your question with my current understanding.

Gassho and deep bows,
SatLah

[Hosui]

Greetings fellow travellers. I'm glad to have reached this first gate with you all.

In terms of ‘meaning’ along Seikan’s Belief/Trust/Faith lines — for me right belief is my BTF that both the Ladybird I watched crawling along this laptop’s power cable just now, and myself are one-and-the-same. Beat that, Kafka!

In terms of ‘feeling’ —pure joy!

In terms of ‘unbreakability’ —there’s nothing to break.

Gassho
Hosui
sat/lah

[Tai Do]

It's great to practice the 108 Gates again with you all. When I think of right belief, I think of the Four Noble Truths. In my life, I can see the truths of suffering, origin of suffering, cessation of suffering and the Eightfold Path in many ways. But one instance that particularly relates to right belief happened when I was particularly angry and didn't know why. So, instead of feeding the angry thoughts, I remembered the Four Noble Truths, and saw the suffering in me, saw the anger that was both cause and caused by that suffering, returned to the mirror mind of zazen for the cessation of the suffering, and decided to act in line with the Eightfold Path; so, in that moment, the anger subsided, the suffering cause by it also subsided and I experienced the unity of practice and realization.
Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah

[Tairin]

Thank you again Shokai for leading us through the Gates.

First I am purposely not reading others posts before posting

Belief often defies logic, defies reason, and defies rational thought. It is a faith that what is believed is true and right despite (or perhaps in spite of) evidence to the contrary. People hold many beliefs that define and centre them. In the case of this Practice, Right Belief is a trust that this Path is the right path for ourselves to follow. The right way to live our lives.


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Shokai]

This is wonderful. Thank you all for your Good thoughts and efforts, It's looking to be a great session with the gates. and, in answer to Seikan's

I promise not to do this for each of the Gates going forward.

Why not, it's good to do a little comparison once in a while. Take a look back at the archived posts. I learn so much from them.
gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Shokai]

Tairin and Tai Do, It's great to have you back. And thanks to everyone else as well !!

Gassho, Shokai