The Second of the 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

Gate Two
Once again, This time around we will review the Gates by reading the following, placing it in your heart and sleeping on it. Then, tomorrow, live and practice it until evening when you leave a brief comment as to how it affected you.

Pure mind is a gate of Dharma-illumination; for [with it] there is no defilement.

By “Dharma Gate”, we mean a teaching or practice we can study and explore to gain insights that deepen our practice. It's a way to integrate our understanding of approaching reality;
one method is to research and study koans such as:


"A monk asked Master Joshu. What was Master Bodhidharma's intention in coming from India in the west to China?
Master Joshu said: Cedar trees in the garden.
The monk said : Master, don't teach me with objective things. Master Joshu said: I am not teachng you with objective things. The monk said : What was Master Bodhidharma's intention in coming from India in the west to China? Master Joshu said: Cedar trees in the garden. "
-Master Dogen's Shinji Shobogenzo / Nishijima 2-19


Can you relate this to Gate #2 (hint: see fascile 35 Hakujushi [The Cedar Tree])

One poetic response to this question was:

Unable to free myself from defilement

Makes me concerned

That I will never find pure mind.

Gassho, Shokai

[Tairin]

Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Nengyoku]

[Anchi]

[aprapti]

[Dogukan]

I know my mind is pure. My mind doesn't know yet that it is pure. The cedar trees in the garden have nothing to purify.

Doğukan.
Sat.

[Zenkon]

Perhaps - What is the intention of the cedar trees in the garden? What is their goal? Their purpose? Perhaps, they just "are". Similarly, Master Bodhidharma's coming from India in the west to China just "is". Perhaps?

Gassho

Dick

sat/lah

[Nengyoku]

The sky is already empty, Bodhidharma has already come from the West. The mind is already pure.
Do not ascribe meaning where there is only Buddha Nature.

Gassho,
William
SatLah

[Risho]

I vow with all sentient beings,
To wholeheartedly polish the mirror,
which is always shining brightly,
and can never be defiled



Risho
-stlah