The 54th of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Myo Shin]

[Anchi]

[aprapti]

[Juki]

Juki

[Tosei]

Gassho.

[Shokai]

The 59th of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

Gate Fifty-nine
Read the following, place it in your heart and sleep on it. Then, tomorrow, live it until evening when you can leave a brief comment on what you may have received during the process.

The faculty of effort is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we thoroughly attain many kinds of wisdom.

Effort : exertion of physical or mental power

By “Dharma Gate”, We mean a teaching or practice that can lead to spiritual growth: some kind of positive outcome in terms of our practice. A way to approach the truth.

Koan:
Zen master Hongzhi in his Dharma Hall Discourse ending a summer practice period at Tiantong monastery wrapped up by saying, "Taking a backward step, open your hands in front of the ten thousand foot cliff. Taking a step forward, turn your body on the top of the hundred foot pole. Arisng and perishing, coming and going, in motion and calm, emerging and sinking; right at this time gather up the functional essence of all those many activities. Letting go and grasping are entirely up to myself. Tell me, how is it at just such a time? Those walking in front have not arrived, still lost in the self and those in the rear have already passed it, and require further effort."
The teacher Dogen said: "This is the ancient Buddha Hongzhi's utterance about ending the summer practice period. I also have a small corresponding statement in the same tone. Great assembly, do you want to ear it?"
After a pause Dogen then added: "Although nobody has yet recognized our sweating like horses, we simply need to remind ourselves again and again about all the generations of effort. "

-Dogen's Extensive Record, discourse341, pg.307

effort2.jpg

Whether you think you can

or you think you can't; You're right!

Most note worthy replies :

Through effort

We gain all, just as

Through effort

We lose all.

Sitting in Zazen—

Effortless

But not less effort

合掌 仁道 生開 - gassho, Jindo Shokai
stlah

[aprapti]

[Juki]

Juki

[Tairin]

Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Nengyoku]

At a young age I realized that I should believe only in what I can discern for myself.

But now that I don't have a self, I don't know what to believe!

So I suppose I will just sit here, not believing or disbelieving.

Gassho,
Nengyoku
Sat

[Nengyoku]

[Anchi]

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Shokai]

The 60th of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

Gate Sixty
Read the following, place it in your heart and sleep on it. Then, tomorrow, live it until evening when you can leave a brief comment on what you may have received during the process.

The faculty of mindfulness is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we thoroughly perform many kinds of work.

Mindfulness : keeping aware; heedful: mindful of your actions and duties

By “Dharma Gate”, We mean a teaching or practice that can lead to spiritual growth: some kind of positive outcome in terms of our practice. A way to approach the truth.

Koan: " Master Da'an asked Master Ekai, "This student yearns to understand Buddha. What is it?" Ekai replied, "You are much like one searching for the ox while riding the ox." To which Da'an said, "How is it after understanding?"
Ekai stated, "It is like a person returning home riding the ox."
Da'an replied, "I am not clear. How can I protect and care for it from beginning to end."
Ekai said. "It is like an oxherd holding up a staff to watch that [the ox] does not disturb people's seedlings."
From then on, Da'an grasped the meaning. "

- Dogen's Extensive Record, case 11, pg. 543

ten-ox.png

Most note worthy replies :

Mindfulness of focus on our tasks

Mindfulness of our vows

Mindfulness of the Precepts

Mindfulness of Dharma

Mindfulness of compassion

Mindfulness of gentleness

Mindfulness of kindness...

If I can be mindful of these things

All of my work will be done

And the Buddha will be revealed.

Fully attentive

To what is

Dharma’s work is done

合掌 仁道 生開 - gassho, Jindo Shokai
stlah

[Tairin]

Tairin
Sat today and lah