Gate Fifty-four
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.
Mind as an abode of mindfulness is a gate of Dharma illumination;for [with it] we reflect that mind is like a phantom.
Mind: the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities. Abode: a place in which a person resides
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: "In acient times, someone was up in a high tower and saw two monks walking by.* Two heavenly beings were sweeping the road and scattered flowers behind the monks. When the monks returned, two demons shouted and spit at the monks, and swept away their footfootsteps. The person observing this finally descended from the tower and asked the two monks what had happened. The two monks said, "when we were going we were discussing the principles of buddhas. When we were returning we were engaged in random talk. That is the reason."realizing this deeply, the two monkswere repentant and continued on their way. Listen, although this story concerns [the two monks] coarse realms of consciousness, if we examine it minutely, this is the most important aspect of people's study of the way. Why is that so? It is because when even a bit of sentimental thinking arises, external before us. If such thoughts do not arise, there can be no particular conditions. "
I can only know my own mind if I am in this moment. My mind is right here, right now. Oh, look... there it goes!
合掌 仁道 生開 - gassho, Jindo Shokai
stlah
* this story is recorded in Engo Zenji Shinnyo ( the mind essence of Zen Master Yuanwu), a collection of Yuanwu Keqin's writings.
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.
Mind as an abode of mindfulness is a gate of Dharma illumination;for [with it] we reflect that mind is like a phantom.
Mind: the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities. Abode: a place in which a person resides
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: "In acient times, someone was up in a high tower and saw two monks walking by.* Two heavenly beings were sweeping the road and scattered flowers behind the monks. When the monks returned, two demons shouted and spit at the monks, and swept away their footfootsteps. The person observing this finally descended from the tower and asked the two monks what had happened. The two monks said, "when we were going we were discussing the principles of buddhas. When we were returning we were engaged in random talk. That is the reason."realizing this deeply, the two monkswere repentant and continued on their way. Listen, although this story concerns [the two monks] coarse realms of consciousness, if we examine it minutely, this is the most important aspect of people's study of the way. Why is that so? It is because when even a bit of sentimental thinking arises, external before us. If such thoughts do not arise, there can be no particular conditions. "
- Dogen's Extensive Record; Dharma Hall discourse 388, pg 346
What better abode
Most note worthy replies :
Abiding in no-thought,
An image arises and ceases.
A ripple on a calm lake.
When a thief rests,
When a thief rests,
There's no stealth.
I can only know my own mind if I am in this moment. My mind is right here, right now. Oh, look... there it goes!
Mind is the river
We swim in
But cannot possess
合掌 仁道 生開 - gassho, Jindo Shokai
stlah
* this story is recorded in Engo Zenji Shinnyo ( the mind essence of Zen Master Yuanwu), a collection of Yuanwu Keqin's writings.
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