The Second of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

2) The Second Gate: Pure Mind/Heart

Pure mind is a gate of Dharma Illumination for (with it) there is no defilement. (Nishijima/Cross)

Pure heart is a gate of realizing dharma; it is not defiled. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Clarify our thoughts,
That our hearts may become free of defilement.

Reflection Prompts:

What do you think of when you think of “defilements”?

What sort of defilements might be present in your mind/heart at this very moment?

Why do you suppose heart and mind are referred to as one ?

Capping Verse:

Sky of purest blue
Nothing sticks
Not even the blue

Gassho, Shokai
stlah

[aprapti]

aprapti


sat

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Shokai, for the Dharma Gates and today's sitting (sorry if I didn't turn on my camera, I was sitting the Zazenkai in the recording together with sitting with you - hope it is OK to do it, if not, I'm sorry and won't do it again).

What do you think of when you think of “defilements”?

To me the defilements are the three poisons of greed, anger and ignorance, together with other unskillful and unhealthy mental states, like lazyness, attachment to goals and results, not thinking of others' well-being and the like, not being able to control egoistic desires.

What sort of defilements might be present in your mind/heart at this very moment?

I'm not free right now of greed, anger and ignorance, as well as a little laziness.

Why do you suppose heart and mind are referred to as one?

I think the thinking (mind) and the feeling (heart) part of us are not two, not separated.

Gassho,
Mateus
Satlah

[Guest]

What do you think of when you think of “defilements”?

When I think of defilements, I see this as anything that shifts my intention to practice wholeheartedly away from practice and on to something fueled by greed, anger, and ignorance. When intention is consumed with these things, I cannot practice wholeheartedly. However, the moment I recognize that my intention has moved away, then I come immediately back to this present moment as it is, which is why I find practice so important and vital.

What sort of defilements might be present in your mind/heart at this very moment?

At this very moment, I see that reading the 108 Gates and coming here to post this comment as part of my practice and keeping me on track. However, it is not "my" practice. It belongs to all sentient beings. That can be a defilement thinking this practice is for me. Right now typing types typing, that is all.

Why do you suppose heart and mind are referred to as one ?

It is interesting because when children in the west are asked where their mind is, they point to their heads. When children from the east are asked where their mind is, they point to their stomach. Hear/Mind. There is no separation. Neuroscience now understands that we have a second brain located in our gut, the vagal pathway connects the brain to the gut, so we do have a heart/mind. I see it as heart mind in this context because our intention (mind/spirit) and our actual activities and what drives us (heart) must be aligned in order for us to actualize practice. If heart and mind are separated, we can get pulled in many different directions feeding greed, anger and ignorance. I often ask myself, "why am I doing what I am doing?" If it is only for me and not for the benefit of all beings, that is probably good evidence that my heart/mind are/is not in the right place.

Gassho,

Bill (Daiman)
Sat Today

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai. Like Mateus, when I think of defilements I think of the three poisons: greed, anger, and ignorance/delusion.

Each night after I climb into bed I recite the Verse of Atonement and consider how each of these may have manifested itself through my day. It is pretty easy to identify something I said or did. It isn’t an act of self-immoliation but a legitimate attempt to reflect on my past day and look for opportunities to do better.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Onsho]

What I find the most thought provoking about this isn't the three hindrances but the idea of defilement. Defilement, unclean, disorganised doesn't exist in the world but is a construct we have assigned in our self's. This reminds me to see things how they really are.

gassho
keith
satlah

[Anchi]

[Nengei]

Defilements are anything that shift my existence away from the Precepts and the way of being I try to dwell in. Distractions tend to be a source of greed, anger, and ignorance. Distractions are a main defilement for me, but I think even what we might call a defilement can be made not a defilement, if I recognize and awaken to what it truly is. Heart, mind, body, and all around us is one; Dogen usually referred to heart-mind, noting in Kenzo Tyokan if our heart-mind is dwelling in an ideal place, thinking about practice is not needed. We're just there.

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat today. LAH.