The Fourth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

4) The Fourth Gate: Love and Cheerfulness/Love of Enjoyment

Love and Cheerfulness is a gate of Dharma illumination; for they make the mind pure. (Nishijima/Cross)
Love of Enjoyment is a gate of realizing dharma; it keeps the heart pure.(Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas
Realize the true nature of love, cheerfulness and enjoyment
That our heart/minds may be cleansed. (Pure)

Reflection Prompts:
Does "Cheerfulness” differ from “Love of Enjoyment”?
How does love purify the heart/mind?
Why is it important to have a pure heart/mind?

Capping Verse:

No storm clouds in sight
But if so
They are welcome too

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Shokai, for bringing us the Fourth Gate.

Does "Cheerfulness” differ from “Love of Enjoyment”?

I think "cheerfulness" means more in the line of enjoying the love we fill for all sentient beings, while "love of enjoyment" is more of a great liking of the enjoyment of sharing the world with all sentient beings.

How does love purify the heart/mind?

I like to see love as expressed in the four brahmaviharas, so it is expressed as loving-kindness (metta), compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity in our heart/mind. The mind is them purified of the poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance.

Why is it important to have a pure heart/mind?

It is important to have a purified mind - a mind away from greed, anger, and ignorance - in order to fulfill our bodhisattva vows and save all sentient beings.

Gassho,
Mateus
Satlah

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

Does "Cheerfulness” differ from “Love of Enjoyment”?

Yes and no. There are just some people for whom cheerfulness whose natural state of being. They also seem capable of finding enjoyment from everything. Yet there are others who can grasp enjoyment even if it is more fleeting.

How does love purify the heart/mind?
Why is it important to have a pure heart/mind?

The act of loving most often extends the self out to others. By extending love out to others we purify the heart/mind by eliminating our own divisive thinking


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[aprapti]

aprapti


sat

[Nengei]

When my heart-mind is filled with love, there is no room for greed, anger, or ignorance. Cultivating love or is challenging! And remembering to turn in that direction when anger or ignorance begins to slip in is even harder!

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

[Shokai]

Beautiful, I am just so inspired my your responses. I can see it's going to be more motivating this time.

thank you
gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Onsho]

In my experience cheerfulness is moderated within myself, it’s my ability to feel joy in my situation. Love of enjoyment is a my vicarious sense of happiness I get through other people. Both delightfully intoxicating.

Gassho
Keith
Satlah

[Anchi]