The Eighth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

8) The Eighth Gate: Mindfulness of Buddha

Mindfulness of the Buddha is a gate of Dharma illumination; for (with it) reflection of(the state of ) Buddha is pure. (Nishijima/Cross)

Mindfulness of the buddha is a gate of realizing dharma; it visualizes the buddha in purity. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas
Actualize mindfulness;
That our reflection on the Buddha may be
Complete, Sincere and without Defilement. (Pure)

Reflection Prompts:

1. In what way does purity make our reflection of Buddha complete?

2. How do you suppose mindfulness removes defilement?

3. Why is it necessary to visualize Buddha to obtain pure reflection?

Capping Verse:

The moon reflected
In water
Is no less a moon

[Nengyoku]

Does purity make our reflection of Buddha complete?
Or is it our buddha-nature which makes us pure?

Much to not-think about.

Gassho,
Nengyoku
SatLah

[aprapti]

aprapti


sat

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai.

I think being mindful can help remove defilements because by being mindful of our thoughts, words, and actions we can hopeful catch ourselves before we thought, said, or acted in a harmful way.

As for visualizing Buddha… what would I visualize? It’s all Buddha. I am not one for encapsulating Buddha in a little statue.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Tai Do]

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

1. In what way does purity make our reflection of Buddha complete?

When the mind is not occupied with the Self and it’s defilements, Buddha’s reflection is all that remains.

2. How do you suppose mindfulness removes defilement?

I think that it removes defilements by removing the Self and self-centered thoughts.

3. Why is it necessary to visualize Buddha to obtain pure reflection?

I don’t think visualizing the Buddha means necessarily the visualization techniques of meditation, but the embodiment of Buddha (all of Reality) in our mind and body by dropping them away. I think for us to visualiza the Buddha means to sit Shikantaza Zazen and observe the Precepts. They bring the Buddha image to the pure mirror mind that is no different than the Buddha him/her/itself.

Gassho,
Mateus
Satlah

[Guest]

. In what way does purity make our reflection of Buddha complete?

2. How do you suppose mindfulness removes defilement?

3. Why is it necessary to visualize Buddha to obtain pure reflection?

When one not pulled around by desires of eyes, ears, nose, tongue body, and mind, then just like this is Buddha. When we are mindful, we are re-mindful. We recognize that we have moved away from the fullness of this moment by some need for this moment to be different. When we visualize the Buddha we are practicing re-mindfulness...we come back to our true nature that is just as it is without need for something different than the completeness of this moment.

Bill (Daiman)
Sat Today

[Shokai]