The Tenth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

10) The Tenth Gate: Mindfulness of Sangha

Mindfulness of Sangha is a gate of Dharma illumination;
for [with it] attainment of the truth is steadfast. (Nishijima/Cross)

Mindfulness of Sangha is a gate of realizing Dharma; it makes attaining the way sustained. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all beings
Realize the skill of mindfulness;
That with our brothers and sisters,
We can harmoniously reach the truth.

Reflection Prompts:
1. If you see yourself as not separate from others, how might this affect your practice?
2. In what way does Sangha guarantee attainment of the way?
3. Do you think there is a difference between steadfast truth and attainment of the way?

Capping Verse:

I can say nothing
As profound
As greeting a friend

gassho, Shokai
Stlah

[aprapti]

aprapti


sat

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Shokai, for bringing us the Tenth Gate of Dharma Illumination.

1. If you see yourself as not separate from others, how might this affect your practice?

When we see ourselves and others as not separate, our practice is not an individual and egoic one, we sit with all our Sangha brothers and sister, all of humanity and all sentient beings in the universe. We are not worried about our individual salvation, but the salvation of all sentient beings from the poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance. In other words, we are Bodhisattvas.

2. In what way does Sangha guarantee attainment of the way?

In keeping our practice as one of loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity, instead of a mere means to personal well-being. Friendship in practice is not a mere means to walk the Way, it is the very Way itself.

3. Do you think there is a difference between steadfast truth and attainment of the way?

Steadfast truth and attainment of the way are two different ways to express the same inexpressible reality that lies beyond words and concepts.

Gassho,
Mateus
Satlah

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

I know for certain that the Treeleaf Sangha helps support my practice. I am inspired by all of you daily and very thankful to have this place.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Guest]

In the Three Refuge chant, we say, "I take refuge in Sangha, may all beings support harmony in the community free from all hindrance."

This practice is difficult to do on your own. We need the support of others. Supporting harmony is so that we all work together. It sounds nice, but it is challenging and we have to put aside our likes and dislikes in order to harmonize with others.

If you see yourself as not separate from others, how might this affect your practice?
2. In what way does Sangha guarantee attainment of the way?
3. Do you think there is a difference between steadfast truth and attainment of the way?

When I see myself as not separate from others, then the truth appears. We are not separate, we are of one reality. Yet, I am not you and you are not me. We each have our place in the functional world, knowing we are not separate yet each keeps its own place we support harmony in the community.

I would not say that sangha "guarantees" attainment of the way, because I have been in sanghas where the way was not always in the interest of the collective whole but of a few choice people. However, when a sangha works in harmony with a clear intention for the benefit of all beings then from the Mahayana perspective, sangha is the only way to attain the way because we all realize the way together. It is not some solo self improvement project.

I do not think there is a difference between steadfast truth and attainment of the way. When we are steadfast in our practice, meaning that we are constantly coming back to this moment as it is, and all that is manifesting right now in this moment, and not based on our own ideas and opinions, then we wake up to what is right here - right now, then the truth appears just like this.

Gassho,

Bill (Daiman)

Sat Today

[Shokai]