The Sixteenth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

16) The Sixteenth Gate: Joy

Joy is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we abandon all unpleasant things.(Nishijima/Cross)

Joy is a gate of realizing Dharma; it keeps you from all joyless matters. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all beings
Practice Joy ( i.e. delight and happiness )
That we may be free of all unpleasant things.

Reflection Prompts:

1. Is this not just positive thinking?

2. Do we purposely avoid unpleasant things or being joyful a practice?

3 How true do you feel the capping verse to be ?

Capping Verse:
A mind full of joy
Still has room
For everything else


gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Tai Do]

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

1. Is this not just positive thinking?

To me, joy doesn't necessarily involve thinking, but a calm and happy feeling together with the absence of sadness and anger. It can involve positive thinking, but it is not necessary.

2. Do we purposely avoid unpleasant things or being joyful a practice?

I think joy does not involve avoidance of unpleasant things. We can experience unpleasant things joyfully if we don't cling to them so that we become sad and/or angry with life. In this sense, being joyful is a mindful practice, because we have to remind ourselves constantly of not clinging to things so that the unpleasant events lead us to joylessness.

3 How true do you feel the capping verse to be?

It is very true. When we are joyful, we are open to Reality, to all things, without that feeling of separation that brings sadness.

Gassho,
Mateus
Satlah

[aprapti]

A mind full of joy
Still has room
For everything else

aprapti


sat

[Shokai]

[Shokai]

we have to remind ourselves constantly of not clinging to things so that the unpleasant events lead us to joylessness.

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

I think the capping verse pretty much answers the three reflection questions.

Studies have shown that positive thinking can be very beneficial.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Tokan]

May we, together with all beings
Practice Joy ( i.e. delight and happiness )
That we may be free of all unpleasant things.

1. Is this not just positive thinking?

Thankyou

Do we have an alternative? Is not 'joy' our path?
We don't have to be joyful about every life experience, that would be a nonsense, but there are many times I feel I could choose joy over another, less helpful, emotion.

Gassho, Tokan

SatLah

[Chikyou]

Capping Verse:
A mind full of joy
Still has room
For everything else

To me this means to have a sense of peace and contentment with reality, whatever reality happens to be at the moment. (I will admit to feeling a sense of annoyance when those around me refuse to recognize reality in favor of "positive thinking".)

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Shokai]

to be joyful about every life experience, that would be a nonsense