The Eighteenth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

18) The Eighteenth Gate: Reflection on inconstancy.

Reflection on inconstancy is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we reflect upon the desires of the triple world.* (Nishijima/Cross)

Visualizing impermanence is a gate of realizing Dharma; it illustrates the desires of the three realms*. (Tanahashi)

*The realms of the five components, living beings, and the environment.
The 'triple world' of saṃsāra or rebirth. Buddhist cosmology adopts an ancient Āryan conception of the world having three strata or layers and names these as the Desire Realm (earth - kāma-loka), the Form Realm ( atmosphere - rūpa-loka), and the Formless Realm (sky - ārūpya-loka).

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Reflect of the efficacy of constancy,
That we may dispel worldly desires.

Reflection Prompts:

1. Comment on the relationship of Inconsistancy and Impermanemce.

2. How do either cause reflection on the desires of the three worlds?

3. Can you see the relationship of desire, form and formless?

Capping Verse:

Leaf upon the wind
So pretty
But where will it land?

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[aprapti]

aprapti


sat

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Shokai, for bringing us the Eighteenth Gate!

1. Comment on the relationship of Inconsistancy and Impermanemce.

Inconstancy seems to presuppose an intention that is always changing; while impermanence is the very fact of the constant change.

2. How do either cause reflection on the desires of the three worlds?

When we disregard impermanence/inconstancy, we tend to cling to the object of our desires as if they were permanent or constant. Reflecting on the impermanence, we can let go of our childish tendency to cling to them. The three worlds here I take as a poetical way of referring to the whole universe.

3. Can you see the relationship of desire, form and formless?

I see the desire real when we distort reality in our mind to fit our desires and attachments; the form I see as the Relative reality as it is perceived by us when we let go of the attachments and clinging; the formless I see as the Absolute Reality of oneness.

Gassho,
Mateus
Satlah

[Shokai]

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai.

Whenever I am faced with impermanence I remind myself of this quote attributed to Heraclitus

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”

Beautiful!

Leaf upon the wind
So pretty
But where will it land?

Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Tokan]

1. Comment on the relationship of Inconsistancy and Impermanemce.

2. How do either cause reflection on the desires of the three worlds?

3. Can you see the relationship of desire, form and formless?


The first two Noble Truths affirm that the questions to ponder (above) give rise to dukkha.

Dukkha in all three directions.

Tokan, gassho'ing in three directions, satlah

[Shokai]

The first two Noble Truths affirm that the questions to ponder give rise to dukkha.

LOL, I love it

gassho, Shokai
stlah