The Twenty-third of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

23) The Twenty-third Gate: Humility.

Humility is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] eternal malevolence vanishes.(Nishijima/Cross)

Shame is a gate of realizing Dharma; it destroys outer unwholesomeness. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Be mindful in our practice of humility,
That we may see an end to all ill will.

Reflection Prompts:

1. What is the difference between humility and shame?

2. What is the difference between eternal malevolence and outer unwholesomeness?

3. Can this comparison resolve the phrase 'an end to all ill will?'

Capping Verse:

Placing others first
How could we
Ever wish them harm?

gassho,Shokai
stlah

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

From Wikipedia Roshi “Outside of a religious context, humility is defined as being "unselved", a liberation from consciousness of self”.

To me shame has much more negative connotations that humility.

Malevolence typically means malice or hostility both of which are unwholesome but unwholesome encompasses more negative states than just violence. Greed, jealousy, lying etc would be unwholesome.

Going back to the definition of humility as “unselved”. How can we sustain ill will if there is no separation between self and other?


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[aprapti]

aprapti


sat

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Shokai, for bringing us the Twenty-third Gate.

1. What is the difference between humility and shame?

I agree with Tairin that humility has a positive connotation while shame has a negative one. I think we can be humble without experiencing shame; and the reverse seems to be true also. To me, shame only appears when we become aware of doing something bad, wrong or embarrassing.

2. What is the difference between eternal malevolence and outer unwholesomeness?

Eternal malevolence seems a very strong wording, for apparently denies impermanence; but I think Nishijima Roshi here is referring to the idea of a begininless malevolence (like the begininless greed, anger and ignorance that we chant in the Verse of Atonement), meaning something that is deeply rooted within ourselves as the origin of our acts, words and thoughts. Outer unwholesomeness seems some more external root for our harmful deeds.

3. Can this comparison resolve the phrase 'an end to all ill will?

I think that it can, as far as we understand that humility can be place deep inside ourselves, purifying our egoic intentions, and externally, in our acts, words and thoughts, making them altruistic.

Gassho,
Mateus
Satlah

[Shokai]

How can we sustain ill will if there is no separation between self and other?

Good point

gassho, Shokai
stlah