The Twenty-fifth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

25) The Twenty-fifth Gate: Truth.

Truth is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we do not deceive ourselves.(Nishijima/Cross)

Truthfulness is a gate of realizing Dharma; it does not deceive you. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all beings;
Realize the actual state of reality,
That we may not deceive ourselves.

Reflection Prompts:

1. How does a non-truth deceive us?

2. Is it important that we recognize the truth?

3. care to try another capping verse? third time is a charm

Capping Verse:

Honesty and truth
Light the way
To authentic life

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Tokan]

Gassho to all

Truth is a tricky one in my book. My truth can differ from your truth, and both can differ from The Truth (whatever that may be). Dodging the metaphysical entanglements and considering truth as a practice - and I like to make that distinction - that truth is a 'verb' rather than a noun, it becomes much clearer and as ordinary as drawing breath. I breathe in truthfulness, and breathe out truthfulness. Buddhism seems to be full of what I would call 'circular' truths, such as the Eightfold Path, of which each part is a truth to itself and to each of the other parts of the path, making one whole truth, which gives way to simply being (as in letting go of letting go). In my eyes, living truthfully simply means living in accord with this 'way', and enables one to walk lightly in this world, cutting through delusion at best, and not adding to the 'soup' of delusion at least.

Being is truth
Truth is being
the circle unbroken

Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[aprapti]

aprapti


sat

[Shokai]

Being is truth
Truth is being
the circle unbroken

gassho, Shokai

[Veronica]

Capping verse:

Untruth claims "I will hide the darkness",
But does not reveal,
That it also blocks light.

Veronica
Stlah.

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Shokai, for bringing us the Twenty-Fifth Gate!

1. How does a non-truth deceive us?

By separating us from real, a non-truth creates delusion and duality.

2. Is it important that we recognize the truth?

It is essential to recognize the truth. The popular saying states “The worst liar is the one who lies to oneself. Buddhism is based on Noble Truths; and like that other religion states: “Truth will set us free” from the poison of ignorance.

3. care to try another capping verse? third time is a charm

Truth and truthfulness
Duality transcended
Manjushri’s sword


Gassho,
Mateus
Satlah

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

I think when we say or think non-truths we begin to live them. It is starting down a path away from reality. Those non-truths compound themselves and we increasingly live in a world that is disconnected from what is real. I wouldn’t say it is like creating some sort of fantasy world because some non-truths are creating a type of hell not just for yourselves but for others.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Shokai]

Untruth claims "I will hide the darkness",
But does not reveal,
That it also blocks light.

gassho,Shokai
stlah