The Thirtieth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

30) The Thirtieth Gate: No self-deception.

No self-deception is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we do not praise ourselves.(Nishijima/Cross)

Not deceiving yourself is a gate of realizing Dharma; it does not allow you to praise yourself. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Be mindful of our true feelings and motives,
That we may maintain a state of humility.

Reflection Prompts:

1. How does Self deception not allow us to praise our selves?

2. Is it that we just don't praise ourselves or that the self deception doesn't allow you to ?

3. Write a new Capping Verse.

Capping Verse:

Vanity's not found
By looking
In empty mirrors

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Nengyoku]

[aprapti]

aprapti


sat

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Shokai, for the Thirtieth Gate.

1. How does Self deception not allow us to praise our selves?

Deceiving ourselves, we put the ego/self above all things in the universe... self-praise comes from this egoic perception that separates us from all other things.

2. Is it that we just don't praise ourselves or that the self deception doesn't allow you to?

When we abandon self-deception, we abandon duality... what is there to praise in this small self, when we are not different than this much greater Reality? We just doesn't feel the need to praise this small self on account of egoic motives.


3. Write a new Capping Verse.

Looking at the mirror
Reflecting the ten thousand things
Why would we praise just one of them?


Gassho,
Tai Do (Mateus)
Satlah

[Shokai]

[Spiritdove]

Where is this self? Point to it. I can't find it. Can you? If you point to it . You point to a cell or a body organ or the parts that make the whole but do I end at my body? Im also water, Im also minerals IM everything I see and eat. I am light the biggest part of my body is empty space! . Where is self? point to it. Who is the 'I" that is pointing to the "Self" ? something I thought about for long time. .


Marj "Spiritdove"

Sat Today.

[Shokai]

something I thought about for long time. .

me too!!

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Spiritdove]

what does Stlah mean?

Marj "Spiritdove"
Sat Today

[Amelia]

It means a combination of Sat Today, and Lent A Hand

Gassho
Sat, lah

[Tokan]

The self sees itself
the myriad things converge
the mirror shatters.


Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[Shokai]

[Shokai]

[Tokan]

Shokai

Others have said it, but just so you know, this is a really helpful and enjoyable (in a bodhisattva kinda way) thread series.

Thank you for your time organising this.

Gassho, Tokan (satlah)

[Shokai]

P.S. Cathy arrived in Christ Church Yesterday

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

I’ll answer this Gate with the following

I’ve always been prone to self-reflection. I am a strong introvert who spends a lot of time in my head. What has been truly humbling for me with this practice is to see how much of my own story, narrative, mythology my little mind has weaved. The story of me isn’t necessarily well grounded in reality but I make it real by treating it as real. Sitting has helped me see through that story by watching it arise over and over throughout my sit.


Tairin
Sat today and lah