The Thirty-first of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

31) The Thirty-first Gate: to work for living beings.

To work for living beings is a gate of Dharma illumination; for we do not blame others..(Nishijima/Cross)

Helping sentient beings is a gate of realizing Dharma; it does not allow you to slander others. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Immerse ourselves in helping others
That we may not see blame.

Reflection Prompts:

1. How do you work for living beings?

2. Do you feel that takes away from slandering or blaming others?

3. Is it possible to not see blame?

Capping Verse:

Blame feeds on the self
Drop the self
And blame becomes love

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Veronica]

1. How do you work for living beings?
In a variety of ways... I have always wanted to work in a caring capacity. I am a health care worker and work with vulnerable people. I'm also a mom, a wife, a pet owner, a volunteer.

2. Do you feel that takes away from slandering or blaming others?
Working for others allows greater connection to others. When we are trying to help others, we are more naturally in a state of compassion. We are giving rather than taking. This helps us to see others in a more positive light.

3. Is it possible to not see blame?
Hmmm, this can be challenging at times, especially if we feel we have been treated very unjustly. But if we try to have compassion for the other, and to offer them some assistance or kind words, it helps to reduce the desire to blame.

Veronica
stlah

[aprapti]

aprapti


sat

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Shokai, for bringing us the Thirty-first Gate!

1. How do you work for living beings?

By helping them in their troubles, bringing them the conditions for their flourishing, acting with compassion and understanding, being kind and loving, bringing joy to their lives, treating all equally with the same standards, being equanimous, respecting their lives and choices, not destroying their environment, and all those actions that are not egotistical and based on self gain.

2. Do you feel that takes away from slandering or blaming others?

When we connect to others and really try to understand them, it becomes increasingly more difficult to judge and to blame them. We start to see them as also suffering sentient beings, like Thich Nhat Hanh said, we suffer and they suffer, and that makes us siblings.

3. Is it possible to not see blame?

It is a very difficult practice, but one we tend to do naturally for our close loved ones. The difficulty lies on expanding this from our inner circle to encompass all sentient beings.

Gassho,
Tai Do (Mateus)
Satlah

[Tokan]

Hey all

1. How do you work for living beings? - Just try to be nice and helpful in an honest and truthful way, treading lightly and hope to fly like the bird in the sky, or the fish in the water, that leaves no trace.

2. Do you feel that takes away from slandering or blaming others? You place the focus on healing, so yes, it makes slandering or blaming harder to sustain.

3. Is it possible to not see blame? Yes, but not always so easy. I try to concentrate on 'responsibility' instead of blame, facts are facts, but blame is solely a value judgement (in my eyes).

Gassho

Tokan (satlah)

By the way Shokai - time zones shifted so the nice 2300 hours sit with you is currently at a less user-friendly 0100! Hopefully rejoin your sit when the clocks change again.

[Shokai]

I sort of thought that might be the reason, haven't seen Steve either.