The fifty-third of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

53) The Fifty-third Gate: Feeling as an Abode of Mindfulness

Feeling* as an abode of mindfulness is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we detach from all miscellaneous feelings. (Nishijima/Cross)

The ground of mindfulness of perception is a gate of realizing dharma; it frees all perceptions. (Tanahashi)

*[Feeling: the general state of consciousness considered independently of particular sensations, thoughts, etc.]

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Relinquish our feelings to the home of mindfulness,
That we may deepen our understanding of suffering.

Reflection Prompts:

1. How does mindfulness of Feelings free us from perceptions?

2. How do we benefit from detaching from feelings?

3. Write a new Gatha.

Capping Verse:

Forget this and that
Focus on
Feeling, not the felt

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Jishin]

1. Mindfulness of feelings allows us to become aware of the impermanent and subjective nature of our emotions and experiences. By practicing mindfulness of feelings, we learn to observe our emotions objectively, rather than getting caught up in them. This detachment from our feelings helps us to gain greater insight into the nature of suffering and allows us to develop a more peaceful and equanimous relationship with our experiences.

2. By detaching from our feelings, we are able to gain greater clarity and understanding of the underlying causes of our emotions. This allows us to respond to difficult emotions in a more skillful manner, leading to less suffering and greater happiness. Additionally, detaching from our feelings helps us to develop a more harmonious relationship with those around us, as we are less likely to react impulsively to difficult emotions.

3. New Gatha:

With every breath, we cultivate mindfulness,
Towards feelings, both pleasant and strife.
We observe them objectively, with ease,
And find liberation from the grip of these

Gassho, Jishin, ST, LAH

[aprapti]

aprapti


sat

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

1. How does mindfulness of Feelings free us from perceptions?
2. How do we benefit from detaching from feelings?


A lot (all?) of how I see the world is coloured by my feelings which impact my perceptions of whatever is going on. As an example, if I am having a good day, had a good nights sleep then I may find a given incident less frustrating than if I had had a bad day or a bad nights sleep. Being mindful of my feelings helps me see how they colour my perceptions and maybe see through to see the same incident differently

Feelings are just feelings
Feelings are real
But feelings are not reality


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Veronica]

Well this is the heart of it all! Our thoughts/opinions/delusions/attachments lead to feelings, which reinforces the prior.
With mindfulness of feelings, we can recognize that our feelings are the output of all those inputs, then we can shift our focus onto those inputs rather than getting stuck on being attached to the feeling.

May we, together with all buddhas;
Carefully watch our feelings,
To solve the riddle of dukkha.

Veronica
stlah

[Chikyou]

I've been following along, but not commenting; this one, however, speaks to me. As someone who wasn't taught healthy emotional processing as a child, I learned to deny and bury emotions until I was unable to recognize them at all. Once I unlearned that, I experienced that the key to not being ruled by emotions is to experience them fully in the moment.

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Shokai.

1. How does mindfulness of Feelings free us from perceptions?

2. How do we benefit from detaching from feelings?

Like others said, being aware of how we react towards beings, situations, events, phenomena is a key element to not activate a reactive mode or being lost in a false sense of separation between the subject and the object.

3. Write a new Gatha.

May we, together with all Buddhas
Bei mindful of our feelings
So that we can avoid the Three Poisons
And follow the Precepts in all situations

Gassho
Tai Do
Satlah

[Shokai]