The Fifty-sixth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

56) The Fifty-sixth Gate: The Four Right Exertions

The four right exertions* are a gate of Dharma illumination; for they eliminate all evils and realize many kinds of good. (Nishijima/Cross)

The four types of right effort are a gate of realizing dharma; they prevent all unwholesome actions and lead to wholesome actions. (Tanahashi)

* The four right exertions/ Right Efforts :
1) to prevent bad that has not yet occurred,
2) to cause bad that has already occurred to be extinguished,
3) to cause to occur good that has not yet occurred,
4) to promote the good that has already occurred.
[Exertion / Restraint: vigorous action or effort / the act of holding back, controlling, or checking]

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Reflect on the four right exertions,
That we may remove evils and realize many kinds of good..

Reflection Prompts:

1. How do the four right exertions prevent all evils and realize many kinds of good?

2. Do the four right efforts equal mindfulness?

3. Write a new Capping Verse.

Capping Verse:

Nurturing seedlings
Pulling weeds
Our garden blooms bright

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Jishin]

1. The four right exertions prevent all evils and realize many kinds of good by addressing both past and present actions. They involve the effort to prevent negative actions that have not yet occurred, to extinguish negative actions that have already occurred, to bring about positive actions that have not yet occurred, and to promote positive actions that have already occurred. By following these four types of right effort, we can eliminate unwholesome actions and cultivate wholesome actions, leading to the realization of many kinds of good.

2. The four right efforts are not equivalent to mindfulness, although mindfulness can be a helpful tool in practicing these exertions. Mindfulness involves being aware and present in the current moment, while the four right efforts involve specific actions to prevent or promote certain outcomes.

3. New capping verse:

Seeds of wisdom
Nurtured with care
Right efforts blossom
Wholesome actions everywhere

Gassho, Jishin, ST, LAH

[Tokan]

Hey again

1. How do the four right exertions prevent all evils and realize many kinds of good? - Many a good movie has been made about such concepts, especially "to prevent bad that has not yet occurred." One thing I love about Buddhism is how there are so many ways to come at the same point but make a unique point at the same time - the four exertions are one such example. They promote all the other Buddhist codes of ethics or guidelines for practice-life, yet add very specific ideas, such as preventing harm that is yet to occur. Still, I can feel a 'risk' in these exertions that if they are not guided by a wise Master or are not practised with mindfulness (particularly of the Bodhisattva vows), then there is a risk of harm being explained away as 'for the greater good.' History, even Buddhist history, contains many such examples. Which leads into point 2...

2. Do the four right efforts equal mindfulness? Like Jishin, I see that they are not one and the same, but I think it would be hard to really know whether your actions were truly in accord with the intent of these exertions if there was not a mindful basis to their practice.

3. Write a new Capping Verse.

When planting rice
I lovingly pull the weeds
with their roots intact


Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[aprapti]

weeds or flowers?
it's a decision..



aprapti


sat

[Tokan]

weeds or flowers?
it's a decision..

aprapti

sat

Function Vs. Form (and edibility!)

Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

1. How do the four right exertions prevent all evils and realize many kinds of good?

Hmm… given the description of the Four Righ exertions above I feel like this is asked and answered. I will say that part of this is mindfulness. I think we can all cause evils and good to happen simply by blundering along through our lives. It takes some mindfulness of the effects of our words, thoughts, and acts to really see how these evils or good are manifested.

2. Do the four right efforts equal mindfulness?

I don’t think so. i think the four right efforts are manifested through mindfulness.

Avoid doing evil
Try only to do good
Do good for the benefit of all


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Veronica]

This is a nice reminder that it's not only "doing good" that has good effect. Also good is: stopping bad, preventing bad, encouraging good. So many ways that we can have an effect on our selves, our community and the world around us.

Taking care
We stop and start
With intent.

Veronica
stlah

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Shokai.

1. How do the four right exertions prevent all evils and realize many kinds of good?

Like others have pointed out, the four exertions promote good by requiring g us to be mindful of our intentions as well as the nature and outcome of our actions, promoting/maintaining good ones and preventing/reparing bad ones.

2. Do the four right efforts equal mindfulness?

Again, other have pointed out that they are not equal to mindfulness, but require mindfulness

3. Write a new Capping Verse.

Sweeping the dirty
Arranging the altar
Zazen will begin


Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah

[Veronica]

Thank you, Shokai.



Like others have pointed out, the four exertions promote good by requiring g us to be mindful of our intentions as well as the nature and outcome of our actions, promoting/maintaining good ones and preventing/reparing bad ones.



Again, other have pointed out that they are not equal to mindfulness, but require mindfulness



Sweeping the dirty
Arranging the altar
Zazen will begin


Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah

We were typing at the same time! lol *waves to Brazil*
Veronica
stlah