The Seventy-fourth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

74) The Seventy-fourth Gate: Abandonment, as a part of the state of truth

Abandonment, as a part of the state of truth, is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we [can] turn away from all kinds of lives.(Nishijima/Cross)

Branches of letting go are a gate of realizing the Dharma; they become secluded from all living things. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Actualize Abandonment, as a part of the state of truth,
That we may turn away from all kinds of lives

.

Reflection Prompts:

1. Here again compare letting go toabandonment?

2. How do either turn us away from all kinds of lives?

3. Write a new Verse.

Capping Verse:

A mind unhindered
Unrestrained
Is free to be free

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Tokan]

Hey everyone

1. Here again compare letting go to abandonment? - I'm just wondering with this one if there's really too much to say - abandoning and letting go both require relinquishing our attachment to something.

2. How do either turn us away from all kinds of lives? - This a better wording in my eyes than being secluded from all living things, I'm chewing on that phrasing/translation. Anyhow, it seems quite simple to me in that if we let go or abandon greed, anger, and ignorance, we can turn away from all kinds of lives (unhealthy ones I presume!) However, ultimately, we must abandon all things, even those things that are dear to us, our 'cherished' lives, and perhaps that is where the 'secluded from all living things' comes into play, though I'm still struggling with that from the Zen perspective of the one-ness of all things. This would be my lack in understanding though.

3. Write a new Verse.

Abandoning, letting go,
freeing the mind
from all but truth


Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[Jishin]

1. Both letting go and abandonment involve releasing attachment to something. Letting go may be more of a gentle release, while abandonment implies a more deliberate and decisive action. In both cases, the goal is to free ourselves from clinging to things that may cause suffering or hinder our spiritual growth.

2. Letting go and abandonment allow us to detach ourselves from the cycle of samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. By releasing attachment to desires, fears, and other worldly things, we can attain a state of inner peace and spiritual liberation. We can break free from the chains of ego and delusion and see reality as it truly is.

3. New Capping Verse:

With every step we take,
We let go of what's not true,
Abandoning our fears and doubts,
We become awakened anew.

Gassho, Jishin, ST, LAH

[aprapti]

what is truth??
hhhmmmmm...
i need more zazen



aprapti


sat

[Tokan]

what is truth??
hhhmmmmm...
i need more zazen

aprapti

sat

Abandoning, letting go,
freeing the mind
from all but truth

Well I think there's a trick in that because 'realising truth' goes beyond having anyone to realise it (apparently), but "the truth is out there" I am told

Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[Shokai]

Zazen work is never done

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

1. Here again compare letting go to abandonment?

My son is 19 and is the start of his adult life. As much as it can be painful to let him go I’d never abandon him.

2. How do either turn us away from all kinds of lives?[/B]

[B]I think is a matter of intentionally setting aside the things we do that are harmful and turning towards things that are helpful.

Let go of our harmful ways
Turn towards a life of right intention
Live life in harmony with the truth


Tairin
Sat today and lah