The Second of the 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

Gate Two
As stated yesterday, This time around we will review the Gates by reading the following, placing it in your heart and sleeping on it. Then, tomorrow, live and practice it until evening when you leave a brief comment as to how it affected you.
The object is to own the meaning of each gate; a day at a time. We do this by finding a way to incorporate its property into our day to day experience.

I hope you'll join us for the dance.

Pure mind is a gate of Dharma-illumination; for [with it] there is no defilement.

One method of exploring the Dharma Gates to deepen our practice is to research and study koans such as:

"A monk asked Master Joshu. What was Master Bodhidharma's intention in coming from India in the west to China? Master Joshu said: Cedar trees in the garden. The monk said : Master, don't teach me with objective things. Master Joshu said: I am not teachng you with objective things. The monk said : What was Master Bodhidharma's intention in coming from India in the west to China? Master Joshu said: Cedar trees in the garden. "
-Master Dogen's Shinji Shobogenzo / Nishijima 2-19

Can you relate this to Gate #2 (hint: see fascicle 35 Hakujushi [The Cedar Tree])

One poetic response to this question was:

Unable to free myself from defilement
Makes me concerned
That I will never find pure mind.

Gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Jishin]

Gassho, Jishin, ST, LAH

[Nengei]

Always there before me
Melting away as I reach out
Grasping for Pure Mind.

Gassho,
Nengei

[Risho]

Jishin I love that pic, and Nengei that poem really resonated.

I am currently watching every disney/pixar movie ever created thanks to my son They are all great but this reminds me of a scene ftom one movie Soul (which is great btw). The main character finally realizes what he thinks is his life’s purpose and then kind of feels let down and basically asks “what’s next?”

Then this jazz musician tells hime the story of a fish swimming in the ocean asking another fish where the ocean is. I’ve heard thus before but it’s well presented in Soul.

There’s part of me always wanting the next thing, but sonetimes if I’m not too dense I realize what is already here

gassho

Rish
-stlah

[Kaitan]

Maybe the master was trying to tell the student that such questions seem easy to answer, like the intention is simply to spread the dharma. But if the dharma is all prevailing, thefore the dharma is not going anywhere. I wonder what was the context of this dialogue, what was the INTENTION of the student by asking this question.

Gasshō
stlah, Bernal

[Koriki]

I see that asking about Bodhidharma's intention implies that Bodhidharma had a goal that brought him to China, which doesn't seem to represent pure mind. And trying to understand Bodhidharma's intention is not a very worthwhile activity for a monk. Observing the cedar tree in the garden would be a better teacher than Bodhidharma at that moment.

I love the fish story. Here's a longer clip showing the context.

https://youtu.be/Pg7Zit2Thks?si=c0xNynhRbcZQKZbW

Gassho,
Koriki

s@lah

[Seikan]

clear water, clear sky
in stillness
the red dust settles


Gassho,
Seikan

-stllah-

[Tai Do]

Pure mind is so near and year so distant from our life out of the cushion. It is always there with us, but we tend to focus on our attachments, aversions and defilements. I notice today how quickly my mind goes for shame, fear, anger, sadness instead the still center of the pure mirror mind.
Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah

[Shokai]

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

What is this Pure Mind? What do I need to
do to obtain it? How can I hold it?

Risho …. I really liked Soul too


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Doshin]

Pure mind is not attainable but the path you walk towards it is a life’s journey. That journey benefits all.

Doshin
Stlah

[Chikyou]

That koan made me feel things and Jishin's image captured it very well. I don't have words for it currently.

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Chikyou]

I was inspired to draw this...my brush pens are from 5 Below and they're all terrible colors unfortunately.

20231226_180855.jpg

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Shokai]

Kelly; lovely painting, you have a nice style. With some things you may never find the words

Gassho, Shokai
stlah