Gate Eighty-seven
Read the following, place it in your heart and sleep on it. Then, tomorrow, live it until evening when you can leave a brief comment on what you may have received during the process.
The dāna pāramitā* is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it], in every instance, we cause features to be pleasant, we adorn the Buddhist land, and we teach and guide stingy and greedy living beings.
A “Dharma Gate” is a teaching or practice that can lead to spiritual growth: some kind of positive outcome in terms of our practice. A way to approach the truth.
Koan:
Generosity is an attitude where we are willing to give away whatever is needed by others. It doesn’t really mean that we have to give absolutely everything away and become dirt-poor ourselves, as if poverty in itself was a virtue, as is found in some religions. Here, generosity means that we are willing to give without hesitation and without obstacles, and when it’s appropriate to give, which requires us to use discrimination
Practicing generosity doesn’t mean that we have to be rich; even if we’re extremely poor and have nothing to offer, we can still have the willingness to give. Otherwise, how would poor people ever be able to develop generosity? So, whenever we see a beautiful sunset, we can be generous in wishing that everybody else could enjoy it. We can do the same thing with beautiful landscapes, good weather, delicious food, and so on. This all counts as generosity! We can be generous not only with the things we own ourselves, but with things that don’t belong to anyone. In meditation, we can imagine giving all sorts of wonderful things to others, but if we do actually have something that can be of help to someone else and they need it, then we don’t just imagine giving it to them. We actually give it!"
Click image for larger version.
Most note worthy replies :
Notes:
* Dāna pāramitā : the wisdom of generosity
合掌,生開
gassho, Shoka
Read the following, place it in your heart and sleep on it. Then, tomorrow, live it until evening when you can leave a brief comment on what you may have received during the process.
The dāna pāramitā* is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it], in every instance, we cause features to be pleasant, we adorn the Buddhist land, and we teach and guide stingy and greedy living beings.
A “Dharma Gate” is a teaching or practice that can lead to spiritual growth: some kind of positive outcome in terms of our practice. A way to approach the truth.
Koan:
Generosity is an attitude where we are willing to give away whatever is needed by others. It doesn’t really mean that we have to give absolutely everything away and become dirt-poor ourselves, as if poverty in itself was a virtue, as is found in some religions. Here, generosity means that we are willing to give without hesitation and without obstacles, and when it’s appropriate to give, which requires us to use discrimination
Practicing generosity doesn’t mean that we have to be rich; even if we’re extremely poor and have nothing to offer, we can still have the willingness to give. Otherwise, how would poor people ever be able to develop generosity? So, whenever we see a beautiful sunset, we can be generous in wishing that everybody else could enjoy it. We can do the same thing with beautiful landscapes, good weather, delicious food, and so on. This all counts as generosity! We can be generous not only with the things we own ourselves, but with things that don’t belong to anyone. In meditation, we can imagine giving all sorts of wonderful things to others, but if we do actually have something that can be of help to someone else and they need it, then we don’t just imagine giving it to them. We actually give it!"
Click image for larger version.
Most note worthy replies :
Only when we have what is needed,
Only when the water flows sufficiently from your well
Can my well flow adequately
To my satisfaction.
Our light is endless
Why not share
A little bit more?
Only when the water flows sufficiently from your well
Can my well flow adequately
To my satisfaction.
Our light is endless
Why not share
A little bit more?
Notes:
* Dāna pāramitā : the wisdom of generosity
合掌,生開
gassho, Shoka
Comment