The Eighty-eighth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

The Eighty-eighth Gate: The precepts pāramitā

The precepts pāramitā is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we distantly depart from the hardships of evil worlds, and we teach and guide precept-breaking living beings. (Nishijima/Cross)
The realization of precepts is a gate of realizing dharma; it keeps away the hindrance of unwholesome paths and guides sentient beings who have broken the precepts. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Actualize the Sila Paramita
That we may be a light unto all beings

Reflection Prompt:
1. Explain how knowing the precepts helps us to avoid unwholesome paths and teach precept breakers.
2. Write a new Gate Gatha.
3. Comment on the Capping Verse.

Capping Verse:

Well-tended gardens
Still grow weeds
But they don't get far

合掌,生開
gassho, Shokai
stlah
仁道 生開 / Jindo Shokai

[Choujou]

Reflection Prompt:
1. Explain how knowing the precepts helps us to avoid unwholesome paths and teach precept breakers.
2. Write a new Gate Gatha.
3. Comment on the Capping Verse.

1. When we live in accordance with precepts, we live as a Buddha does. We must embody the precepts and become them, as a Buddha does, and then all that we do and say will be wholesome and helpful, and an example to those that don’t follow the precepts. We help guide them to better choices and actions, and do what we can to help all walk the Buddha’s path.

2. May we, together with all buddhas;
Embody the precepts,
and be a guiding example to all beings

3. The work is endless, but necessary to keep the garden going in the right direction. Guidance is always good until one embodies the way…

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Tairin]

Explain how knowing the precepts helps us to avoid unwholesome paths and teach precept breakers.

It isn't even possible to truly follow the Precepts and also take unwholesome paths.

In my world, most of my friends and family are not Buddhists nor have the slightest idea that I follow this Practice. I don't attempt to evangelize at all. My intention is to lead by example and follow the Precepts to the best of my abilities. It is my hope that by doing so it inspires others to lead an ethical and compassionate life.


Tairin
sat today and lah