The one Hundred and fifth of 108 Gates Of Dharma Illumination

[Shokai]

105) The one Hundred and Fifth Gate; Endurance of obedient following

Endurance of obedient following is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we obey the Dharma of all the buddhas. (Nishijima/Cross)

Practicing patience is a gate of realizing dharma; it accords with the dharma of all buddhas. (Tanahashi)

Gate Gatha:

May we, together with all buddhas;
Endure obedient following
That we may obey the Dharma of all the buddhas.

Reflection Prompt:

Why is it important to endure an obedient following

Capping Verse:

Stray not from the path
And the path
Guides our every step

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Tairin]

Thank you Shokai

Why is it important to endure an obedient following?

I think the key is in the Tanahashi translation….”patient practice”. Let’s face it, this practice and the path can be difficult. Maintaining discipline can be hard. We need to be patient with ourselves and our practice. We will fall down and we need to get back up.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[aprapti]

Antonio Machado.


Walker, are your footprints the way and nothing more;
Walker, there is no way, the way is made as we walk.
As we walk we make the way,
and looking back one sees the path that will never be stepped on again.
Walker there is no way but trail marks on the sea.


aprapti


sat

[Shokai]

We need to be patient with ourselves and our practice. We will fall down and we need to get back up.

Fall down seven, get up eight.

Walker there is no way but trail marks on the sea.

gassho, Shokai

[RobKen]

"I fought the Dharma and the dharma won" so goes the song. The Buddha had his students question everything, and that is part of the obedience. Still there is a trust in the teachings and our teachers that maybe comes naturally, but that we also learn over and over and continue to have faith in through practice even when it becomes very difficult to do so.

Gasso,
Robert
ST