Eight Gates To Enlightenment

[vicente]

Eight Gates to Enlightenment

Shakyamuni Buddha described 8 gates or practices for Awakening:
1. few desires
2. to understand how much is enough
3. diligent effort
4. not to neglect mindfulness
5. stability of mind
6. to cultivate wisdom
7. enjoy serenity and stillness
8. not to be engaged in hollow discussions

I am surely guilty of not practicing the 8th gate.

1. "monks, know that people who have many desires intensely seek for fame and gain; therefore they suffer a great deal."
2. "monks, if you want to be free from suffering, you should contemplate knowing how much is enough."
3. "monks, if you make diligent effort, nothing is too difficult."
4. "monks, when mindfulness is solid, you will not be harmed even in the midst of the robbers of the senses."
5. "monks, if you gather your mind, it will abide in stability."
6. "monks, if you have wisdom, it is as a bright lamp that brings light into the darkness of ignorance."
7. "monks, if you want to have the joy of serene nondoing, stay alone in a still place."
8. "monks, if you get into hollow discussion, your mind will be scattered, thus be unabled to attain liberation."

Vicente
:)

[Nick_A]

Have you ever wondered why you can't put into practice any of it? IMO you'll be much closer to the truth if you consider why this is so. For example:

2. to understand how much is enough

But do you understand it? Can you tell me what determines how much is enough for you?

[vicente]

Regarding this Awakening the Bodhisattva's say: Our minds are never satisfied or content with just enough. The more we obtain, the more we want. Thus we create offenses and perform evil deeds. Bodhisattvas don’t wish to make these mistakes. Instead, they choose to be content. They nurture the Way, living a quiet life in humble surroundings—their sole occupation, cultivating wisdom.

[Nick_A]

Vicente

What the Bodhisattva's say is one thing but doesn't answer the question of how much is enough. To be content can just be brainwashing and of little value. Need to be more precise

But for you, Vicente, what is enough? What determines how much is enough for you in your daily life?

[vicente]

But for you, Vicente, what is enough? What determines how much is enough for you in your daily life?

Most often, for me enough is when the spirit of the moment suggests its enough. As soon as I begin putting predispositons on something I generally realize quite quickly (through experience) that I'm out of the flow. When that occurs, I generally stop, and let the negativity or positiveness pass. Yes, useless happiness is equally as diverting as useless suffering.

Actually, I'm not a good example to explain this awakening,...my life circumstance has been vastly different then most others. I've never "been wanting" for food, shelter or clothing. I've never been wanting for prestige, honors, position. I'm not attached to any of my possessions,...if I were to receive back what I have freely given away, it would easily have a monetary value in the high 6 digits.

In 1974 I realized that if I can't take it with me, it has little value. As such, I generally relate to what will never leave me. So, in my opinion, when you grasp what will never you, you will at the same time understand what's enough.

:)

[sahyo]

if I were to receive back what I have freely given away, it would easily have a monetary value in the high 6 digits.

In 1974 I realized that if I can't take it with me, it has little value. As such, I generally relate to what will never leave me.

"receive back", "given away", "value", "relate to" as though can?

[Nick_A]

Vicente

Most often, for me enough is when the spirit of the moment suggests its enough.

I agree. I've also found that it is not necessarily one spirit or emotion that is at work but several conflicting ones.

An interesting experiement a person can try to see all this at work in themselves is to only eat half your dinner. We really don't know ourselves at all to be able to tell how much food is enough. Yet we can have many emotions attached to food. A person's will makes the goal to eat half their dinner for a week without anyone else involved. Your habitual nature and its associated emotions will make every argument possible to show you the foolishness of this aim. The trouble with the spirit of the moment is that it rarely reflects any conscious understanding and only serves to justify our conceptions of ourselves.

In 1974 I realized that if I can't take it with me, it has little value. As such, I generally relate to what will never leave me. So, in my opinion, when you grasp what will never you, you will at the same time understand what's enough.

I agree to a great extent but for me the question is how I define "you". What will never leave "you"?

As I understand it we exist without any real "I" but as many small "i's so I find it hard to understand what is meant by "you". As I understand it, "what will never leave you" can only be a result when I Am" comes into being. "I Am" is the "isness", synthesis, of a real human being. Without it everything just comes and goes in accordance with the lawful cycles of life. When "I Am" begins to exist IMO, we have what we really need and can begin to understand the relativity of "enough"

[vicente]

We really don't know ourselves at all to be able to tell how much food is enough.

Yes, most are absolutely media-ted. Typical American restaurants not only serve non-compatable food combinations (meat and potatoes), but serve 3-8 serving portions on a single plate. For me, I can grasp the difference between 2oz of pasta (a single serving) and the 8-10oz heaped on a plate.

As I understand it we exist without any real "I" but as many small "i's so I find it hard to understand what is meant by "you".

Absolutely,...there is no you, because there is no I, yet to show the you who you think you are, that there is no you, we use symantics that the you who is not real understands.

An interviewer asks the Sleeping Self "what do you see when you're awake?"

The Sleeping Self responds "I'm never been awake. If I was, I'd be dead".

The Waking Self injects "Precisely, the very sense of a separate self depends on being asleep".

The interviewer asks "So you're saying the goal of awakening is the ending of the separate self?'

The Sleeping Self responds "which is why I am against against it. Without me there may be life but no one to enjoy it. Without Sleep, waking is meaningless. If either one of us goes, so goes the other."

Waking Self responds "I know I'm asleep, he denies it".

Interviewer, "So the Sleeping Self focuses on the wave, whereas the the Waking Self focuses on the ocean?"

:)

[Nick_A]

Interviewer, "So the Sleeping Self focuses on the wave, whereas the the Waking Self focuses on the ocean?"

As I understand it, waking self becomes aware of "As above so below" as was stated in Hermes Trismegistus. Awakening finds us in the middle between what is cosmologically above and below. We can perceive what we are in relation to our potential that is higher than ourselves.

Awakening is not the same as a flash of objective consciousness since awakening includes the whole of ourselves; both the higher and lower.

[abba]

vicente: Hello. You seem much further along the path than when I was here before. My congratulations. I recall having written mixed opinions about your views in those past days; I hope you will not hold them against me - I would learn at your feet... and perhaps discuss the comings and goings of the world.

Here is a Jainism text (http://www.angelfire.com/co/jainism/chap13.txt) of which your quotation of the Eight Gates reminded me. Although it contains some fine thoughts, I have always considered the Buddha way to be less full of illusions.

I am not a Buddhist, but I stop to admire wisdom where-ever it flowers.

[Truthbearer]

[QUOTE" We can perceive what we are in relation to our potential that is higher than ourselves."

Hi Nick

.. and that 'potential' really is unknown - from my experience.
It widens and grows, as we grow.
This morning i read "the greaterness of self that may not be imagined from within that which is known"

at first, we can not know the imaginings of soul - the expression of Source through a physical human vessel. Pure Creative Energy, not encumbered, and having no boundaries.

And in the beginnings of our journey we are severely limited (by karmas, and the unconscious thoughts, fears and judgements that we have , and our attachments).. therefore, soul too, is limited.. and therefore our potential.
It is Soul that guides and directs us to our 'potential' - really 'soul potential' .. and as it unfolds is mind-blowing (and one cannot know in the beginning, because of its magnitude .. I think we would just leave the family, leave everything, and say 'The Universe is Counting on me .. sorry dudes have to leave now!' ..
when in actual fact - family, job, relations are all about karma - ignore those, and the next steps (to ones magnificence and omniprescence) will not be realised.
(and one will feel lost and abandoned - when soul is really wanting us to complete our karmas first - and these are the ones with our families)

We desire to do Soul and Earths bidding...service.
But there are 'responsiblities' - family - beloveds- 'causes' - job/career - bills.
These, too, weigh us down.
But these 'responsibilites' have to be addressed first.

And this is the mistake of the monestary - the cave - the spiritual recluse.
No 'mirrors' (to see karmas) in the cave .. nor in the monestary.
But there are in everyday life - and that is where we are guided to stay.
.. and learn.

"what is enough" ?
whatever ones needs are, and are met - is enough.. anything else is greed.
but 'greed' is a mirror to see a karma... as is 'not enough', if one never seems to have enough - there are karmas to address.
we are to feel abundant - and i think poverty is a state of mind, and therefore a mirror to address a karma.
If one has enough for ones journey - then one is abundant.

I think I am just repeating Vincentes post here. xx

The 8 steps has left out one vital key to enlightenment - karmic clearing.
We cannot achieve enlightenment without releasing what caused us to become UNenlightened.
No siree..

xx Pat

PS .. I reckon the waking self focuses on the cosmos.

[VossistArts]

Originally posted by ,--
The 8 steps has left out one vital key to enlightenment - karmic clearing.
We cannot achieve enlightenment without releasing what caused us to become UNenlightened.
No siree..

xx Pat

PS .. I reckon the waking self focuses on the cosmos.

If you accomplished all 8 gates is there a chance that would accomplish karmic clearing somehow?

Im wondering if what caused us to become unenlightened is also what causes us to become enlightened?

[sahyo]

The 8 steps has left out one vital key to enlightenment - karmic clearing.
We cannot achieve enlightenment without releasing what caused us to become UNenlightened.

not possible to "become UNenlightened" and "achieve"

'trying' "karmic clearing" not a key

[Truthbearer]

alright, put another way ..

what caused us to become diseased, dysfunctional, unhealthy, atrophied organs, AN UN- ENLIGHTENED STATUS.
Enlightenment is the ability to heal ourselves.. know ourselves and our Truth of self and humanity.
The general public is UNENLIGHTENED
To embody u/c Love, Unity, Compassion in the face of non-compassion.

Yes Asheera one 'achieves' enlightenment - strives/struggles/pushes constantly - it is not handed on a platter. - nor is it given.
It is worked for.
When we have it, we know we have ACHIEVED something very very precious.

and yes, KARMIC CLEARING is indeed a key to enlightenment.
THE MAIN KEY, I might add.

With each karma cleared, the natural progression for the etheric body, is to become more light filled (karmas cause dense energy emanations)

Namaste
Pat

[sahyo]

AN UN- ENLIGHTENED STATUS.

not possible


enlightenment is the ability to heal ourselves.. know ourselves and our Truth of self and humanity.

called-"enlightenment" not an "ability", nor "know"ing


The general public is UNENLIGHTENED

enlightened-"UNENLIGHTNED" not


Yes Asheera one 'achieves' enlightenment - strives/struggles/pushes constantly - it is not handed on a platter. - nor is it given.
It is worked for.
When we have it, we know we have ACHIEVED something very very precious.

imagined "ACHIEVED" not, nor "something"


strives/struggles/pushes constantly

a hindrance if continues


and yes, KARMIC CLEARING is indeed a key to enlightenment.
THE MAIN KEY, I might add.

With each karma cleared, the natural progression for the etheric body, is to become more light filled

... :lol:

[Smurf]

oh i love being enlightened, i think? but i agree and know with what you say about enlightenment is already here it is in you, not something to travel to distant counrties to "find" one must only open themselves and look inside, and there it is. :) it is truly beautiful, once you are enlightened, everything is fun, always happy no fears, just living.

[MidnightSun]

Well im 15 and english is not my first language, so i can hardly understand the eight gates. Could anyone make a short conclusion for my weak english?

[deepakgang]

:boxing:

[MidnightSun]

Its simply of mny english..I dont know some of the words, trying to understand it, but its a bit hard not in ur mother language.