We hear the phrase “dharma gate” often in the Zen tradition, but what does it refer to? Is there a gate somewhere that we need to find and what does it let on to? “Dharma” of course refers to the teachings in the Buddha tradition. The teachings refer to all things and conditions that make up our life. How they arise and how they function. So when a dharma gate opens, we become much more intimate with this moment of life. We find that looking closely into whatever constitutes this, right here and now, is different than our thoughts about it. Our view shifts in much closer, becomes more appreciative, what has seemed so separate, isn’t actually separate. If we think the gate to our true life is somewhere else, we’ll never notice it, right here, this.We hear the phrase “dharma gate” often in the Zen tradition, but what does it refer to? Is there a gate somewhere that we need to find and what does it let on to? “Dharma” of course refers to the teachings in the Buddha tradition. The teachings refer to all things and conditions that make up our life. How they arise and how they function. So when a dharma gate opens, we become much more intimate with this moment of life. We find that looking closely into whatever constitutes this, right here and now, is different than our thoughts about it. Our view shifts in much closer, becomes more appreciative, what has seemed so separate, isn’t actually separate. If we think the gate to our true life is somewhere else, we’ll never notice it, right here, this.