Bodhidharma

Bodhidharma meditating. Artwork by Jin Nong (1687-1763). Courtesy of Freer | Sackler. The legendary founder of Zen in China famously taught a dictum long-regarded as the taproot of Zen, “Point directly at the human mind, see its nature, and become Buddha.” Bodhidharma is considered the founder of Zen Buddhism in China. While much of his biography may be the stuff of legend and his historicity is still in question, numerous early records speak of him (or someone by the name of Bodhidharma) as a wise and compassionate monk. Whether or not he was ever a living person, the legend of Bodhidharma has made him as real in the Zen tradition as anyone else. But with many masters predating him, why is Bodhidharma considered the first ancestor of Chinese Zen? While there were many Buddhist monks from India at that time, and a lot of Buddhism in China, Bodhidharma was the first to introduce the specific teachings that defined the Zen school. Much of his renown comes from a famous four-line teaching attributed to him: A special transmission outside the scriptures, Not depending on words and letters; Directly pointing to the mind, Seeing into one’s true nature and attaining buddhahood. This dictum has long been regarded as the taproot of Zen, and teachers from early times until now have credited it to Bodhidharma. While what is left of Bodhidharma’s work doesn’t contain this exact phrase, the writing attributed to him is full of teachings on observing the nature of mind. It is said that ...

Bodhidharma is a highly renowned name among those interested in traditional Chinese martial arts. It is said that he authored the masterpiece “Yi Jin Jing” and “Xi Sui Jing”, and founded the famous Shaolin martial arts school. The truth of this story is still a matter of debate. However, one thing is certain: Bodhidharma is a great master who cannot be ignored in the history of Chinese Zen. Among the 28 Indian Zen patriarchs, Bodhidharma was the last patriarch in India and was the patriarch who made significant contributions in spreading In this article, LotusBuddhas will share useful information about Bodhidharma, including his story, teachings and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death. Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • Who was Bodhidharma? Bodhidharma is revered as the most respected Patriarch in Zen Buddhism. Bodhidharma was a seminal figure in the history of Bodhidharma traveled to China, likely around the beginning of the 6th century, where he is credited with bringing the Mahayana Buddhist teachings from India. His teachings focused on direct insight into one’s true nature, rather than scholastic learning or devotion to icons. This emphasis on personal realization through meditation would form the cornerstone of Zen Buddhism, which views the so-called ‘mind-to-mind transmission’ of the Buddha’s teachings as more important than scriptural study. Bodhidharma is often represented in East Asian art as a bearded, wide-eyed foreigner and his image is well-...

BODHIDHARMA BODHIDHARMA (fl. c. 480 –520), known in China as Damo and in Japan as Daruma; traditionally considered the twenty-eighth patriarch of Indian Buddhism and the founder of the Chan (Jpn., Zen) school of Chinese Buddhism. The "Historical" Bodhidharma Accounts of Bodhidharma's life have been based until recently on largely hagiographical materials such as the Jingde chuandeng lu (1004). However, the discovery of new documents among the Dunhuang manuscripts found in Luoyang qielan ji, a description of Buddhist monasteries in Luoyang written in 547 by Yang Xuanzhi. In this work, a monk called Bodhidharma from "Po-ssu in the western regions" (possibly Persia) is said to have visited and admired the Yongning Monastery. This monastery was built in 516 and became a military camp after 528. Consequently, Bodhidharma's visit must have taken place around 520. But no other biographical details can be inferred from this, and the aged western monk (he was purportedly one hundred and fifty years old at the time) bears no resemblance to the legendary founder of Chinese Chan. The most important source for Bodhidharma's life is the Xu gaoseng zhuan, a work written by Daoxuan in 645 and revised before his death in 667. It states that Bodhidharma was a brahman from southern India. After studying the Buddhist tradition of the Greater Vehicle (Mah āy āna), Bodhidharma decided to travel to China in order to spread Mah āy āna doctrine. He arrived by sea at Nanyue, in the domain of the Li...

The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma Outline of Practice MANY roads lead to the Path,1 but basically there are only two: reason and practice. To enter by reason means to realize the essence through instruction and to believe that all living things share the same true nature, which isn't apparent because it's shrouded by sensation and delusion. Those who turn from delusion back to reality, who meditate on walls,2 the absence of self and other, the oneness of mortal and sage, and who remain unmoved even by scriptures are in complete and unspoken agreement with reason. Without moving, without effort, they enter, we say, by reason. To enter by practice refers to four all-inclusive practices:3 suffering injustice, adapting to conditions, seeking nothing, and practicing the Dharma. First, suffering injustice. When those who search for the Path encounter adversity, they should think to themselves, "In countless ages gone by, I've turned from the essential to the trivial and wandered through all manner of existence, often angry without cause and guilty of numberless transgressions. Now, though I do no wrong, I'm punished by my past. Neither gods nor men can foresee when an evil deed will bear its fruit. I accept it with an open heart and without complaint of injustice." The sutras say, "When you meet with adversity don't be upset, because it makes sense." With such understanding you're in harmony with reason. And by suffering injustice you enter the Path. Second, adapting to conditions...

"The moon through a crumbling window" in the "A Hundred Aspects of the Moon" © By Yoshitoshi - 1. en.wikipedia 2. [1], Public Domain, Some years later a Chinese diplomat called Songyun was walking through the Pamir Mountains when he came upon Bodhidharma walking in the opposite direction. He asked him where he was going? Bodhidharma replied that he was returning home to India. Songyun noticed that he was only wearing one shoe and asked why? Bodhidharma replied that when Songyun reached Shaolin he would find out why and to tell no one of this encounter. But when Songyun reached the Emperor he told of the meeting at Pamir and was promptly arrested for lying! However when officials were sent to Shaolin the monks there said that Bodhidharma had already died. The tomb was opened and found to be empty except… for a single shoe. Some depictions of Bodhidharma show him barefoot on his way to India carrying a shoe attached to a pole over his shoulder. It is probably just as well. Bodhidharma had brought the living spirit of the teachings from India to China. Even the Buddha disallowed any images of himself to be made for several centuries after his death. Without the outer forms to beguile us there is just the teaching which Bodhidharma has come to represent. In this way he can still be found wherever there is one or other who puts his teaching into practice.