Things to know about Bodhidharma
Bodhidharma was the founder of Zen Buddhism in China. He is famous for a maxim that is considered the root of Zen: “Point straight to the human mind, see its nature, and become Buddha.”
Although most of the stories about him are probably just legends, his historicity is still in question. For most Zen Buddhism followers, Bodhidharma and his distinctive teachings remain the foundation of the Zen school today. Let’s learn about this extremely bizarre teacher with Lotus Buddhas!
Who was Bodhidharma?
Bodhidharma was a legendary Buddhist monk who lived in the 5th and 6th centuries AD who played an important role in the spread of Zen Buddhism from India to China (where it was known as Chan).
The word “Bodhi” in Sanskrit which means awakened or enlightened one. The word “Dharma” means a person with profound knowledge of the Buddhadharma.
He is considered by Zen Buddhism to be the 28th patriarch of the Zen school founded by Shakyamuni Buddha himself, and the first Zen master of China. Bodhidharma is also credited as the founder of the famous Chinese martial arts school Shaolin.
His teachings are geared towards a direct experience of Buddha-nature, rather than mere understanding of it. He is known for his succinct response style that angers some like Emperor Wu. Bodhidharma’s life and teachings continue to be an inspiration to followers of Zen Buddhism today, and an example of hard work, discipline, and determination on the path to spiritual realization.
The details regarding Bodhidharma are unclear, as the primary sources of information about his life do not match the origin, chronology of his journey to China, his death and the details other.
The main sources for his biography are Yang Xuanzhi’s account of the Buddhist monasteries in Luoyang (547 AD), and Biographies of Dàoxuān and famous monks (645 AD).
The accounts of Bodhidharma’s life are filled with mythological elements, making a historically accurate biography impossible. Even so, the meaning his stories give Zen followers, and how they continue to influence the tradition today, is what matters.
According to many historical records, Bodhidharma was born into an upper class family, possibly a Brahmin in India. However, he left his social status to pursue a monastic life and became a follower of Mahayana Buddhism under Patriarch Prajnaparamita.
From there he received direct teachings to enlightenment, and this is the hallmark of Zen Buddhism. With Prajnaparamita’s permission to transmit the Dharma to others, Bodhidharma left India to revive Buddhism in China with his unique message:
A special method of teaching, without scriptures, independent of the written word. Direct focus. See your own true nature, and attain enlightenment.
According to traditional documents, Bodhidharma’s journey to China is said to have taken three years by boat. His most famous meeting in China was with Emperor Liang Wu, a strong supporter of Buddhism at the time.
The emperor asked him, “How much merit has accumulated for you all that you have contributed to the construction of temples, printed scriptures and supported the Sangha?” Bodhidharma replied, “No. any merit.”
This surprising response is often explained: Because the Emperor did meritorious deeds for his own benefit and not for the benefit of others, he acted out of selfishness, and therefore unworthy worth any effort.
Then the Emperor asked Bodhidharma, “What is the highest meaning of holy truth?” He replied, “empty, devoid of holiness,” a reference to the Mahayana doctrine of Emptiness (shunyata). Emperor Wu started to get angry and asked Bodhidharma, “Who are you?” Bodhidharma replied mysteriously, “I don’t know”!
The dialogue between Bodhidharma and Emperor Liang Wu is a prime example of the teaching style and relationship between master and disciple in Zen Buddhism, illustrating its distinctive Koan tradition.
The goal of Zen koan is to give insight into Buddha nature. Bodhidharma’s particular teaching style achieves this awakening goal, and it is not gentle or gradual, but jarring and immediate, like a bucket of cold water on our normal thought.
After a brief encounter with Emperor Wu, Bodhidharma was banished from the imperial court and traveled further north, across the Yangtze River. He stop at the Shaolin Temple in Tungshan Mountain but was denied entry. He meditated outside the temple grounds, facing the walls (or in a nearby cave) for nine years.
The Shaolin monks were so impressed with his intense meditation that they let him in. Once inside, he noticed that the Shaolin monks became weak and tired as they focused on their practice and meditation without regard to manual labor.
To remedy this situation, he is said to have instituted a series of physical exercises for the monks to strengthen their health. Therefore, Bodhidharma is said to have created the foundation of many Chinese martial arts schools.
The cause and death of Bodhidharma is unclear. One story recounts how the disciple was jealous of his popularity and tried to poison him several times. After the 6th time, he decided that, after successfully spreading his teachings to China, it was time for him to enter Nirvana. Bodhidharma is said to have died while meditating.
The teachings of Bodhidharma
Bodhidharma was not a writer or philosopher with the prolific number of teachings like other Buddhist figures, but central elements of his teachings can be seen in stories and his life.
It is an emphasis on Zen, a style of interaction with students (often referred to as “dharma fight” found in many koans), with no emphasis on academic and intellectual debate, the importance of personal realization and the transmission of mind from teacher to disciple.
The features that Bodhidharma brought from India to China more than 1,500 years ago are still the foundation of Zen Buddhism today. Many people believe that the seed that Bodhidharma sowed in China was the Lankavatara sutra, a development from the school of Yogacara or “Mind only” by two half-brothers with a different mother and father is the founder Asanga and Vasubandhu.
Some records say that Bodhidharma was the first to introduce this sutra to China. This emphasis philosophy of “Mind only” is often expressed in his lectures:
“Your mind is nirvana, you think you can find a Buddha or enlightenment somewhere other than the mind, but such a place doesn’t exist.”
He also preached extensively on the doctrine of Emptiness (shunyata), an important teaching of Mahayana thought found in the Prajnaparamita Sutra and the writings of Nagarjuna (about 150-250).
In one example, he said that “the scriptures tell us…seeing without seeing…hearing without hearing, knowing without knowing… Basically, seeing, hearing and knowing is completely empty hollow”. This passage demonstrates a distinctive feature of Zen: we should act without conceptualizing or specifying the outcome that leads to hesitation.
All things and all actions are considered “empty” of any intellectual practice, existing freely and spontaneously as direct manifestations of themselves. This influence is seen in Zen’s emphasis on spontaneous and immediate actions and reactions in many koans.
A common example of this is a yogi shouting in response to a master’s question as a way of showing their understanding. If yogis can do so without hesitation with their whole being, then they are said to have realized their “meditation mind”.
Another striking feature of Bodhidharma’s way of teaching is his emphasis on physical health. He teaches that keeping the body healthy increases mental energy, helping us to withstand the rigors that the intensive practice of meditation entails.
Bodhidharma’s approach to mind and body appealed to the Samurai class in Japan, who incorporated Zen into their way of life, after their encounter with the martial-oriented Rinzai Zen school. Art was introduced to Japan by Eisai in the 12th century.
Portraits and legends of Bodhidharma
Although revered as the 28th Chan Chan Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma is often depicted in Buddhist art as a barbarian, bearded, and big-eyed man (he is depicted as “The Blue-Eyed Barbarian” in Chinese Texts). These ugly portraits are perhaps partly due to his disregard for conventions and the upheaval of society’s expectations.
Several legends associated with Bodhidharma, especially his role in founding Chinese martial arts, the introduction of tea to China, and his paralysis of both legs due to meditating are still found in custom of making Daruma dolls in Japan.
1. Bodhidharma invented Kung-fu in China
Historically, Bodhidharma is credited with inventing Kung-fu. However, this claim is unlikely because there are martial arts manuals that have appeared since the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD), before both Bodhidharma and the Shaolin temple he was in. The fact that the Shaolin monks were good at martial arts most likely stemmed from the generals who had retreated to hide in the temple, or sought sanctuary there.
2. Bodhidharma brings tea to China
A popular legend about Bodhidharma recounts that, while meditating for nine years near Shaolin Temple, he fell asleep and when he awoke, he was so angry that he cut off his eyelids to avoid falling asleep again when practicing meditation.
When his eyelids fell to the ground, they are said to have sprouted into a tea plant. In this way, legend holds that Bodhidharma was the one who “brought” tea to China.
However, a detailed description of tea drinking is found in an ancient Chinese dictionary, recorded by historian Guo Pu in 350 AD, nearly two centuries before Bodhidharma arrived China. Thus, it seems that the Chinese drinking of tea predates the arrival of him.
3. Bodhidharma meditated for 9 years
During his trip to China, Bodhidharma stopped at a Shaolin temple in Tungshan but was denied entry. He is then said to have meditated outside the monastery facing the walls for nine years.
However, it is reported that after meditating for many years, Bodhidharma lost the ability to use his legs due to atrophy. This legend still exists in Japan, where legless Daruma dolls representing Bodhidharma are used to grant wishes.
Even today, the form of Zazen (sitting meditation) is an important part of Zen Buddhist practice. However, the story of Bodhidharma losing the ability to use his legs contradicts other legends about him founding martial arts to combat physical weakness.
Bodhidharma’s successor
Before Bodhidharma died in China (or returned to India in some other versions), he questioned his four disciples: Huike, Daofu, Daoyu and Zongchi.
“The time has come. Can you express your understanding?” Disciple Daofu said, “My current view is that we should not stick to the letters, nor separate the letters, and let the path work freely.” Bodhidharma replied, “You have obtained my skin.”
Nun Zongchi said, “My view is like the joy of seeing the land of Buddha Akshobhya just once and not again.” Bodhidharma replied, “You have obtained my flesh.”
Daoyu said, “The four elements are inherently empty and the five aggregates are empty. So I see nothing to gain.” Bodhidharma said, “You have obtained my bones.”
Finally, Huike stepped forward, bowed, stood up, and returned to original place. Bodhidharma said, “You have obtained my marrow.” Therefore, he transmitted the mind seal to Huike. Since then, Huike became the second Patriarch of Zen Buddhism in China.
Traditionally, this means that Huike understood the “essence” or heart of her master’s teachings, while Daofu understood the least. However, Doge, the founder of the Japanese school of Soto Zen, said that in reality, they all understood the teachings of Bodhidharma, and thus each was given a symbol of his understanding.
Only one person can be the head of the lineage, so Bodhidharma gave the Buddha’s alms bowl, his clothes, and a copy of the Lankavatara sutra to Huike. The meaning of this exchange is intentionally unclear, as it is part of the koan.
Bodhidharma’s mysterious death
We are still uncertain about Bodhidharma’s death, some say that he was poisoned by a jealous disciple in a cave. Others say he decided the time was right to die, having successfully spread his teachings to China and voluntarily died in meditation.
Regardless of how Bodhidharma died, his death was as strange as his life, and this only increased the air of mystery surrounding the story.
How to worship Bodhidharma at home
If you are a follower of Zen Buddhism, worshiping the statue of Bodhidharma in your home is not difficult to understand. But what about others? Because his statue is often placed behind the main hall, or in the grounds of Zen Buddhist temples.
According to feng shui, worshiping Bodhidharma at home can help ward off evil spirits and remove bad energy around the house. For that reason, many Buddhist families now worship and decorate the His statue in their home. This is an artistic breakthrough and brings spiritual meaning in terms of feng shui.
On the market, the statue of Bodhidharma is made in many different shapes such as: Statue of Bodhidharma meditating, statue of Bodhidharma dancing martial arts (worldly power), statue of Bodhidharma over sea or statue of Bodhidharma with a shoe, symbolizes freedom in the world.
Along with the diversity of images, the materials used to make Bodhidharma statues are equally rich such as: Wooden, bronze, ceramic, stone, cement or plastic composite statues.
When inviting the statue of Bodhidharma to worship at home, the homeowner must know how to choose a location to place the statue in accordance with feng shui to protect the house, help the family stay warm and prosper. The statue can be placed outside the house premises (in an artificial cave), but the face of the statue must face the main door to prevent negative energy from entering the house.
In addition, Buddhists can also choose for themselves a small statue of Bodhidharma to keep in the office, on the car taplo for the purpose of protecting and bringing a sense of security on all roads. Find a reputable sculptor to receive advice and choose a satisfactory Bodhidharma statue! Through this article, Lotus Buddhas hopes to help readers better understand Bodhidharma, and the arrangement when worshiping monstrous ancestor of Zen Buddhism.
