The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma

**Jundo** · 08-20-2018, 09:54 PM

Originally posted by Sean

I've been reading the Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma (Red Pine Translation) and I feel somewhat blown away...to the point of - do I ever need to read another Zen/Buddhist book again?

Although I've known who Bodhidharma is for a long time, I've kind of steered clear of him, perhaps because of the fierce look?

It felt like a grenade under all my ideas of practice. I think his lack of establishmentarianism (probably not a real word - but you know what I mean hopefully) is certainly appealing, but he also seems to cut through to the heart of things like Manjusri with his sword. Uchiyama was known for "sesshin without toys" and I'm thinking why not a whole life of practice without toys?

It's available to read for free online and it's not that long - http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Budd...ODHIDHARMA.htm

I hope its valuable for you too.

gassho

sat today

Hi Sean,

You should known that only one piece in the collection (the "Treatise on the Two Entrances and Four Practices") even has a chance of being actually written by Bodhidharma, or someone in his close circle. The others are now generally agreed (I think Red Pine skips over the issue) to have been written by several authors of various schools of Zen of later centuries.

Just for reference, in his "The Bodhidharma Anthology", Jeffrey Broughton writes, "For decades discussion [by scholars] both Japanese and Western, has concentrated on the Two Entrances [and Four Practices], and has come to the consensus that only this text can be attributed to Bodhidharma." Historian John McRae agrees (p 120 here) ...

The Bodhidharma Anthology

https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=BNfuSJ7cvnIC&pg=PA120&lpg=PA120&dq=mcrae+%22the+northern+school%22+%22only+one+work,+it+is+generally+agreed,+can+legitimately+be+attributed+to+Bodhidharma%22&source=bl&ots=ryqvVIYei8&sig=1r2O7K_x6sdfm3-xx1vOCx9hHaQ&hl=en&ei=CrlwTr-SDK-HmQWhqMGJCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=mcrae%20%22the%20northern%20school%22%20%22only%20one%20work%2C%20it%20is%20generally%20agreed%2C%20can%20legitimately%20be%20attributed%20to%20Bodhidharma%22&f=false

In the early part of this century, the discovery of a walled-up cave in northwest China led to the retrieval of a lost early Ch'an (Zen) literature of the T'ang dynasty (618-907). One of the recovered Zen texts was a seven-piece collection, the Bodhidharma Anthology. Of the numerous texts attributed to Bodhidharma, this anthology is the only one generally believed to contain authentic Bodhidharma material.Jeffrey L. Broughton provides a reliable annotated translation of the Bodhidharma Anthology along with a detailed study of its nature, content, and background. His work is especially important for its rendering of the three Records, which contain some of the earliest Zen dialogues and constitute the real beginnings of Zen literature.The vivid dialogues and sayings of Master Yuan, a long-forgotten member of the Bodhidharma circle, are the hallmark of the Records. Master Yuan consistently criticizes reliance on the Dharma, on teachers, on meditative practice, and on scripture, all of which lead to self-deception and confusion, he says. According to Master Yuan, if one has spirit and does not seek anything, including the teachings of Buddhism, then one will attain the quietude of liberation. The boldness in Yuan's utterances prefigures much of the full-blown Zen tradition we recognize today.Broughton utilizes a Tibetan translation of the Bodhidharma Anthology as an informative gloss on the Chinese original. Placing the anthology within the context of the Tun-huang Zen manuscripts as a whole, he proposes a new approach to the study of Zen, one that concentrates on literary history, a genealogy of texts rather than the usual genealogy of masters.In the early part of this century, the discovery of a walled-up cave in northwest China led to the retrieval of a lost early Ch'an (Zen) literature of the T'ang dynasty (618-907). One of the recovered Zen texts was a seven-piece collection, the Bodhidh

That does not mean that they are not good texts, only that they are written by other people, sometimes coming at Zen from different directions too.

Also worth to mention that most of the story of "Bodhidharma" is a legend built up over the centuries, a paradigm that is meant to inspire and instruct on the path. His life is much like that of "Moses" leading the children over the Red Sea ... a story of liberation that may not have happened as historical event, but inspires us to liberation too today. Little is known about him, most of the stories of Bodhidharma ... such as his meeting with "Emperor Wu" ... were not added to his biography until centuries later, probably by story tellers wanting to embellish and teach a lesson. Here is more on the topic, by a scholar, if you wish ...

thezensite: Bodhidharma as Textual and Religious Paradigm

http://www.thezensite.com/ZenEssays/Philosophical/Bodhidharma_as_Paradigm.html

Faure uses structural criticism to analyse Bodhidharma's life as a literary piece belonging to the genre of hagiography, rejecting obsolete concepts of historical individuality and all methodological extremes to reach a new, limited understanding of Bodhidharma's coming from the West

Again, that does not mean that, like Moses, the story is not a great symbol of liberation for us.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

**Sean** · 08-20-2018, 10:09 PM

Thanks Jundo. I didn't know that, but yes I agree it's a great symbol of liberation, however many teachers were involved in creating it

**Jundo** · 08-20-2018, 10:16 PM

By the way, I recently had to photo shop Bodhidharma's "fierce look" for a project I am working on, turning that frown ...

... upside down ...

Treeleaf Zendo

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5250&d=1534882002&thumb=1

Do you know the Bodhidharma action figure ...

Legends Bodhi Dharma 12 Inch Collectible Figure by Triad Toys | Man of Action Figures

https://manofactionfigures.com/products/legends-bodhi-dharma-12-inch-collectible-figure-triad-toys

Man of Action Figures is a family owned and operated business specializing in everything action figures. On our website, you will find the newest and hottest action figures from MArvel, DC, WWE, NFL, Star Wars, and other collectibles. We are constantly updating our inventory with new products from across the superhero universe and beyond, including statues and busts, Live Action Role Play weapons and accessories, officially licensed movie and video game costumes and prop replicas, Fatheads, and many, many, more collectibles.

**Sean** · 08-20-2018, 10:22 PM

No I did not know that but I know what I want for christmas now!!

just brilliant

**Jundo** · 08-21-2018, 04:21 AM

Let me emphasize again ...

It does not matter who wrote something and when, or whether the purported author actually lived or was a symbol or action figure ... Wisdom and Compassion are Wisdom and Compassion.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

**Shokai** · 08-21-2018, 08:07 PM

Turn that frown upside downsmiley.png ya gotta love that Mona Lisa smile

Wisdom without Compassion is like Compassion without Wisdom; neither works !

gassho, Shokai

stlah

**Nanrin** · 08-22-2018, 12:33 PM

Sean, thanks for sharing this with us. I've read one of the four sections elsewhere, and I am looking forward to reading the rest.

Jundo, thank you for pointing it that most of these texta are almost certainly not written by Bodhidharma (and that doesn't make them any less valuable or instructive). I think it's worth knowing the scholarly consensus on when texts emerged, especially as many religeous texts are misattributed to historical figures. There's no need to cling to tradition when it's wrong, nor to reject all tradition because it is not perfect.

Gassho,

Maitri

SatToday, LaH

**Doshin** · 08-22-2018, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by Jundo

Let me emphasize again ...

It does not matter who wrote something and when, or whether the purported author actually lived or was a symbol or action figure ... Wisdom and Compassion are Wisdom and Compassion.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

Jundo, you have said that at different times and in different ways in the last 3 or 4 years I have been listening amd learning from you (even if I do not undersatand all the paradoxial zen stuff

but it always resonates so true.

Thank you
Doshin
St

**Sean** · 08-23-2018, 09:14 PM

I ordered the paperback version as I wanted to be able to read Red Pine's notes and commentary. It arrived today and I had a brief read of the introduction. Red Pine refers to these teachings as being "bare bones zen" which is exactly what I felt when I read them. He wonders why they aren't more popular in the Zen world and I do to. I've always been attracted by some feeling of truth in Buddhism but equally put off when it becomes a bit wordy, list-driven and conceptual which I think is what attracted me to Zen as there seemed to be less of that. I just feel these teachings strip the whole thing back another layer and it's definitely inspiring me to practice.

Feeling grateful to Bodhi-D or whoever felt these teachings should be committed to paper.

gassho
Sean
Sat Today

**Ryushi** · 08-23-2018, 10:16 PM

Bodhidharma's encounter with Emperor Wu was one of the earliest stories I encountered in my exploration of Zen. Even recognizing its mythical aspects, I found his simple responses to the Emperor represented a distillation of Zen - counterintuitive, paradoxical, and egalitarian. It's the source of my forum signature.

I suspect Bodhidharma's refusal to treat the emperor with any particular reverence "due" to him is also part of its strong appeal to the anti-authoritaran in me, too.

Sat today. Gassho.

**Kyoshin** · 08-27-2018, 02:11 PM

That smiling Bodhidharma makes me way happier than is probably reasonable.
Gassho
Nick

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma

The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment