Bodhidharma Talks
Bodhidharma was a semi-legendary Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and is regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. According to a 17th-century apocryphal story found in a manual called Yijin Jing, he began the physical training of the monks of Shaolin Monastery that led to the creation of Shaolin kungfu. He is known as Dámó in China and as Daruma in Japan. His name means "dharma of awakening (bodhi)" in Sanskrit.
Little contemporary biographical information on Bodhidharma is extant, and subsequent accounts became layered with legend and unreliable details.
According to the principal Chinese sources, Bodhidharma came from the Western Regions, which typically refers to Central Asia but can also include the Indian subcontinent, and is described as either a "Persian Central Asian" or a "South Indian [...] the third son of a great Indian king." Throughout Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is depicted as an ill-tempered, large-nosed, profusely-bearded, wide-eyed non-Chinese person. He is referred to as "The Blue-Eyed Barbarian" (Chinese: 碧眼胡; pinyin: Bìyǎnhú) in Chan texts.
Aside from the Chinese accounts, several popular traditions also exist regarding Bodhidharma's origins.
The accounts also differ on the date of his arrival, with one early account claiming that he arrived during the Liu Song dynasty (420–479 CE) and later accounts dating his arrival to the Liang dynasty (502–557 CE). Bodhidharma was primarily active in the territory of the Northern Wei (386–534 CE). Modern scholarship dates him to about the early 5th century CE.
Bodhidharma's teachings and practice centered on meditation and the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra. The Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall (952) identifies Bodhidharma as the 28th Patriarch of Buddhism in an uninterrupted line that extends all the way back to the Gautama Buddha himself.
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2008.01.24-serial.00113C Posture, Oneness, Dharma Transmission, Bodhidharma, Big Mind, Echo, Heart Sutra,... |
Jan 24 2008 |
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Intelligence of the Natural WorldSerial: SF-00941 Sesshin Lecture: frog chorus; silence and activity; pain and fear of pain; Bodhidharma Bodhidharma, Silence, Buddha Ancestors, Composure, Buddha Nature, Hindrances, Zendo,... |
Apr 07 2007 Green Gulch |
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Developing Confidence in Buddha NatureSerial: SF-00074 Sunday talk. Global Warming, Buddha Mind, Hindrances, Delusion, Practice Period, Dragons, Lineage... |
Mar 18 2007 Green Gulch Farm |
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2007.01.18-serial.00117B Bodhidharma, Soto Zen, Lineage, true dharma, training, Buddha Ancestors, confusion,... |
Jan 18 2007 |
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2007.01.16-serial.00116G Teacher-and-Student, Vows, Buddha Ancestors, Buddha Mind, Family Practice,... |
Jan 16 2007 |
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2007.01.14-serial.00116B Buddha Nature, Nirvana Sutra, Attachment, Describe, Samadhi, Bodhidharma, Sangha,... |
Jan 14 2007 |
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2006.02.02-serial.00015 Bodhidharma, Four Noble Truths, Attachment, Precepts, Sangha, resistance, Vinaya,... |
Feb 02 2006 |
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2006.01.31-serial.00006 Buddha Ancestors, Buddha Nature, Describe, true dharma, Teacher-and-Student,... |
Jan 31 2006 |
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2006.01.30-serial.00008 true dharma, Offering, Hindrances, Lay, Teacher-and-Student, Dharma Transmission,... |
Jan 30 2006 |
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Shuso TalkSerial: SF-04732 #shuso-talk Sanctuary, Bodhidharma, Karma, Ceremony, Practice Period, Instruction, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Dec 05 2005 Tassajara |
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Two Paths to the Dharma training, Practice Period, Liberation, Bodhidharma, Mahayana, Study Period, Lineage,... |
Mar 04 2005 |
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QuestioningSerial: SF-04082 Sunday Lecture: zen as a return to Buddha's natural questioning, rather than a religious institution with fancy temples, robes, statues, etc Ordinary Mind, Suzuki Roshi, Big Mind, Diversity, Intuition, Priest, Lay, Faith,... |
Sep 26 2004 Green Gulch |
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Breathing In and Breathing OutSerial: SF-00934 One-day sitting lecture: Book of Serenity Case 3, Anapanasati Sutta, Six Subtle Dharma Gates Mindfulness, Dragons, Lotus Sutra, Concentration, Book of Serenity, Bodhidharma,... |
Sep 18 2004 Green Gulch |
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Buddhism, Christianity, War and PeaceSerial: SF-00939 Sunday Lecture: Two types of training: compassion and wisdom (wisdom: the entire universe is the true human body); US history; Christianity (is evil 'outside' or not); Mara... First Principle, Hate, Evil, Faith, Soto Zen, Heart Sutra, Bodhidharma, Separation,... |
May 16 2004 Green Gulch |
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Zendo Lecture Bodhidharma, Ego, Repentance, Zazen, Hate, Practice Period, Faith, Karma, Delusion,... |
Mar 11 2003 Tassajara |