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.
Title | Speaker | |
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Sunday Lecture New Year, Hate, Bodhidharma, Vows, Peace, Delusion, Cultivation, Harmonizing,... |
Dec 29 2002 Green Gulch |
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Not Always So Class Buddha Nature, Emptiness, Bodhidharma, Zazen, Suzuki Roshi, Describe, realization,... |
Nov 18 2002 Tassajara |
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Children's LectureSerial: SF-01070 Mayumi's childhood, planting beans, patience, zen in action, original - rising up, the miracle of water, Suzuki Roshi, non-violent intent, 'man alive', stream of violence and... Peace, Vows, Ordination, Commitment, Don't Know Mind, Ceremony, Patience, Priest... |
Jun 02 2002 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Suzuki Roshi, Conversation, Doubt, Don't Know Mind, Religion, Faith, Letting Go... |
Oct 08 2000 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Four Noble Truths, Right Effort, Greed, Attachment, Bodhidharma, Karma, Triple... |
Sep 17 2000 Green Gulch |
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Wednesday Lecture Buddha Ancestors, Death-and-Dying, Silence, New Year, Priest, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Apr 05 2000 Green Gulch |
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One-day Sitting Lecture Balance, Posture, Instruction, Bodhidharma, Daily Life, Skandas, Ceremony, Separation... |
Mar 20 2000 Green Gulch |
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Works of Dogen ClassSerial: SF-03199 Tuesday Class Buddha Ancestors, Lotus Sutra, Balance, Emptiness, Liberation, Transmission,... |
Mar 14 2000 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Letting Go, Ceremony, Freedom, Zazen, Bodhidharma, Interview, Mindfulness, Silence,... |
Mar 05 2000 Green Gulch |
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Fukanzazengi ClassSerial: SF-03517 Monday Class Hsin Hsin Ming, Buddha Nature, confusion, Platform Sutra, realization, Bodhisattva... |
Feb 28 2000 Green Gulch |
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One-day Sitting Lecture Greed, Offering, Lotus Sutra, Bodhidharma, Liberation, Tassajara, Happiness,... |
Sep 18 1999 Green Gulch |
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One-day Sitting Lecture Birth-and-Death, Ceremony, Bodhidharma, Renunciation, Two Truths, Letting Go, Vows,... |
May 15 1999 Green Gulch |
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Blue Cliff Record ClassSerial: SF-00068 67th Case: Mahasattva Fu Expounds the Scripture; single-point samadhi. Concentration, Repentance, Blue Cliff Record, Bodhidharma, Interview, Manjushri,... |
Apr 22 1999 |
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Sunday Lecture Blue Cliff Record, Bodhidharma, Commitment, Priest, Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature,... |
Aug 30 1998 Green Gulch |
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April 26th, 1998, Serial No. 01895 Bodhidharma, Buddha Nature, Platform Sutra, Doubt, Faith, New Year, Describe,... |
Apr 26 1998 Unknown |
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April 25th, 1998, Serial No. 01894 Bodhidharma, Buddha Nature, Faith, Interview, Bell, Describe, Freedom, Doubt, Nirvana... |
Apr 25 1998 Unknown |
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Saturday Lecture Bodhidharma, Emotions, Instruction, Daily Life, Concentration, Letting Go, Lay,... |
Feb 28 1998 City Center |
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What Is The Ember You Carry With You?Serial: SF-00086 One Day Sit Practice Period, Blue Cliff Record, Non-duality, Fox, Bodhidharma, First Principle,... |
Sep 27 1997 |
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Sesshin Lecture Harmonizing, Obstacles, Zazen, Bodhidharma, Ego, Posture, Bell, Zendo, realization... |
Aug 11 1997 Green Gulch |