Bodhidharma
c. 5th-6th century • Indian
BuddhismZen
Semi-legendary 5th-6th century Buddhist monk who carried Chan (Zen) Buddhism from India to China. Famous for nine years of wall-gazing meditation at Shaolin and the four-line summary of Zen: 'A special transmission outside the scriptures, not founded upon words and letters.'
Key Works
- Bloodstream Sermon
- Wake-up Sermon
- Breakthrough Sermon
- Outline of Practice
89
quotes in library
Quotes by Bodhidharma
89 quotes“Wherever you sit, that is where you are.”
presenceWake-up Sermon
“Wherever you are, that is where buddha is.”
presenceWake-up Sermon
“Why look elsewhere?”
presenceWake-up Sermon
“Stop reading; stop arguing; stop chasing.”
stoppingBloodstream Sermon
“Sit, and let the truth come to you.”
receptivityBloodstream Sermon
“It always has been waiting.”
presenceBloodstream Sermon
“You were the one who was hiding.”
selfBloodstream Sermon
“There is no buddha to be found apart from your own mind.”
mindBloodstream Sermon
“There is no enlightenment to be reached apart from your own seeing.”
seeingBloodstream Sermon
“What you seek is the seeker.”
paradoxBloodstream Sermon
“This is the great koan.”
koanBloodstream Sermon
“To meet a buddha, become a buddha.”
becomingWake-up Sermon
“To meet your guru, embody his teaching.”
embodimentWake-up Sermon
“To meet the truth, be the truth.”
truthWake-up Sermon
“All else is rumor.”
directnessWake-up Sermon
“In the practice of zazen, posture is everything and posture is nothing.”
zazenOutline of Practice
“Sit straight, breathe naturally, attend.”
zazenOutline of Practice
“This is the whole teaching.”
essenceOutline of Practice
“All buddhas in all directions sit upon this seat.”
unityOutline of Practice
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