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“Mind is the root of all phenomena.”
mindBloodstream Sermon
“As the root, so the tree.”
causalityBloodstream Sermon
“Tend the root, and the tree thrives.”
practiceBloodstream Sermon
“Neglect the root, and the tree withers.”
careBloodstream Sermon
“This buddha-mind is everywhere — yet most cannot see it.”
omnipresenceBloodstream Sermon
“They look outside; the buddha is within.”
interiorityBloodstream Sermon
“They listen to others; the buddha is silent.”
silenceBloodstream Sermon
“Stop, listen, and the buddha speaks.”
listeningBloodstream Sermon
“Worship not the form; worship the essence.”
essenceWake-up Sermon
“The essence is your own awakened nature.”
buddha-natureWake-up Sermon
“To worship that is to be free.”
freedomWake-up Sermon
“All scriptures point to this.”
essenceWake-up Sermon
“Yet the scripture is not it.”
essenceWake-up Sermon
“Drop the finger; see the moon.”
directnessWake-up Sermon
“He who clings to the finger never sees.”
directnessWake-up Sermon
“You came carrying nothing, and you will leave carrying nothing.”
impermanenceOutline of Practice
“What then is yours to defend?”
non-clingingOutline of Practice
“Drop the burden of self; walk free.”
freedomOutline of Practice
“Where there is no clinging, there is no enemy.”
peaceOutline of Practice
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