by L A Myers-Campos

Created on: September 03, 2009

Bodhidharma is the First Patriarch of Zen Buddhism. He brought Zen Buddhism to China from India. He was born around 470 AD, the third son of an Indian King of the Bhramin caste, in Southern India.

He received the name Bodhidharma from his teacher, Prajnatara, who was the 27th Patriarch of Indian Buddhism. From Prajnatara he also received the Mind to Mind Transmission and the title of 28th Patriarch. Prajnatara instructed Bodhidharma to go east to China and transmit the Dharma in such a way that everyone, not just Monks, could have the opportunity to find his or her Buddha nature. Following his teacher's directive, Bodhidharma arrived in China, from Ceylon, somewhere around 520 AD. Before a year had passed, he was invited to Nanjing to meet the Emperor of the Liang Dynasty, Wu Di. Their visit did not turn out well. Here is a general account of the conversation:

The Emperor: I have built many monasteries and universities. Please tell me, what merit have I earned?
Bodhidharma: None whatsoever.
The Emperor: And what is the meaning of the sacred truth?
Bodhidharma: Limitlessly open, nothing is sacred!
The Emperor: Then tell me, who are you?
Bodhidharma: I don't know.

Leaving the Emperor thoroughly astonished and confused, Bodhidharma then went north, across the Yangtze (Yellow) River, onward to the Ho Nan Province, the place of the Shao-Lin Temple. It was here that Bodhidharma, feeling that the time was not ripe for his teachings, sat for nine years, facing a wall inside a cave.

One day, a monk named Kuang (who later became the Second Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, Hui-Ke) came to ask Bodhidharma to be his teacher. At first, he was ignored and even though it was the middle of winter, the monk stood waiting outside in knee-deep snow. This still did not convince Bodhidharma of his sincerity. Desperate, Kuang took his own sword and cut off his right arm! He once more pleaded with Bodhidharma, this time presenting his severed arm as witness to the earnestness of his intentions.

Kuang: My mind has no peace, Master, please help to pacify it!
Bodhidharma: Bring you mind here and I will pacify it.
Kuang: I have searched everywhere and cannot find it!
Bodhidharma: There! I have put it to rest!

Following this exchange, Bodhidharma agreed to the role of teacher at the Shao-lin Monastery. In China, at that time, there was already an established form of Buddhism, called Mahayana. Mahayana Buddhism was based upon studying Buddhist psychology and philosophy and there were many universities for

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