Bodhidharma Talks

Bodhidharma (Sanskrit; Chinese Dámó, Japanese Daruma) 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. He is also popularly regarded as the founder of Shaolin kung fu, an idea popularized in the 20th century, but based on the 17th century Yijin Jing and the Daoist association of daoyin gymnastics with Bodhidharma.

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." Aside from the Chinese accounts, several popular traditions also exist regarding Bodhidharma's origins. 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.

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 back to the Gautama Buddha himself.

From bodhidharma on Wikipedia

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Zen Meditation on the Great Flower Adornment Scripture, Class 5

In this series of meetings, we will study and see how Zen is the key unlocking the innumerable meanings of this oceanic scripture. We will also explore how the sutra opens and illuminates our simple...

#YRB-2023-Fall, Demons, Faith, Lotus Sutra, Bodhidharma, Enlightenment
Oct 31 2023
5 of 8
The Yoga Room

Zen Meditation on the Great Flower Adornment Scripture, Class 4

In this series of meetings, we will study and see how Zen is the key unlocking the innumerable meanings of this oceanic scripture. We will also explore how the sutra opens and illuminates our simple...

#YRB-2023-Fall, Faith, Lotus Sutra, Demons, Bodhidharma, Enlightenment
Oct 24 2023
4 of 8
The Yoga Room

Compassion with the Controlling Impulse

Emphasizing compassion and de-emphasizing trying to control. Compassion with the impulse to try to control. Being careful without trying to control. Impartiality towards the outcome; for example,...

Compassion, control, non-grasping, Lovingkindness, Avalokiteshvara, Avalokiteshvara,...
Feb 04 2023
PM
No Abode Hermitage

Dongshan and the Monk from the Mountaintop

Serial: TL-00761

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Faith, Zoom, Heart Sutra, Book of Serenity, Bodhidharma
Sep 18 2022
Hybrid

Protecting and Liberating All Beings

A residential weekend retreat at Mount Madonna.

#MtMadonna-2021-Fall, Compassion, Intimacy, Observe, Zazen, Bodhidharma, American...
Nov 19 2021
Mount Madonna Center

Mountain Seat Ceremony Rehersal

Serial: BZ-02815

Rehersal for Hozan Alan Senauke's Mountain Seat Ceremony. 

Dragons, Bodhidharma, Bell, Silence, Bowing
Jan 23 2021
Berkeley Zen Center

Living On A Mountain

Dragons, Zoom, Bodhidharma, Lay Practice, Dharma Transmission, Ordination, Priest,...
Oct 24 2020

What Do You Call The World

Book of Serenity, Mindfulness, Six Realms, New Year, Teacher-and-Student, Bodhidharma...
Sep 19 2020

The Three Natures

Buddha Nature, Birth-and-Death, War, Bodhisattva Way, Precepts, Dharma Transmission,...
Apr 25 2020

Ten Vows, Ten Practices, and Ten Cakes

Discrimination, Bowing, Japan, Bell, Attachment, Priest, Dragons, Doubt, Bodhidharma...
Mar 07 2020
PM
No Abode Hermitage

Dogen's Plum Blossoms and the Treeness of Everything

Serial: TL-00650

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Buddha Ancestors, Thich Nhat Hanh, New Year, Bodhidharma
Feb 02 2020
ADZG Temple

Dogen's Snowy Mountain Poems

Serial: TL-00642

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Bodhidharma, Sanctuary, Don't Know Mind, New Year
Jan 05 2020
ADZG Temple

Bodhidharma's Intention for 2020

Serial: TL-00640

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Intention, New Year, Bodhidharma, Right Speech, Right Effort
Dec 30 2019
ADZG Temple

Jewel Mirror Zazen Instructions; You've Got to Serve Somebody

Serial: TL-00627

ADZG Rohatsu Sesshin,
Sesshin Talk

Precious Mirror, Bodhisattva Way, Doubt, Bodhidharma, Posture
Dec 05 2019
ADZG Temple

Choices and Preferences

Passions, Eka, Heart Sutra, uchiyama, Attachment, Bodhidharma, confusion,...
Sep 21 2019

Going Beyond

Heart Sutra, Intimacy, Impermanence, Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, Renewal,...
Aug 24 2019

Man Up A Tree, Talk 3

Serial: BZ-02686

Sesshin Day 3

 

Bodhisattva Vow, Vow, Gratitude, Big Mind, Ego, Renunciation, Bodhidharma, Intuition...
Jun 21 2019

Man up a Tree

Renunciation, Ego, Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Don't Know Mind, Priest,...
May 18 2019

Practice Period 31st Opening Sesshin

Practice Period, Birth-and-Death, Bodhidharma, Practice Position, Bodhisattva Vow,...
May 11 2019

Buddha Activity

The work of buddhas — buddha activity — is realizing intimacy and liberation in conversation together with all beings. In this series of meetings we will contemplate what it is to fully engage with...

YRB-2019-Spring, cognitive process, Silence, Faith, Suzuki Roshi, unconscious process...
Apr 02 2019
5/7
The Yoga Room

Cypress Tree in the Garden

Bodhidharma, Priest, Greed, Conversation, Buddha Nature, Interview, Oneness,...
Mar 02 2019

Book of Serenity case 12: Dizang Planting Seeds

Serial: TL-00561

ADZG Wednesday Morning,
Sesshin Talk

Book of Serenity, lecture, Rinzai, Bodhidharma
Dec 05 2018
ADZG Temple

Merit Gathas by Robert Aitken: The Dragon Who Never Sleeps

Serial: BZ-02651

Rohatsu Day 4

 

Bell, Vow, Offering, Bodhidharma, Priest-and-Lay, Buddha Mind, Soto Zen, Aspects of...
Dec 05 2018

Silent Sitting & Social Action

Zen students often ask how our practice of silence and stillness relates to injustice and our environmental crisis. In this class we explore this question and study the intimate interplay of...

YRB-2018-Fall, Silence, Bodhidharma, cognitive process, Observe, Fundraising, Lay,...
Nov 13 2018
5 of 7
The Yoga Room

Kyogen's Man Up in a Tree

Ego, Duality, Peace, Bodhidharma, War, Priest, Oneness, Conversation, Instruction...
Sep 29 2018

Book of Serenity case 6: A Question of Basic Meaning and a Headache

Serial: TL-00536

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Blue Cliff Record, Book of Serenity, Fox, Vimalakirti, Bodhidharma
Sep 03 2018
ADZG Temple

Book of Serenity case 5: The Cost of Bread in Chicago

Serial: TL-00534

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Peace, Book of Serenity, Bodhidharma, Practice Period, Bodhisattva Way
Aug 26 2018
ADZG Temple

Book of Serenity Case 3: Prajnatara and Inhale and Exhale as Sutras

Serial: TL-00530

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Book of Serenity, Bodhidharma, Blue Cliff Record, Emotions, Heart Sutra
Jul 29 2018
ADZG Temple

Book of Serenity Case 2: Bodhidharma's Nothing Holy

Serial: TL-00529

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Bodhidharma, Blue Cliff Record, Book of Serenity, Dharma Transmission, Silence...
Jul 08 2018
ADZG Temple

Bodhidharma Listening to the Cries of the World

Avalokiteshvara's eyes of compassion observing all sentient beings; Bodhidharma and Emperor Wu, facing the wall for nine years; the Sixth Ancestor's training;

Buddha Ancestors, Consciousness, Compassion, Bodhisattva, Bodhidharma, cognitive...
Mar 03 2018
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Hyakujo Sits on the Sublime Peak

Serial: BZ-02591

Sesshin

 

BCR-26, Separation, Monastic Practice, Lineage, Bodhidharma, Interview, Bowing,...
Jan 13 2018

Transiency

Serial: BZ-02585

Day 3

 

Composure, Nirvana, Enemies, Big Mind, Buddha Nature, Ego, Bodhidharma, resistance,...
Dec 05 2017

Playing Bodhisattva Vow

Serial: TL-00494

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Bodhisattva Vow, Balance, Bodhisattva Way, Manjushri, Bodhidharma
Oct 30 2017
ADZG Temple

A Teacher Turning His Back and Turning Self

Serial: TL-00445

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Book of Serenity, Bodhidharma, Silent Illumination, Hongzhi, Interview
Jan 08 2017
ADZG Temple

Seshin day 3: Searching for the ox while riding it home

Serial: TL-00441

Sesshin Day 3 (Rohatsu),
Dharma Talk

Ordinary Mind, Bodhidharma, training, Desire, Chanting
Dec 02 2016
ADZG Temple

Thanksgiving: Practice Reminder and Celebration of Native American Persecution

Serial: TL-00438

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Gratitude, Building, Commitment, Bodhidharma, Chanting
Nov 27 2016
ADZG Temple

Master Ma is Unwell

Serial: BZ-02503

Koan Class 1

Birth-and-Death, Bodhidharma, Fox, Book of Serenity, Lineage, Buddha Mind,...
Oct 10 2016

The Pivotal Business of Buddha’s House

Compassion, Bodhidharma, resistance
Jun 11 2016
PM
No Abode Hermitage

Yunmen's Body Exposed in The Golden Wind

Serial: BZ-02467

Class Blue Cliff Record Case 27

 

BCR-27, Dragons, Buddha Ancestors, Birth-and-Death, Bodhidharma, New Year, Sixth...
Mar 21 2016

Blue Cliff Record 62, Book of Serenity 92

Serial: BZ-02465

Class

 

BCR-62, SER-92, Buddha Mind, Bodhidharma, Book of Serenity, Ordinary Mind, Fox,...
Mar 14 2016

Yunmen's Jewel

Serial: BZ-02463

Koan Class Blue Cliff Record Case 62

 

BCR-62, Book of Serenity, Buddha Mind, Duality, Subject-and-Object, Soto Zen, Blue...
Mar 07 2016

Blue Cliff Record Case 53

Serial: BZ-02460

Class

BCR-53, Buddha Nature, Don't Know Mind, Composure, Heart Sutra, Doubt, Intimacy...
Feb 27 2016

December 20th, 2015, Serial No. 00399

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Big Mind, Balance, Bodhidharma, Practice Period...
Dec 20 2015

Zazen and Marginalized Beings

Serial: TL-00398

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

Pain, Bodhidharma, Politics, Peace
Dec 13 2015
ADZG Temple

Beyond Sacred Truths Bamboo Snaps

Serial: TL-00397

ADZG Sesshin,
Dharma Talk

Bodhidharma, Pain, Religion, Sekito Kisen
Dec 06 2015
ADZG Temple

The 6th Ancestor Refined and Sifted by the Elephant King

Serial: TL-00396

ADZG Sesshin,
Dharma Talk

Tenzo, Fox, Bodhidharma, Dharma Transmission
Dec 05 2015
ADZG Temple

Somersaulting Dragons Liberating the 4th Ancestor

Serial: TL-00395

ADZG Sesshin,
Dharma Talk

Liberation, Bodhidharma, Letting Go, Balance, Peace
Dec 04 2015
ADZG Temple

Our Leper Ancestor and Clarifying Karma

Serial: TL-00394

ADZG Sesshin,
Dharma Talk

Pain, Bodhidharma, Rumi, Sesshin, Bodhisattva Precepts
Dec 03 2015
ADZG Temple

Bodhidharma, the Wall, and the Crying Geese

Serial: TL-00393

ADZG Sesshin,
Dharma Talk

Bodhidharma, Bell, Lay
Dec 02 2015
ADZG Temple

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