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.
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2015.08.22-serial.00159 Family Practice, Teacher-and-Student, Nirvana Sutra, Bodhidharma, Samsara, difficulty... |
Aug 22 2015 |
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What Is Our Self Continuous, Renunciation, Anger, Birth-and-Death, Doubt, Buddha Nature, Karma, Greed... |
May 09 2015 |
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Jun 21 2013 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sep 08 2012 |
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2012.08.01-serial.00144 Bodhidharma, Teacher-and-Student, Dharma Transmission, Subject-and-Object, Ego,... |
Aug 01 2012 |
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2012.07.29-serial.00137 Dharma Transmission, Breath, Bodhidharma, Passions, Manjushri, Happiness, difficulty... |
Jul 29 2012 |
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Genjo Koan - Section 10B-Part-2Serial: BZ-02249 Nishiari Bokusan commentary, Sesshin Day 4 Point of non-duality, Zazen-discrete moments in time, Time as Discontinuous
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Jun 23 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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May 26 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Right Communication Precepts, Practice Period, Bodhidharma, Bodhisattva Precepts, Right Speech, Intimacy... |
May 05 2012 |
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Mar 10 2012 |
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The Teaching Just For You Dragons, Observe, Culture, Buddha Nature, American, Interdependence, Bodhidharma,... |
Dec 09 2011 |
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Skandas, Bodhidharma, Big Mind, Karma, Bodhidharma, Discrimination, Buddha Mind,... |
Jul 30 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Dharma TransmissionSerial: BZ-02188 Teacher/Disciple Relationship, Sesshin Day 4 Lineage, Transmission, Dogen, Transmission, Branching Streams, Buddha Ancestors,... |
Jun 18 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Suzuki Roshi's Eko LectureSerial: BZ-02186 Encoragement of Practice, Sesshin Day 2 Chanting, Eko, Offering, Echo, Offering, Funeral, Chanting, Religion, Priest,... |
Jun 16 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Jun 02 2011 4 |
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Daitzu Jisho BuddhaSerial: BZ-02180 Zazen, Saturday Lecture Ordinary Mind, Gaining Idea, Perfect Wisdom, Bodhidharma, Intuition, resistance, Hate... |
May 28 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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You Can't Make a Date with EnlightenmentSerial: BZ-02149 Not Always So, Rohatsu Day 7 Sangha, Duality, Intuition, Composure, Buddha Nature, Humility, Continuous, Daily... |
Dec 11 2010 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Commentary on True ConcentrationSerial: BZ-02148 Not Always So, Rohatsu Day 6 Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Mudra, Posture, Concentration, Four Noble Truths, Posture,... |
Dec 10 2010 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Empty Mindfulness Mindfulness, Big Mind, Aspects of Practice, Instruction, Buddha Mind, Bodhidharma,... |
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The Mind of Enlightenment Silence, Lotus Sutra, Dogen, Bodhidharma |
Aug 19 2010 The Yoga Room |
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2010.08.10-serial.00130 Posture, Liberation, Dragons, Impermanence, Enemies, Bodhidharma, Emotions, Describe... |
Aug 10 2010 |
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The Mind of Enlightenment Enthusiasm, Bodhidharma, Equanimity, Practice Period, Faith |
Aug 05 2010 The Yoga Room |
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Lay Ordination and Bodhisattva PreceptsSerial: BZ-02106 Saturday Lecture Precepts, Evil, Gratitude, Lineage, Conversation, Priest, Bodhidharma, Equanimity,... |
Jun 19 2010 Berkeley Zen Center |
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May 01 2010 |
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Jan 02 2010 |
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2009.07.05-serial.00204 Precepts, Greed, Daily Life, Subject-and-Object, Anger, Dharma Transmission,... |
Jul 05 2009 |
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Jun 16 2009 |