Guide Nots

Early fifth century CE South Indian sage Bodhidharma founded the school of Zen Buddhism and brought its philosophies to China. He is considered the first patriarch of Zen Buddhism and the twenty-eighth patriarch of Buddhism. Bodhidharma has been credited with the creation of Shaolin Kung Fu, and although it is agreed that he taught at the Shaolin Temple, some dispute that he was a Kung Fu master.

Fast Facts

1. Reportedly ill-tempered
2. Had few disciples during his lifetime
3. "Bhodidharma" is "Tamo" in Chinese and "Daruma" in Japanese
4. Tibetans refer to him as "Bodhidharmottara" or "Dharmottara," meaning "Highest teaching (dharma) of enlightenment"
5. Founded the meditative practice of wall gazing

1. Walked backwards to India after his death
2. Cut off his eyelids to prevent himself from falling asleep while meditating
3. Brought tea to China
4. Refused to teach a student until the student demonstrated devotion by cutting off his own arm
5. Meditated for seven (some say nine) years without moving or closing his eyes
6. During a lengthy meditation, his arms and legs atrophied, shriveled up and fell off

1. "The true Way is sublime. It can't be expressed in language. Of what use are scriptures? But someone who sees his own nature finds the Way, even if he can't read a word."
2. "Without the mind there is no Buddha. Without the Buddha there’s no mind."
3. "Once you stop clinging and let things be, you’ll be free, even of birth and death. You’ll transform everything."