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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Compassion with the Controlling Impulse - February 4th, 2023, AfternoonEmphasizing 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, impartiality, non-grasping, loving-kindness, Bodhidharma, Avalokiteshvara,... |
Feb 04 2023 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Ten Vows, Ten Practices, and Ten Cakes Discrimination, Bowing, Japan, Bell, Attachment, Priest, Dragons, Doubt, Bodhidharma... |
Mar 07 2020 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Buddha ActivityThe 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 |
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Silent Sitting & Social ActionZen 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 |
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The Pivotal Business of Buddha’s HouseCompassion, Bodhidharma, resistance |
Jun 11 2016 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Fayen’s Good FriendshipPerfect Wisdom, Perfect Wisdom, Soto Zen, Daily Life, Bodhidharma, resistance, Heart... |
Jun 07 2014 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Speakable and Unspeakable Names of Our Zen Family AncestorsPerfect Wisdom, good friendship, This good friendship is the whole of the holy life, Shitou, Matzu, Yaoshan, Da-Wu, Lung-tan, Deshan, Guishan, Xiangyan SFZC lineage, Mind of No Abode ... Kalyana Mitra, Shitou, Mazu, Prajna Paramita, Perfect Wisdom, resistance, Lineage,... |
Mar 01 2014 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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The Bodhisattva's Mind of No AbodeThe Bodhisattva’s Mind of No Abode Fundraising, Buddha Mind, true dharma, japanese, practicing generosity, Politics,... |
Sep 01 2012 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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When Dharma fills Body and MindWhen Dharma Fills Body and Mind Tenshin Reb Anderson No Abode, July 14, 2012 AFTERNOON Lineage, Dogen, lecture, soto, Bodhidharma, Desire |
Jul 13 2012 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Stimulating Bodhisattva's courage and entering reality Observe, Rinzai, Gratitude, Bodhisattva Vow, Enemies, Japan, Bodhidharma, Religion,... |
Oct 15 2011 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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The Basic Practice of Stillness and Silence Silence, Impermanence, Attachment, Manjushri, lecture, Bodhidharma, American, Evil,... |
Feb 12 2011 No Abode Hermitage |
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Intimacy with Birth and Death: The 39th Yearly Memorial for Suzuki Roshi Intimacy, Birth-and-Death, Suzuki Roshi, New Year, Priest, resistance, Chanting,... |
Dec 04 2010 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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The Mind of Enlightenment Enthusiasm, Bodhidharma, Practice Period, Faith, Equanimity, Confession-and-... |
Aug 05 2010 The Yoga Room |
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Training for the Selfless Heart Desire, Demons, Birth-and-Death, Emotions, Intimacy, Attachment, Samsara, Continuous... |
Apr 22 2010 The Yoga Room |
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Training for the Selfless Heart Patience, Addiction, Bodhidharma, difficulty, Enthusiasm, Don't Know Mind,... |
Apr 15 2010 The Yoga Room |
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Is the Bodhisattva Path Exclusive? Intimacy, Priest, Teacher-and-Student, Commitment, Soto Zen, Interview, soto,... |
Mar 06 2010 No Abode Hermitage |
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The Ultimate Transcends All ArgumentationSamdhinirmochana Mahayana Sutra Chapter 2 Chapter Two, Morning Non-violence, Nirvana, Bodhisattva Way, Doubt, Anger, Desire, War, Hindrances,... |
May 23 2009 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Causation and Non-Self causation, Birth-and-Death, Faith, Suzuki Roshi, Emotions, Manjushri, Interdependence... |
Apr 16 2009 The Yoga Room |
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Causation and Non-Self causation, Attachment, Faith, War, Evil, Desire, Bodhidharma |
Apr 09 2009 The Yoga Room |