What is bodhidharma?

Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk traditionally credited as the transmitter of Zen Buddhism to China, and regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. He is believed to have lived during the 5th or 6th century CE.

• Origins and Lineage: Accounts vary, but he is generally described as being from Southern India and of either Brahmin or Kshatriya origin. He is considered the 28th patriarch in a lineage tracing back to Gautama Buddha.

• Arrival in China: Bodhidharma is said to have arrived in China sometime during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty. Legends recount a famous, and ultimately unproductive, meeting between Bodhidharma and the emperor, who was a devout Buddhist.

• Shaolin Monastery: He is famously associated with the Shaolin Monastery. Legend states that he spent nine years in meditation facing a wall in a cave near the monastery. Some traditions also attribute the origins of Shaolin Kung Fu to Bodhidharma, although this is historically debated.

• Teachings: Bodhidharma's teachings emphasized meditation and direct insight into one's own true nature, rather than reliance on scriptures or rituals. Key concepts include:

  • "A special transmission outside the scriptures"
  • "Not relying on words and letters"
  • "Directly pointing to the mind"
  • "Seeing into one’s own nature and attaining Buddhahood"

• Legacy: Bodhidharma is a central figure in Zen Buddhism and is revered throughout East Asia. He represents the spirit of direct, experiential enlightenment.