Not thinking about anything is Zen. Once you know this; walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is Zen.
-BODHIDHASRMA 5th-6th Century
Bodhidhasrma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. According to Chinese legend, he also began the physical training of the monks of Shaolin Monastery that led to the creation of Shaolin Kung Fu. In Japan, he is known as Daruma.
Daruma Doll Brings Good Luck
Little contemporary biographical information on Bodhidharma is extant, and subsequent accounts became layered with legend. The principal Chinese sources vary on their account of Bodhidharma’s origins, giving either an origin from India or Central Asia. Throughout Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is depicted as an ill-tempered, profusely-bearded, wide-eyed non-Chinese person. He is referred as “The Blue-Eyed Barbarian” (Chinese: 碧眼胡; pinyin: Bìyǎnhú) in Chan texts. -Source: Wikipedia
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Interview with the author Ali Aliabadi
The Father of Zen and the Way of Zen
As you many know I am reviewing a book I gave my Buddhist Brother a few months before he died and posting the quotes and proverbs that were printed in margins on several of the pages. The quote from the First Zen Master above started me on an evening of research into the life and legends of Bodhidhasrma and the several links listed on this post are the results of my searching.
I found this a fascinating evening and will close with a lovely picture of two Zen Monks enjoy the being of Zen which I personally own
(no it didn’t sell on eBay but I’m actually glad)
and then finally pictures of The Master and my brother.
My Brother a Zen Bearded Blue-Eyed Devil ~~dru~~
saywhatumean2say 