Bodhidharma
c. 5th-6th century • Indian
BuddhismZen
Semi-legendary 5th-6th century Buddhist monk who carried Chan (Zen) Buddhism from India to China. Famous for nine years of wall-gazing meditation at Shaolin and the four-line summary of Zen: 'A special transmission outside the scriptures, not founded upon words and letters.'
Key Works
- Bloodstream Sermon
- Wake-up Sermon
- Breakthrough Sermon
- Outline of Practice
89
quotes in library
Quotes by Bodhidharma
89 quotes“By pointing directly to the human heart, one sees one's own nature and attains buddhahood.”
direct-pointingOutline of Practice
“Many roads lead to the Path, but basically there are only two: reason and practice.”
pathOutline of Practice
“To enter by reason means to realize the essence through instruction.”
understandingOutline of Practice
“To enter by practice refers to four all-inclusive practices: suffering injustice, adapting to conditions, seeking nothing, and practicing the dharma.”
practiceOutline of Practice
“When those who search for the Path encounter adversity, they should think to themselves, 'In countless ages gone by, I have given undue importance to fleeting things.'”
karmaOutline of Practice
“This adversity is the result of past karma; bear it with equanimity.”
equanimityOutline of Practice
“Conditions arise and pass — what cause for joy or grief?”
equanimityOutline of Practice
“With perfect equanimity, you walk the Path.”
equanimityOutline of Practice
“To seek nothing is the true joy.”
non-seekingOutline of Practice
“Worldly people deceive themselves by seeking; the awakened seek nothing and have everything.”
non-seekingOutline of Practice
“To practice the dharma is to act in accord with the truth that all phenomena are empty.”
emptinessOutline of Practice
“In emptiness, there is nothing to grasp.”
non-graspingOutline of Practice
“In emptiness, there is nothing to push away.”
acceptanceOutline of Practice
“Just see your nature — that is enough.”
seeingBloodstream Sermon
“Seeing your nature is buddha.”
realizationBloodstream Sermon
“To find a buddha, you have to see your nature.”
seeingBloodstream Sermon
“Whoever sees his nature is a buddha; whoever doesn't is a mortal.”
realizationBloodstream Sermon
“Without seeing your nature, the most diligent practice is in vain.”
essenceBloodstream Sermon
“Not thinking about anything is Zen. Once you know this, walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is Zen.”
presenceThe Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma
Page 1 of 5Next
Explore More Teachers
Discover wisdom from 500+ spiritual teachers across all traditions.
Browse All Teachers