"If you use your mind to study reality, you won't understand either your mind or reality. If you study reality without using your mind, you'll understand both."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

"If we should be blessed by some great reward, such as fame or fortune, it's the fruit of a seed planted by us in the past."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

Manto de fuego,
firmeza en la roca fría,
nunca te rindas.

火の衣
岩に堅くて
諦めず。

ひのころも
いわにかたくて
あきらめず。

Hi no koromo
Iwa ni katakute
Akiramezu #Bodhidharma
#daruma

"Once you stop clinging and let things be, you'll be free, even of birth and death. You'll transform everything."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

Virtual Meditation Tonight, Dharma Video & Wisdom Quotes! Virtual Meditation Tonight, Dharma Video & Wisdom Quotes!

Anam Cara Meditation newsletter 3/19/26
Open virtual meditation tonight at 7:15pm ET, new course starting 4/19, meditation inspiration, resources, and more!
#mindfulness #yoga #dharma #Bodhidharma #spirituality #spiritualdevelopment #guidedmeditation
zc.vg/P8jox?m=0

"But people of the deepest understanding look within, distracted by nothing. Since a clear mind is the #Buddha, they attain the understanding of a Buddha without using the mind."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

It's always a pleasure to practice with our Full Moon Zen cousins and consider some timeless Zen Koans. Why did Bodhidharma come from the West? Japanese and Korean Zen: same or different?

#zen #koans #bodhidharma

Was the Founder of Zen a Vampire? Exhuming Zen's Secret Vampiric Heritage

Zen's secert dark past
#zen #bodhidharma #buddhism
open.substack.com/pub/samueljd...

lunar delight

Someone who seeks the way doesn't look beyond himself. — Bodhidharma

#Bodhidharma #way

"Not thinking about anything is Zen. Once you know this, walking, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is Zen."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

Original post on mastodon.social

"Every suffering is a #Buddha-seed, because suffering impels mortals to seek wisdom. But you can only say that suffering gives rise to #buddhahood. You can’t say that suffering is buddhahood. Your body and mind are the field. Suffering is the seed, wisdom the sprout, and buddhahood the grain." […]

"Regardless of what we do, our karma has no hold on us."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

"Once you see your nature, sex is basically immaterial."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

"I never lost or fail, not yet conquered. If I fall seven times, I get up eight."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

Bodhidharma: Life Story, Core Beliefs & Legacy In Zen Tradition - Ourbuddhismworld.com Bodhidharma is widely regarded as the founding figure of Chan Buddhism in China, which later became known as Zen in Japan. His teachings revolutionized

Bodhidharma’s life and teachings represent a pivotal moment in the history of Buddhism. By bringing meditation, direct experience, and sudden enlightenment to the forefront, he reshaped how Buddhists approach awakening.
#Bodhidharma #Wolink #ourbuddhismworld
www.ourbuddhismworld.com/archives/3943

"According to the Sutras, evil deeds result in hardships and good deeds result in blessings."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

"As mortals, we're ruled by conditions, not by ourselves."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

"To go from mortal to #Buddha, you have to put an end to karma, nurture your awareness, and accept what life brings."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

The earliest biography of Bodhidharma from the Xu Gaoseng Zhuan before later Zen legends. — MIND LIGHT WAY The earliest biography of Bodhidharma from the Xu Gaoseng Zhuan (Further Biographies of Eminent Monks), before later Zen legends.

Bodhidharma before Zen mythology.

A translation and study of his earliest biography from the Xu Gaoseng Zhuan—quiet, restrained, and practice-focused.

www.mindlightway.org/zen-history-...

#ZenHistory
#Bodhidharma
#EarlyChan
#BuddhistTexts
#Dhyana

"The essence of the Way is detachment." -Bodhidharma
#videography #nature #peace #forest #essence #quote #philosophy #bodhidharma

"Those who worship don't know, and those who know don't worship."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

"Those who worship don't know, and those who know don't worship."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

lunar delight

Someone who seeks the way doesn't look beyond himself. — Bodhidharma

#Bodhidharma #way

Your weekly Dharma from The Essential Dogen. Dogen is telling the story where Huike came to see Bodhidharma seeking to be a student, and this is what Bodhidharma said to him.

#Buddhism #buddhism #buddha #buddhist #zen #Dogen #dharma #bodhidharma

"A #Buddha doesn’t observe precepts. A Buddha doesn’t do good or evil. A Buddha isn’t energetic or lazy. A Buddha is someone who does nothing, someone who can’t even focus his mind on a Buddha. A Buddha isn’t a Buddha. Don’t think about Buddhas."

– Bodhidharma

Daily #Zen #Buddhism #Bodhidharma

Glitch Crystal Bodhidharma Staff

#GlitchArt #CrystalTypography #CyberpunkAesthetic #Bodhidharma #NeonGlitch

Christmas Koan --- Pictured: not the Buddha. Ask a random Westerner to describe the Buddha, and you're likely to hear something about a "big fat laughing guy." I once heard a radio preacher sneer down my entire religion as "people who think you kin git ta heaven bah prayin' to a big, fat Byoo-dah." (By the way, if he happens to read this, may I suggest you refrain from commenting on others' beliefs until you know, at minimum, whether they pray, and if so, to whom.) We Zenners find this nonsense especially grating since we barely even acknowledge the figure they're referring to. For the record, the dude in the above photo is Hotei (Budai, Pu-Tai, 布袋, Bố Đại...). Not the Buddha. Not _a_ buddha. Not even a significant legendary figure, like Fudo or Kanzeon. Just a rankless Chán monk of the Liang Dynasty. Not that my brother Hotei didn't have his noteworthy points. First off, unlike most Buddhist monks, he was fat. (Note that the actual Buddha once starved himself nearly to death, and then adjusted his practice to embrace, shall we say, non-stupid asceticism. That's why he's usually depicted as sensibly slim, and occasionally as terrifyingly emaciated, in admiration of his earlier, if misguided, conviction.) Hotei's girth was all the more miraculous because he was a begging hermit. (High five to the Homeless Brothers!) How you maintain such a waistline on handouts is one of the mysteries of his practice. Especially since he gave away everything he got. Hotei carried this dimly-sourced loot in a bag over his shoulder, which, upon deposition, turned out to be mostly filled with sugary treats that he handed out to children like… (Sorry. Even I can't go there.) You see this coming, right? Not yet? OK, dig this: the central practice of Hotei's monastic rule was laughter. He was always cutting loose with a big, jolly laugh that announced joy and peace to the world, as he humped a bottomless bag through town on his fat back, doling out presents to every child... Anybody? Oh, come on! Now you're just trying to piss me off. The reason you see more statues of Hotei than Gautama in Asia is the same reason you see more Santas than Jesuses at Christmastime: he's more fun, less threatening, and doesn't remind people of suffering. And it's that last bit I like to meditate on. Hotei is unpopular among modern Zenners because he's embarrassingly emotional, dangerously untamed – wandering around teacherless, eschewing all acts of devotion save his self-authored laughter practice – and worst of all, he does that annoying Bodhidharma thing of preaching no-key enlightenment. Don't waste time bowing and chanting and folding things just so and being obedient to this and that, says Hotei. Especially, don't confuse misery with discipline. Bodhidharma said "just sit." Hotei says "just laugh." And that's what offends us. Because if Bodhidharma crapped on social ambition and Confucianism and gracious deference to hierarchies, at least he wasn't ho-ho-ho-ing it up in the town square, rubbing our pious faces in it. "You're in pain?" says the fat old hobo. "I hate it when that happens. But don't sweat it, because sooner or later, one way or another, your problems are doomed. Hey, they can't survive without you, can they?" And then he laughs. Because that's freakin' hysterical. Therefore, in honour of Christmas, and to bow in ironic deference to my unpretentious brother, I offer fellow seekers the Koan of Hotei. To my certain knowledge, it's the only nod to the Buddhist Santa Claus in our entire canon. It's also my favourite koan. (A distinction it shares with all of them.) So: > A monk asked Hotei, "What is the meaning of Chán?" > > Hotei put down his bag. > > "How does one realise Chán?" the monk asked. > > Hotei threw his bag on his back and walked on. Happy holidays, brothers and sisters. See you on the road. --- Jolly old Gautama. _(Photos courtesy of Helanhuaren [Hotei figurine], Akuppa John Wigham [emaciated Siddhartha statue], and Wikimedia Commons.)_

Christmas Koan

When is the Buddha not the Buddha?

rustyring.blogspot.com/2016/12/christmas-koan.h...

#Bodhidharma, #Buddha, #Chàn, #Christmas, #generosity, #hermitpractice, #Hotei, #koan, #monk, #SantaClaus, #Zen

Christmas Koan --- Pictured: not the Buddha. Ask a random Westerner to describe the Buddha, and you're likely to hear something about a "big fat laughing guy." I once heard a radio preacher sneer down my entire religion as "people who think you kin git ta heaven bah prayin' to a big, fat Byoo-dah." (By the way, if he happens to read this, may I suggest you refrain from commenting on others' beliefs until you know, at minimum, whether they pray, and if so, to whom.) We Zenners find this nonsense especially grating since we barely even acknowledge the figure they're referring to. For the record, the dude in the above photo is Hotei (Budai, Pu-Tai, 布袋, Bố Đại...). Not the Buddha. Not _a_ buddha. Not even a significant legendary figure, like Fudo or Kanzeon. Just a rankless Chán monk of the Liang Dynasty. Not that my brother Hotei didn't have his noteworthy points. First off, unlike most Buddhist monks, he was fat. (Note that the actual Buddha once starved himself nearly to death, and then adjusted his practice to embrace, shall we say, non-stupid asceticism. That's why he's usually depicted as sensibly slim, and occasionally as terrifyingly emaciated, in admiration of his earlier, if misguided, conviction.) Hotei's girth was all the more miraculous because he was a begging hermit. (High five to the Homeless Brothers!) How you maintain such a waistline on handouts is one of the mysteries of his practice. Especially since he gave away everything he got. Hotei carried this dimly-sourced loot in a bag over his shoulder, which, upon deposition, turned out to be mostly filled with sugary treats that he handed out to children like… (Sorry. Even I can't go there.) You see this coming, right? Not yet? OK, dig this: the central practice of Hotei's monastic rule was laughter. He was always cutting loose with a big, jolly laugh that announced joy and peace to the world, as he humped a bottomless bag through town on his fat back, doling out presents to every child... Anybody? Oh, come on! Now you're just trying to piss me off. The reason you see more statues of Hotei than Gautama in Asia is the same reason you see more Santas than Jesuses at Christmastime: he's more fun, less threatening, and doesn't remind people of suffering. And it's that last bit I like to meditate on. Hotei is unpopular among modern Zenners because he's embarrassingly emotional, dangerously untamed – wandering around teacherless, eschewing all acts of devotion save his self-authored laughter practice – and worst of all, he does that annoying Bodhidharma thing of preaching no-key enlightenment. Don't waste time bowing and chanting and folding things just so and being obedient to this and that, says Hotei. Especially, don't confuse misery with discipline. Bodhidharma said "just sit." Hotei says "just laugh." And that's what offends us. Because if Bodhidharma crapped on social ambition and Confucianism and gracious deference to hierarchies, at least he wasn't ho-ho-ho-ing it up in the town square, rubbing our pious faces in it. "You're in pain?" says the fat old hobo. "I hate it when that happens. But don't sweat it, because sooner or later, one way or another, your problems are doomed. Hey, they can't survive without you, can they?" And then he laughs. Because that's freakin' hysterical. Therefore, in honour of Christmas, and to bow in ironic deference to my unpretentious brother, I offer fellow seekers the Koan of Hotei. To my certain knowledge, it's the only nod to the Buddhist Santa Claus in our entire canon. It's also my favourite koan. (A distinction it shares with all of them.) So: > A monk asked Hotei, "What is the meaning of Chán?" > > Hotei put down his bag. > > "How does one realise Chán?" the monk asked. > > Hotei threw his bag on his back and walked on. Happy holidays, brothers and sisters. See you on the road. --- Jolly old Gautama. _(Photos courtesy of Helanhuaren [Hotei figurine], Akuppa John Wigham [emaciated Siddhartha statue], and Wikimedia Commons.)_

Christmas Koan

When is the Buddha not the Buddha?

rustyring.blogspot.com/2016/12/christmas-koan.h...

#Bodhidharma, #Buddha, #Chàn, #Christmas, #generosity, #hermitpractice, #Hotei, #koan, #monk, #SantaClaus, #Zen