Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th/6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Ch'an (Sanskrit: Dhyāna, Japanese: Zen) to China, and regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. According to Chinese legend, he also began the physical training of the Shaolin monks that led to the creation of Shaolinquan.
Little contemporary biographical information on Bodhidharma is extant, and subsequent accounts became layered with legend.[1]
There are three principal sources for Bodhidharma's biography[2]:
Yáng Xuànzhī's (Yang Hsüan-chih) The Record of the Buddhist Monasteries of Luoyang (547), Tánlín's preface to the Two Entrances and Four Acts (6th century CE), which is also preserved in Ching-chüeh's Chronicle of the Lankavatar Masters (713-716)[3], and Dàoxuān's (Tao-hsuan) Further Biographies of Eminent Monks (7th century CE).
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhidharma
My fisrt contact with Zen Buddhism was from watching a movie of Bodhidharma depicted by Er Tong Sheng. Then another one later by a Hong Kong actor, in a drama serial. I bought the whole set of DVDs.
Hahaha! Those more than 20years old already!
While in the bath just now, I was thinking who initiated me into Buddhism?
Answer: Boddhidharma! [The vision was the one statue of Bodhidharma, that I sighted at the bottom right hand corner in the Usnisa Vijaya Hall in Hong Kong Lotus Light Charity's Vihara!]
Hahaha! I remember the 1st time I met this Boddhidharma, everyone was looking at the metre plus high statue of Usnisa Vijaya placed in the centre. However, some signal made me look to bottom left of altar (my right). The statue of Boddhidharma is no more than 15-inches in height.
I asked him (silently) who are you?
A shijie told me this is "Dharma" 达摩.
I laughingly told her to inform VM that I have invited Boddhidharma to travel and cultivate with me. :)
We all have the 'playfulness' of a child in us and Boddhidharma is no exception. Of course, what is our definition of PLAY, is another interesting topic.
Hahaha! Lets go to the point!
All of us are potential Buddhas! We hear that often.
Guru said we are all Lotus Child too in origin.
In my articles about Amazing Tantrayana; I wrote about [Child-like innocence]; [Simplicity]; ...
Yes!
We need to go back to know how to be a child, Pure & Innocent.
Go back to the time, you do not know you have need for a multitude of sentient materials!
You smile and is joyful when fed and slept well.
Go back to when the adults around you started to make you choosy; picky and throw tantrum to get attention or what you want.... :)
YES! That is exactly what is happening to you now too!
You became brainwashed & you became Dependent on others to Think, Decide and Act for You!!!
You became a Slave to the Piper and dance to his tunes!
If you still don't wake up and start the engine in your skull working, thats your fate for the rest of your present sojourn to Planet Earth!
Its 3rd January and still have time to make New Year Resolution to Find and Reveal "A Mind of Your Very Own"! :) :) :)
Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef
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