Zen teaching of Bodhidharma, The

Book Description

This profound collection presents the essential teachings of Bodhidharma, the fifth-century Indian Buddhist monk who introduced Zen practice to China and became the spiritual ancestor to millions of practitioners worldwide. Unlike other Buddhist teachers who viewed meditation as mental purification or a stepping stone to enlightenment, Bodhidharma offered a revolutionary perspective that identified Zen directly with buddhahood itself, making it accessible within ordinary daily experience.

Rather than instructing students to cleanse their minds through traditional methods, Bodhidharma directed their attention to the immediate world around them: stone walls, the graceful movements of wild animals, a simple reed drifting down a river. His approach emphasized direct perception and the recognition of one's inherent Buddha nature through mindful observation of life as it unfolds.

This bilingual edition contains four complete teachings that form the foundation of his wisdom. The "Outline of Practice" reveals four comprehensive habits that guide practitioners toward awakening. The "Bloodstream Sermon" encourages students to discover Buddha consciousness by examining their own essential nature. The "Wake-up Sermon" presents his central conviction that enlightenment emerges through careful attention to the mind itself.

Each teaching demonstrates Bodhidharma's practical approach to spiritual development, showing how profound realization can emerge from engaging fully with present-moment awareness. This collection offers readers an authentic encounter with the origins of Zen wisdom and its timeless relevance for contemporary spiritual seekers.