Bodhidharma's statue near Shaolin Temple
Brief Story:
Shaolin monks and disciples follow a unique practice among Buddhists
in that they greet each other using only their right hand. This greeting
is a tradition which dates back to Bodhidharma and his disciple, Hui
Ke.
In 495 AD, the Indian monk Ba Tuo, or Buddhabhadra, came to China
teaching a form of Buddhism known as Xiao Sheng Buddhism. He was given
land at the foot of Shaoshi mountain by Emperor Shao Wen and founded the
Shaolin Temple on this land.
Shaolin Temple, China
Around the time that Ba Tuo was founding the Shaolin Temple there was
an Indian prince named Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma was very intelligent
and was the favorite son of the king of India. Bodhidharma had two older
brothers who feared that their father, the king, would pass them over
and bequeath the kingship to Bodhidharma. In their jealousy, the two
older brothers often disparaged Bodhidharma while talking with their
father, hoping to turn him against their younger brother. The older
brothers also attempted to assassinate Bodhidharma but Bodhidharma had
very good karma and so the attempts were not successful. Despite being
the favorite son of the king, Bodhidharma realized that he was not
interested in a life of politics. He chose instead to study with the
famous Buddhist master Prajnatara and become a Buddhist monk.
Bodhidharma trained with his master for many years. One day he asked
his master, “Master, when you pass away, where should I go? What should I
do?” His master replied that he should go to Zhen Dan, which was the
name for China at that time. Years later, Bodhidharma’s master passed
away and Bodhidharma prepared to leave for China.
During the many years that Bodhidharma had studied as a monk, one of
his older brothers had become king of India and that older brother’s son
had become king after him. The king of India was very fond of his uncle
and wanted to make amends for the actions which Bodhidharma’s older
brothers had taken against him. He asked Bodhidharma to stay near the
capital, where he could protect and care for him, but Bodhidharma knew
that he must go to China as his master had said.
Seeing that Bodhidharma would not remain, the king of India ordered
that carrier pigeons be sent to China with messages asking the people of
China to take care of Bodhidharma. These messages made Bodhidharma
famous among many Chinese who wondered what was so special about this
particular Buddhist monk that the king of India would make such a
request.
“According to Southeast Asian
folklore, Bodhidharma travelled from south India by sea to Sumatra,
Indonesia for the purpose of spreading the Mahayana doctrine. From
Palembang, he went north into what are now Malaysia and Thailand. He
travelled the region transmitting his knowledge of Buddhism and martial
arts before eventually entering China through Vietnam. Malay legend
holds that Bodhidharma introduced preset forms to silat.“
In 527 AD, 32 years after Ba Tuo’s founding of the Shaolin temple,
Bodhidharma crossed through Guangdong province into China. In China, he
was known as
Da Mo. Bodhidharma arrived in China
practicing Da Sheng (Mahayana) Buddhism. When Bodhidharma arrived, he
was greeted by a large crowd of people who had heard of the famous
Buddhist master and wished to hear him speak. Rather than speak,
Bodhidharma sat down and began meditating. He meditated for many hours.
Upon completing his meditation, Bodhidharma rose and walked away, saying
nothing.
His actions had a profound effect upon his audience. Some people
laughed, some cried, some were angry and some nodded their heads in
understanding. Regardless of the emotion, everyone in the crowd had a
reaction.
This incident made Bodhidharma even more famous, so famous that
Emperor Wu heard of him. Emperor Wu, who ruled over the southern kingdom
of China, invited Bodhidharma to come to his palace. When Bodhidharma
arrived, Emperor Wu talked with Bodhidharma about Buddhism. The emperor
had erected many statues and temples devoted to Buddhism. He had given
much wealth to Buddhist temples. In talking of his accomplishments,
Emperor Wu asked Bodhidharma if his actions were good. Bodhidharma
replied that they were not. This response surprised Emperor Wu, but they
continued talking and eventually Emperor Wu asked Bodhidharma if there
was Buddha in this world. Bodhidharma replied that there was not.
Bodhidharma’s replies were a reflection of Emperor Wu. By asking if
his actions were good, Emperor Wu was searching for compliments and
affirmation from Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma denied that Emperor Wu’s
actions were good because it is the duty of the emperor to care for his
people. Rather than seeking compliments, Emperor Wu should have been
content to help his people through Buddha. Similarly, if one asks if
there is Buddha in the world, then one has already answered the
question: Buddha is a matter of faith, you either believe in your heart
or you do not. In questioning the existence of Buddha, Emperor Wu had
demonstrated a lack of faith.
Bodhidharma’s answers enraged Emperor Wu and he ordered Bodhidharma
to leave his palace and never return. Bodhidharma simply smiled, turned
and left.
Bodhidharma continued his journey, heading north, when he reached the
city of Nanjing. In the city of Nanjing, there was a famous place
called the Flower Rain Pavillion where many people gathered to speak and
relax. There was a large crowd of people gathered in the Flower Rain
Pavillion around a Buddhist monk, who was lecturing. This Buddhist monk
was named Shen Guang.
Shen Guang had at one time been a famous general. He had killed many
people in battle but one day realized that the people he had been
killing had family and friends and that one day someone might come and
kill him. This changed him and he decided to train as a Buddhist monk.
Eventually, Shen Guang became a great speaker on Buddhism. As
Bodhidharma neared the crowd, he listened to Shen Guang’s speech.
Sometimes Shen Guang would speak and Bodhidharma would nod his head, as
if in agreement. Sometimes Shen Guang would speak and Bodhidharma would
shake his head, as if in disagreement. As this continued, Shen Guang
became very angry at the strange foreign monk who dared to disagree with
him in front of this crowd. In anger, Shen Guang took the Buddhist
beads from around his neck and flicked them at Bodhidharma. The beads
struck Bodhidharma in his face, knocking out two of his front teeth.
Bodhidharma immediately began bleeding. Shen Guang expected a
confrontation; instead, Bodhidharma smiled, turned and walked away.
This reaction astounded Shen Guang, who began following after Bodhidharma.
Bodhidharma continued north until he reached the Yangzi river. Seated
by the river there was an old woman with a large bundle of reeds next
to her. Bodhidharma walked up to the old woman and asked her if he might
have a reed. She replied that he might. Bodhidharma took a single reed,
placed it upon the surface of the Yangzi river and stepped onto the
reed. He was carried across the Yangzi river by the force of his chi.
Seeing this, Shen Guang ran up to where the old woman sat and grabbed a
handful of reeds without asking. He threw the reeds onto the Yangzi
river and stepped onto them. The reeds sank beneath him and Shen Guang
began drowning. The old woman saw his plight and took pity on Shen
Guang, pulling him from the river. As Shen Guang lay on the ground
coughing up river water, the old woman admonished him. She said that by
not asking for her reeds before taking them, he had shown her disrespect
and that by disrespecting her, Shen Guang had disrespected himself. The
old woman also told Shen Guang that he had been searching for a master
and that Bodhidharma, the man he was following, was that master. As she
said this, the reeds which had sunk beneath Shen Guang rose again to the
surface of the river and Shen Guang found himself on the reeds being
carried across the Yangzi river. He reached the other side and continued
following after Bodhidharma.
There are many people who believe that the old woman by the river was
a Boddhisatva who was helping Shen Guang to end the cycle of his
samsara.
Way To Cave
At this point, Bodhidharma was nearing the location of the Shaolin
Temple. The Shaolin monks had heard of his approach and were gathered to
meet him. When Bodhidharma arrived, the Shaolin monks greeted him and
invited him to come stay at the temple. Bodhidharma did not reply but he
went to a cave on a mountain behind the Shaolin Temple, sat down, and
began meditating. In front of the Shaolin Temple, there are five
mountains: Bell Mountain, Drum Mountain, Sword Mountain, Stamp Mountain
and Flag Mountain. These mountains are named after the objects which
their shape resembles. Behind the Shaolin Temple there are five “Breast
Mountains” which are shaped like breasts. The cave in which Bodhidharma
chose to meditate was on one of the Breast Mountains.
Way To Cave
Bodhidharma sat facing a wall in the cave and meditated for nine
years. During these nine years, Shen Guang stayed outside Bodhidharma’s
cave and acted as a bodyguard for Bodhidharma, ensuring that no harm
came to Bodhidharma. Periodically Shen Guang would ask Bodhidharma to
teach him, but Bodhidharma never responded to Shen Guang’s requests.
During these nine years the Shaolin monks would also periodically invite
Bodhidharma to come down to the Temple, where he would be much more
comfortable, but Bodhidharma never responded. After some time,
Bodhidharma’s concentration became so intense that his image was
engraved into the stone of the wall before him.
Bodhidharma 9yr Meditation Cave
Towards the end of the nine years, the Shaolin monks decided that
they must do something more for Bodhidharma and so they made a special
room for him. They called this room the Bodhidharma Ting. When this room
was completed at the end of the nine years, the Shaolin monks invited
Bodhidharma to come stay in the room. Bodhidharma did not respond but he
stood up, walked down to the room, sat down, and immediately began
meditating. Shen Guang followed Bodhidharma to the Shaolin temple and
stood guard outside Bodhidharma’s room. Bodhidharma meditated in his
room for another four years. Shen Guang would occasionally ask
Bodhidharma to teach him, but Bodhidharma never responded.
At the end of the four-year period Shen Guang had been following
Bodhidharma for thirteen years, but Bodhidharma had never said anything
to Shen Guang. It was winter when the four-year period was ending and
Shen Guang was standing in the snow outside the window to Bodhidharma’s
room. He was cold and became very angry. He picked up a large block of
snow and ice and hurled it into Bodhidharma’s room. The snow and ice
made a loud noise as it broke inside Bodhidharma’s room. This noise
awoke Bodhidharma from his meditation and he looked at Shen Guang. In
anger and frustration Shen Guang demanded to know when Bodhidharma would
teach him.
Bodhidharma responded that he would teach Shen Guang when red snow fell from the sky.
Hearing this, something inside Shen Guang’s heart changed and he took
the sword he carried from his belt and cut off his left arm. He held the
severed arm above his head and whirled it around. The blood from the
arm froze in the cold air and fell like red snow. Seeing this,
Bodhidharma agreed to teach Shen Guang.
Bodhidharma took a monk’s spade and went with Shen Guang to the Drum
Mountain in front of Shaolin Temple. The Drum Mountain is so called
because it is very flat on top. Bodhidharma’s unspoken message to Shen
Guang was that Shen Guang should flatten his heart, just like the
surface of the Drum Mountain. On this Drum Mountain Bodhidharma dug a
well. The water of this well was bitter. Bodhidharma then left Shen
Guang on the Drum Mountain. For an entire year, Shen Guang used the
bitter water of the well to take care of all of his needs. He used it to
cook, to clean, to bathe, to do everything. At the end of the first
year, Shen Guang went down to Bodhidharma and again asked Bodhidharma to
teach him. Bodhidharma returned with Shen Guang to the Drum Mountain
and dug a second well. The water of this well was spicy. For an entire
year, Shen Guang used the spicy water for all of his needs. At the end
of the second year, Shen Guang went back down to Bodhidharma and asked
again to be taught. Bodhidharma dug a third well on the Drum Mountain.
The water of this third well was sour. For the third year, Shen Guang
used the sour water for all of his needs. At the end of the third year,
Shen Guang returned to Bodhidharma and agains asked to be taught.
Bodhidharma returned to the Drum Mountain and dug a fourth and final
well. The water of this well was sweet. At this point, Shen Guang
realized that the four wells represented his life. Like the wells, his
life would sometimes be bitter, sometimes sour, sometimes spicy and
sometimes sweet. Each of these phases in his life was equally beautiful
and necessary, just as each of the four seasons of the year is beautiful
and necessary in its own way. Without really saying many words to Shen
Guang, Bodhidharma had taught Shen Guang the most important of lessons
in a mind-to-mind, heart-to-heart fashion. This mind-to- mind,
heart-to-heart communication is called “action language” and is the
foundation of the Chan Buddhism which Bodhidharma began at the Shaolin
Temple.
After his realization, Shen Guang was given the name Hui Ke and he became abbot of the Shaolin temple after Bodhidharma.
To pay respect for the sacrifice which Hui Ke made, disciples and
monks of the Shaolin Temple greet each other using only their right
hand.
Legend of Bodhidharma
“According to the Jingde of the Lamp, after Bodhidharma, a
Buddhist monk from South India, left the court of the Liang emperor Wu
in 527, he eventually found himself at the Shaolin Monastery, where he
“faced a wall for nine years, not speaking for the entire time”.”
According to the Yì Jīn Jīng,
“after Bodhidharma faced the wall for nine years at Shaolin
temple and made a hole with his stare, he left behind an iron chest.
When the monks opened this chest they found two books: the “Marrow
Cleansing Classic,” and the “Muscle Tendon Change Classic”, or “Yi Jin
Jing” within. The first book was taken by Bodhidharma’s disciple Huike,
and disappeared; as for the second, the monks selfishly coveted it,
practicing the skills therein, falling into heterodox ways, and losing
the correct purpose of cultivating the Real. The Shaolin monks have made
some fame for themselves through their fighting skill; this is all due
to their possession of this manuscript.”
Influence outside China
Some lineages of Karate have oral traditions that claim Shaolin
origins. Martial arts traditions in Japan and Korea, and Southeast Asia
cite Chinese influence as transmitted by Buddhist monks.
Recent developments in the 20th century such as Shorinji Kempo practised in Japan’s
Sohonzan Shorinji
still maintains close ties with China’s Song Shan Shaolin Temple due to
historic links. Japanese Shorinji Kempo Group financial contributions
to the maintenance of the historic edifice of the Song Shan Shaolin
Temple in 2003 received China’s recognition.
After death
Three years after Bodhidharma’s death, Ambassador Song Yun of
northern Wei is said to have seen him walking while holding a shoe at
the Pamir Heights. Song Yun asked Bodhidharma where he was going, to
which Bodhidharma replied “I am going home”. When asked why he was
holding his shoe, Bodhidharma answered “You will know when you reach
Shaolin monastery. Don’t mention that you saw me or you will meet with
disaster”. After arriving at the palace, Song Yun told the emperor that
he met Bodhidharma on the way. The emperor said Bodhidharma was already
dead and buried, and had Song Yun arrested for lying. At the Shaolin
Temple, the monks informed them that Bodhidharma was dead and had been
buried in a hill behind the temple. The grave was exhumed and was found
to contain a single shoe. The monks then said “Master has gone back
home” and prostrated three times.
For nine years he had remained and nobody knew him;
Carrying a shoe in hand he went home quietly, without ceremony
South Indian Martial Art Pic
Varma KalaiVarma Kalai
