Bodhidharma Talks
Bodhidharma was a semi-legendary Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and is regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. According to a 17th-century apocryphal story found in a manual called Yijin Jing, he began the physical training of the monks of Shaolin Monastery that led to the creation of Shaolin kungfu. He is known as Dámó in China and as Daruma in Japan. His name means "dharma of awakening (bodhi)" in Sanskrit.
Little contemporary biographical information on Bodhidharma is extant, and subsequent accounts became layered with legend and unreliable details.
According to the principal Chinese sources, Bodhidharma came from the Western Regions, which typically refers to Central Asia but can also include the Indian subcontinent, and is described as either a "Persian Central Asian" or a "South Indian [...] the third son of a great Indian king." Throughout Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is depicted as an ill-tempered, large-nosed, profusely-bearded, wide-eyed non-Chinese person. He is referred to as "The Blue-Eyed Barbarian" (Chinese: 碧眼胡; pinyin: Bìyǎnhú) in Chan texts.
Aside from the Chinese accounts, several popular traditions also exist regarding Bodhidharma's origins.
The accounts also differ on the date of his arrival, with one early account claiming that he arrived during the Liu Song dynasty (420–479 CE) and later accounts dating his arrival to the Liang dynasty (502–557 CE). Bodhidharma was primarily active in the territory of the Northern Wei (386–534 CE). Modern scholarship dates him to about the early 5th century CE.
Bodhidharma's teachings and practice centered on meditation and the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra. The Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall (952) identifies Bodhidharma as the 28th Patriarch of Buddhism in an uninterrupted line that extends all the way back to the Gautama Buddha himself.
Title | Speaker | |
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OLD - If Our Teaching Is A Special TeachingSerial: SF-05834B SR-67-09-00-A -2 (continued) (conclusion) [This tape is a continuation of SR-67-09-00-A-1] Bodhidharma, Karma, training, Religion |
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown |
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OLD - BodhidharmaSerial: SF-05783 SR-68-06-00-1 (start) (continued) - duplicate Bodhidharma, First Principle, Faith, Interview, Describe, Priest, Freedom |
[field_wisdom_date]
Tassajara |
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The Fourth Grave Precept (Not Lying) Precepts, Subject-and-Object, Silence, Karmic Consciousness, Four Noble Truths,... |
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown |
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The Third Grave Precept (do not misuse sex) Precepts, Teacher-and-Student, Commitment, Attachment, training, realization, Lay,... |
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown |
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Do You Do It? Politics, Ego, Birth-and-Death, Religion, Humility, Faith, Oneness, Bodhidharma,... |
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown |
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Reflecting the MirrorSerial: SF-03045B #12 Faith, Freedom, Ego, Bodhidharma, training, Enemies, Instruction, realization... |
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown |
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Don't Be Bothered By Your Mind / Science of Philosophy is Like a DissectionSerial: SF-05104C Tape 5 Summer sesshin 1965 Thursday July 29th Side 2: 5:45 meditation, 9:00 AM lecture [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were transcribed verbatim - WKR] Sesshin, Peace, Buddha Nature, Current Events, Bodhidharma, Passions, Instruction,... |
Jul 30 1965 A-B Sokoji |
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Sesshin LectureSerial: SF-05428 TS-65-08-01 Bodhidharma, Buddha Nature, Beginners, Concentration, Hate, Faith |
Aug 01 1965 Sokoji |
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Sesshin LectureSerial: SF-05102 Tape X side 1 - Sunday lectures of Bishop Sumi Bodhidharma, Buddha Nature, Concentration, Happiness, Hate, Freedom, Faith |
Aug 01 1965 Sokoji |
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Putting Power In Your HaraSerial: SF-05133-A Afternoon Sesshin Lecture Sesshin, Dogen, Fukanzazengi, Buddha Mind, Big Mind, Separation, New Year,... |
Dec 01 1967 A Tassajara |
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Lotus Sūtra No. I-2Serial: SR-00111 February 1968 Lotus Sutra, Building, Wisdom, Evil, Monks, Priest, Patience, Bodhidharma, Offering,... |
Feb 1968 Series 1, Talk 2 Tassajara |
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Shuso CeremonySerial: SF-05143C SR023 Last 2/3 side 2 Philip's discussion ceremony - copied 2 tapes [there are also photographs of hand-written notes on missing portions of Q&A - per tape operator... Sesshin, Shuso Ceremony, Big Mind, Bell, Bodhidharma, Gratitude, Buddha Nature,... |
Apr 23 1968 C Tassajara |
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What is Soto and what is Rinzai?Serial: SF-05144A SR024 Tass July 26/68 Roshi Sectarianism copied; July 21 Chino Sensei; July 24 Chino Sensei - also many handwritten notes on the content Soto Zen, Rinzai, Buddha Nature, Bodhidharma, Evil, Bowing, Mahayana, Gratitude, Ego... |
Jul 26 1968 Tassajara |
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BodhidharmaSerial: SF-05081 ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #22, by Shundo David Haye ===== In this second tape made by Dan Gourley at Tassajara in the summer of 1968,... Beginner’s Mind, First Principle, Time, First Principle, Bodhidharma, Describe, Faith... |
Jul 29 1968 Tassajara |
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The True DragonDogen, Baso, Dragons, Freedom, Soto Zen, Emptiness, Bodhidharma, soto, Instruction,... |
Oct 12 1968 B Sokoji |
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Zazen Practice and Listen to the Right TeacherSerial: SF-05631 ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #24, by Shundo David Haye ===== In the last years of Suzuki Roshi's life, very few talks were lost from the collections... Sesshin, Dogen, Bodhidharma, Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Observe, Precepts, Faith... |
Aug 03 1970 City Center |
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OLD - The Boss of EverythingSerial: SF-06096 Jan 16 1971 one tape - original copied - missing Big Mind, Bodhidharma, Precepts, confusion, Observe, Delusion |
Jan 16 1971 City Center |
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1973, Serial No. 03016Serial: SF-03016 8411-2 Dragons, Bodhidharma, Light-and-Darkness, First Principle, Ceremony, Instruction,... |
1973 Unknown |
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Hakuin Bodhidharma, Demons, training, Greed, Concentration, Passions, Bell, Lay, Hate... |
Mar 23 1978 Tassajara |
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The Nature of the Precepts Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Mahayana, realization, Lay, Sangha, Bodhidharma,... |
Aug 03 1983 1 |
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The Nature of the Precepts Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Mahayana, Lay, Bodhidharma, Emptiness, Daily Life,... |
Aug 03 1983 SFZC |
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The Third Grave Precept: Do Not Misuse Sex Precepts, Teacher-and-Student, Sangha, Commitment, training, Rinzai, Attachment,... |
Aug 08 1983 SFZC |
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The Fifth Grave Precept: Do Not Misuse Drugs Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, true dharma, Giving-and-Taking, Sangha, Lay,... |
Aug 09 1983 Green Gulch |
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The Fifth Grave Precept: Do Not Misuse DrugsSerial: SF-04058 Duplicate Precepts, true dharma, Giving-and-Taking, Buddha Nature, Sangha, Lay, Bodhidharma,... |
Oct 08 1984 SFZC |
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April 25th, 1988, Serial No. 01893 Bodhidharma, Monastic Practice, Ordination, Doubt, Religion, Mahayana, Interview,... |
Apr 25 1988 Unknown |
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August 11th, 1989, Serial No. 04067Serial: SF-04067 Duplicate realization, Buddha Nature, Hsin Hsin Ming, Evil, Lay, Samadhi, Transmission,... |
Aug 11 1989 Green Gulch |
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September 11th, 1989, Serial No. 04068 realization, Hsin Hsin Ming, Buddha Nature, Lay, Samadhi, Evil, Transmission,... |
Sep 11 1989 Green Gulch |
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Transmission of the LightSerial: SF-00041 Wednesday night teisho Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature, Karmic Consequences, Karma, Attachment, Delusion,... |
May 26 1993 |
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Tokubetsu Sesshin soto, Ceremony, Transmission, Precepts, Instruction, Subject-and-Object, Bodhidharma... |
Mar 15 1995 |
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Practicing With The PreceptsSerial: SF-00143 Tokubetsu Sesshin
Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, true dharma, Triple Treasure, Transmission, Vows,... |
Mar 28 1995 |
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Tokubetsu Sesshin Lecture Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Ceremony, Big Mind, Precepts, Bodhidharma,... |
Mar 29 1995 Unknown |
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1995.03.30-serial.00018 Ceremony, Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Oneness, Precepts, Posture, Buddha... |
Mar 30 1995 |
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BodhidharmaSerial: SF-03627 Sunday Lecture Forgiveness, Triple Treasure, Mindfulness, Bodhidharma, Emptiness, Precepts, Blue... |
Oct 01 1995 Green Gulch |
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Sunday LectureSerial: SF-03572 Includes Q&A Blue Cliff Record, Evil, Absolute-and-Relative, Religion, Don't Know Mind,... |
Mar 17 1996 Green Gulch |
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Just Die On ExhalationSerial: SF-02709A Rohatsu Sesshin "(a keeper)" Emptiness, Birth-and-Death, Letting Go, Composure, Bodhidharma, Impermanence, Posture... |
Dec 04 1996 Unknown |
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Sesshin Lecture Harmonizing, Obstacles, Zazen, Bodhidharma, Ego, Posture, Bell, Zendo, realization... |
Aug 11 1997 Green Gulch |
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What Is The Ember You Carry With You?Serial: SF-00086 One Day Sit Practice Period, Blue Cliff Record, Non-duality, Fox, Bodhidharma, First Principle,... |
Sep 27 1997 |
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Saturday Lecture Bodhidharma, Emotions, Instruction, Daily Life, Concentration, Letting Go, Lay,... |
Feb 28 1998 City Center |
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April 25th, 1998, Serial No. 01894 Bodhidharma, Buddha Nature, Faith, Interview, Bell, Describe, Freedom, Doubt, Nirvana... |
Apr 25 1998 Unknown |
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April 26th, 1998, Serial No. 01895 Bodhidharma, Buddha Nature, Platform Sutra, Doubt, Faith, New Year, Describe,... |
Apr 26 1998 Unknown |
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Sunday Lecture Blue Cliff Record, Bodhidharma, Commitment, Priest, Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature,... |
Aug 30 1998 Green Gulch |
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Blue Cliff Record ClassSerial: SF-00068 67th Case: Mahasattva Fu Expounds the Scripture; single-point samadhi. Concentration, Repentance, Blue Cliff Record, Bodhidharma, Interview, Manjushri,... |
Apr 22 1999 |
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One-day Sitting Lecture Birth-and-Death, Ceremony, Bodhidharma, Renunciation, Two Truths, Letting Go, Vows,... |
May 15 1999 Green Gulch |
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One-day Sitting Lecture Greed, Offering, Lotus Sutra, Bodhidharma, Liberation, Tassajara, Happiness,... |
Sep 18 1999 Green Gulch |
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Fukanzazengi ClassSerial: SF-03517 Monday Class Hsin Hsin Ming, Buddha Nature, confusion, Platform Sutra, realization, Bodhisattva... |
Feb 28 2000 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Letting Go, Ceremony, Freedom, Zazen, Bodhidharma, Interview, Mindfulness, Silence,... |
Mar 05 2000 Green Gulch |
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Works of Dogen ClassSerial: SF-03199 Tuesday Class Buddha Ancestors, Lotus Sutra, Balance, Emptiness, Liberation, Transmission,... |
Mar 14 2000 Green Gulch |
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One-day Sitting Lecture Balance, Posture, Instruction, Bodhidharma, Daily Life, Skandas, Ceremony, Separation... |
Mar 20 2000 Green Gulch |