The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma

[zenzero]

Friends,

A passage from the above book translated and introduction by Red Pine:

Whoever knows that the mind is a fiction and devoid of anything real knows that his own mind neither exists nor doesn't exist. Mortals keep creating the mind, claiming it exists. And arhats keep negating the mind, claiming it doesn't exist. But bodhisattvas and buddhas neither craete nor negate the mind. This is what's meant by the mind that neither exists nor doesn't exist. The mind that neither exists nor doesn't exist is called the Middle Way.

Kindly share your own understanding!

Love & rgds

 

[DreadFish]

I love Bodhidharma.

My understanding is that addition and negation are both absolute, conceptual views. The middle way is without absolutes.

 

[zenzero]

Friend DreadFish,

My understanding is that addition and negation are both absolute, conceptual views. The middle way is without absolutes.

Yes very true and love Gautama for brining out this understanding of the middle way/path,
That one can reach to IT by just doing 'NOTHING' as it is the mind that is swinging and by observing that it will come to a stop to be permanently connected.

Love & rgds

 

[zenzero]

Friends,

One more passage from the above book:

Not Thinking about anything is Zen. Once you know this, walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is Zen. To know that the mind is empty is to see the Buddha

These are self explanatory!

Love & rgds

 

[DreadFish]

I also really like Bodhidharma's version of the ten bodhisattva precepts:

1. Self-nature is inconceivably wondrous; in the everlasting Dharma, not raising the view of extinction is called “not killing.”

2. Self-nature is inconceivably wondrous; in the ungraspable Dharma, not arousing the thought of gain is called “not stealing.”

3. Self-nature is inconceivably wondrous; in the Dharma of nonattachment, not raising the view of attachment is called “not being greedy.”

4. Self-nature is inconceivably wondrous; in the inexplicable Dharma, not expounding a word is called “not lying.”

5. Self-nature is inconceivably wondrous; in the intrinsically pure Dharma, not arousing ignorance is called “not being intoxicated.”

6. Self-nature is inconceivably wondrous; in the faultless Dharma, not talking about sins and mistakes is called “not talking about others’ faults and errors.”

7. Self-nature is inconceivably wondrous; in the Dharma of equality, not talking about self and others is called “not elevating oneself and putting down others.”

8. Self-nature is inconceivably wondrous; in the genuine, all pervading Dharma, not clinging to one single thing is called “not being stingy.”

9. Self-nature is inconceivably wondrous; in the Dharma of no-self, not contriving a reality of self is called “not being angry.”

10. Self-nature is inconceivably wondrous; in the Dharma of oneness, not raising a distinction between Buddhas and beings is called “not slandering the Three Treasures.”

To me, more useful than the ordinary versions.

 

[zenzero]

Friend DreadFish,

Here is another similar passage:

Cultivating the paramitas means purifying the six senses by overcoming the six thieves.
Casting out the thief of the eye by abandoning the visual world is CHARITY.
Keeping out the thief of the ear by not listening to sounds is MORALITY.
Humbling the thief of the nose by equating all smells as neutral is PATIENCE.
Controlling the thief of the mouth by conquering desires of the taste, praise and explain is DEVOTION.
Quelling the thief of the bodyby remaining unmoved by sensations of touch is MEDITATION.
And taming the thief of the mindby not yeilding to delusions but practising wakefullness is WISDOM.

The six paramitas are like boats or rafts of transport beings to the other shore, Hence they are also called 'ferries'

Love & rgds

 

[Ablaze]

:namaste​

 

[Ablaze]

From Bodhidharma's Bloodstream Sermon:

Trying to find a Buddha or enlightenment is like trying to grab space. Space has a name but no form. It's not something you can pick up or put down. And you certainly can't grab if. Beyond mind you'll never see a Buddha. The Buddha is a product of the mind. Why look for a Buddha beyond this mind?

Buddhas of the past and future only talk about this mind. The mind is the Buddha, and the Buddha is the mind. Beyond the mind there's no Buddha and beyond the Buddha there's no mind. If you think there is a Buddha beyond the mind', where is he? There's no Buddha beyond the mind, so why envision one? You can't know your real mind as long as you deceive yourself. As long as you're enthralled by a lifeless form, you're not free. If you don't believe me, deceiving yourself won't help. It's not the Buddha's fault. People, though, are deluded. They're unaware that their own mind is the Buddha. Otherwise they wouldn't look for a Buddha outside the mind.

Buddhas don't ferry Buddhas to the shore of liberation. If you use your mind to look for a Buddha, you won't see the Buddha. As long as you seek Buddhas outwards, you'll never see that your own Heart is the Buddha. Don't use a Buddha to worship a Buddha, and don't use the mind to invoke a Buddha. Buddhas don't recite sutras, Buddhas don't keep precepts, and Buddhas don't break precepts, Buddhas don't keep or break anything. Buddhas don't do good or evil.