Quotes by Bodhidharma

About Bodhidharma:

Bodhidharma is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. According to Chinese legend, he also began the physical training of the monks of Shaolin Monastery that led to the creation of Shaolin Kung Fu.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The ignorant mind, with its infinite afflictions, passions, and evils, is rooted in the three poisons. Greed, anger, and delusion.

Bodhidharma

Not thinking about anything is Zen. Once you know this, walking, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is Zen.

Bodhidharma

But people of the deepest understanding look within, distracted by nothing. Since a clear mind is the Buddha, they attain the understanding of a Buddha without using the mind.

Bodhidharma

The mind is the Buddha, and the Buddha is the mind.

Bodhidharma

You can't know your real mind as long as you deceive yourself.

Bodhidharma

As long as you look for a Buddha somewhere else, you'll never see that your own mind is the Buddha.

Bodhidharma

The mind is always present. You just don't see it.

Bodhidharma

Many roads lead to the path, but basically there are only two: reason and practice.

Bodhidharma

As mortals, we're ruled by conditions, not by ourselves.

Bodhidharma

But deluded people don't realize that their own mind is the Buddha. They keep searching outside.

Bodhidharma

Regardless of what we do, our karma has no hold on us.

Bodhidharma

To give up yourself without regret is the greatest charity.

Bodhidharma

Freeing oneself from words is liberation.

Bodhidharma

To have a body is to suffer.

Bodhidharma

As long as you're enthralled by a lifeless form, you're not free.

Bodhidharma

The Way is basically perfect. It doesn't require perfecting.

Bodhidharma

The essence of the Way is detachment.

Bodhidharma

Not creating delusions is enlightenment.

Bodhidharma

To see nothing is to perceive the Way, and to understand nothing is to know the Dharma, because seeing is neither seeing nor not seeing and because understanding is neither understanding nor not understanding.

Bodhidharma

Those who remain unmoved by the wind of joy silently follow the Path.

Bodhidharma

Author Bio

  • NameBodhidharma
  • Born483
  • Died540
  • CountryIndia
  • ProfessionBhikkhu; Philosopher