Shaolin Temple and Zen II

The Chan school began at first with just simple living and stern self-discipline as the preparation for meditation and the inward vision. It found suggestive the meditative techniques already developed by native Chinese Taoism, in both its philosophical and religious forms. At first it disdained all scriptures and was rigorously individualistic, iconoclastic, and averse to regarding the ultimate Buddha principle (Nothingness or the Void) as in any sense definable. Gradually, however, the old aids to the religious life were reinstated and in a moderate way made use of. Nevertheless, it was realized that such aids cannot substitute for meditation, even though differences developed as to the nature of the meditation itself. Ultimately, two of the seven Chan sects have survived: Linz-ji and Cao-dong (曹洞宗).

Legend has it that Bodhidharma never changed his pose while in meditation for nine long years and his superhuman concentration transferred his image on the stone wall. A part of the wall with imprinted lines resembling a man’s profile imprinted is still kept at the Shaolin Temple. Another story about his concentration says a novice monk, who tried to deliver a meal to Bodhidharma, saw a big gray wolf at the gate to the master’s meditation room. The beast looked hungry. Its front paws were then on the master’s shoulder, ready to devour the man in deep meditation who was totally oblivious of the danger. The only thing the novice could do was to wield a club to shoo the beast away.

Still another story tells of a monk’s encounter with Bodhidharma. Shenguang (神光), the monk, wanted to see the great master who was practicing meditation. It was winter. Shenguang had to wait in front of the hut where Bodhidharma was meditating. The monk was patient. He stood outdoors overnight, while it was snowing heavily, but the master did not let him in. The snow was knee-deep the next morning; yet the monk wasn’t asked in. Thereupon, the monk cut off his left arm, and presented it to the grand master as proof of his sincerity in asking for instructions. Perhaps it was at the end of his nine-year mediation. Bodhidharma, apparently moved, ended his meditation and gave the supplicant his robe and alms bowl as a token of rightful succession. Shenguang was renamed Huike (慧可), the second patriarch.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email