The Phoenix. An illustrated review of occultism and philosophy

No merit in religious observances
There is nothing holy
"I do not know who I am"

Bodhidharma was an extraordinary personality in every respect. His body was huge and ungainly. This was made more noticeable by his haughty manner and commanding gestures. Two great piercing eyes blazed out from under shaggy brows. He wore a short, graying beard and heavy, golden earrings.

A black and white ink wash painting depicts Bodhidharma, also known as Daruma. He is shown with large, intense eyes, thick eyebrows, a beard, and a large earring in his left ear. He wears a dark robe. The style is characteristic of Zen ink painting, known as sumi-e.

His strange proportions and menacing manner made his whole appearance fearsome. Older writers compared Bodhidharma to an awkward, growling bear. They described him sitting in desolate spots, mumbling and grumbling to himself. He is never shown as smiling or happy. Instead, he glowers at the world from behind the folds of his cape. Despite this, a careful study of his face shows deep kindliness and gentle understanding hidden beneath the rough exterior. Like many other patriarchs who chose reality over worldliness, Bodhidharma was indifferent to his appearance. He wore a tattered robe. This is usually shown as saffron or red, though the traditional robe of a Zen patriarch is green.

Such a strange figure had never been seen crossing the mountains between India and China. There are different stories about how he traveled. Some traditions say he walked the entire distance to bring the law of enlightenment to the Chinese. Other accounts call him "the navigating Brahman" and say he arrived by ship. Regardless of how he traveled, his arrival caused a great stir. When the imperial house heard of him, he was summoned to the palace. It is not surprising that Emperor Wu desired to meet him. The Emperor was a good man and a pious Buddhist. We find Bodhidharma in the imperial audience chamber, standing before the high gold and lacquered throne behind silken curtains.

Bodhidharma was not a flattering priest looking for royal favors. He remained aggressive and uncivil. He answered the Emperor's questions gruffly and with indifference. He seemed determined to humiliate this symbol of imperial power. The Emperor spoke. "Most reverent sir, we have built temples, had copies made of the holy scriptures, and ordered monks and nuns to be converted. Is there any merit in our conduct?" "No merit at all," growled Bodhidharma from inside his rags. Although he was not used to such answers, the Emperor continued. "What, then, is the whole truth, or the first principle?" The patriarch growled again, "The first principle transcends all. There is nothing holy."

The Emperor likely reasoned with himself before speaking again. He perhaps wondered about the state of this saint who claimed nothing was holy. He spoke once more. "Who are you, then, who stands before us?" Before turning his back on the palace, Bodhidharma muttered, "I do not know who I am."

These philosophical distinctions were beyond the Emperor's mind. He was weighed down by the cares of the state, which seemed very real to him. Bodhidharma realized his teachings were too deep for imperial support. He turned his back on the Forbidden City and retired to the distant Shao Lin monastery. There, he sat in meditation for nine years in a small court-

The mastery and ending of sleep.
Tea as an aid to overcoming sleepiness.

yard with his face turned toward a blank wall. Because of this, the patriarch earned the name "the wall-gazing Brahman." Bodhidharma did not sit there only for meditation. He was waiting for the natural working of the law. He knew that Dhyana meditation or mental cultivation was the royal road to the Self. He believed that men seeking truth would eventually find him. It was simply a matter of patience.

It is a strange image to imagine this grim saint wrapped in robes. He gazed fiercely at a plain wall day after day. He would kick anyone out with snorts and grunts if they tried to interrupt him. He mumbled and grumbled for nine years. This period became the subject of many profound legends. One account says he sat still for so long that spiders spun webs around him. Rats even made nests in the folds of his cloak. Another story claims he did not move for such a long time that his legs withered away and he lost the use of them. To remember this, Japanese artists now depict Dharma Bodhidharma as a sack-shaped figure without legs. His grumpy face peers out from the neck of the sack.

Bodhidharma has been called "the Chinese St. Anthony." This is because he faced every form of temptation and discomfort during his long meditation. After sitting for about three years, he became so tired that he fell asleep. His sleep was disturbed by visions and the sorcery of evil creatures. These were sent by Mara the lord of illusions and death. Eventually, these creatures bothered him so much that he woke up. He discovered he had been asleep. Since sleeping was a weakness unsuited to Zen, he cut off his own eyelids as a penance. Some pictures show this detail. Tradition says that when he threw his eyelids on the ground, they became tea plants. After this penance, Bodhidharma stayed awake in meditation for five more years. When fatigue returned, he looked for something

A stylized illustration titled "THE LAZY MONK." It shows a figure with exaggerated features, wide eyes, and an open mouth. He holds a staff with a gourd attached. The figure is shown in energetic movement, which contrasts with the stillness of the "wall-gazing" tradition. The background includes a simple landscape with a tree and a small building.

to stop his sleepiness. Bodhidharma noticed the tea plants growing nearby. He leaned over and picked a few leaves. After chewing them, he found they removed his tiredness. Since then, Zen monks and other holy men have used tea to stay awake during long meditations.

Finally, the patriarch was rewarded for his long wait. A man who was deeply troubled heard of the sage and came looking for knowledge. Bodhidharma believed the path of achievement was only for the strong. He refused to see the visitor and ordered him to leave. The man was not easily discouraged. He stood in the snow for days. He refused to leave until he was granted an interview. After waiting a long time without an invitation, this pilgrim