The 28th ancestor in the line of Buddhism, Bodhidharma also became known as
the first Zen Ancestor.
An oft quoted statement by Bodhidharma, one regarded as essential in Zen is the
following:
“Without reliance on words and speech,
A special transmission outside the scriptures;
Directly pointing to the human mind,
See your true nature and become Buddha.”
In addition to this simple utterance, Bodhidharma is credited with having made
significant contributions to the Zen teaching pantheon. He taught about there
being ”two paths” to entering the way. The first is entering through principle and
the second through practice. Beyond these essays he also authored the
Bloodstream Sermon, Wake-Up Sermon, and Breakthrough Sermon. Quite a lot
for someone not “reliant on words and speech.”
I’d like to focus today on “entering the way through practice.” Bodhidharma, in
constructing this teaching specifically highlights four practices. They are: making
amends for injustices, accepting worldly conditions, not craving, and practicing the
dharma.
Both in my own practice over the years and in assisting others as they begin their
journey, I found “not craving” to be most instructive and practical.
What is the practice of not craving? Bodhidharma says “People in this world are
deluded and are always seeking one thing or another outside themselves, which is
called craving. But those who are wise wake up and maintain the serenity of inner
truth while their bodies change with the seasons and the laws of causation. All
things, all phenomena are empty, so there is in essence nothing worth seeking or
craving. Calamity always alternates with prosperity. So why dwell in this burning
house? The sutras tell us that seeking leads to suffering, and happiness comes
when we seek nothing. Therefore seeking nothing is the way to peace and
equanimity. Stop imagining or seeking. This is called not craving..