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Bodhidharma

Bodhidharma Quotes

Biographer

Bodhidharma, also known as Daruma, is one of the founders of Chan Buddhism (Zen). He is believed to be from South India and is venerated as the 'First Patriarch of Chan in the East'. His life story is largely mythologized, and his exact birth and death dates are unknown.

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All Mind Ifs Way Dharma Knows Awareness Body Delusion Form People Real Understanding Evil Karma Long Looks Mortals Practice Reality Suffering

Famous Bodhidharma Quotes

“All know the way, but few actually walk it.”

Knows Way Action Walks Inspire Buddhism Lifts Self Mastery

Author:Bodhidharma

“When mortals are alive, they worry about death. When they're full, they worry about hunger. Theirs is the Great Uncertainty. But sages don't consider the past. And they don't worry about the future. Nor do they cling to the present. And from moment to moment they follow the Way.”

Way Moments Action Past Worry Alive Hunger Mortals Uncertainty Sage

Book:The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

“The essence of the Way is detachment. And the goal of those who practice is freedom from appearances.”

Way Goal Practice Essence Appearance Attachment Tao Detachment

Book:The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

“The Way is basically perfect. It doesn't require perfecting. The Way has no form or sound. It's subtle and hard to perceive. It's like when you drink water: you know how hot or cold it is, but you can't tell others.”

Knows Way Hard Wisdom Form Sound Water Perfect Know How Cold Drink Perfection Hot Perceive Subtle Drink Water

Book:The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

“The true Way is sublime. It can't be expressed in language. Of what use are scriptures? But someone who sees his own nature finds the Way, even if he can't read a word.”

Ifs Way Use Language Scripture Sublime Tao

Book:The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

“Someone who seeks the Way doesn't look beyond himself.”

Book:The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

“The ultimate Truth is beyond words. Doctrines are words. They're not the Way.”

Way Truth Is Ultimate Doctrine Tao Ultimate Truth

Book:The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

“If you know that everything comes from the mind, don't become attached. Once attached, you're unaware. But once you see your own nature, the entire Canon becomes so much prose. It's thousands of sutras and shastras only amount to a clear mind. Understanding comes in midsentence. What good are doctrines? The ultimate Truth is beyond words. Doctrines are words. They're not the Way. The Way is wordless. Words are illusions. . . . Don't cling to appearances, and you'll break through all barriers. . . .”

Ifs Knows Way Mind Truth Understanding Break Clear Amount Truth Is Illusion Ultimate Appearance Doctrine Prose Barriers Break Through Canon Ultimate Truth Clear Minds

Book:The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

“The awareness of mortals falls short. As long as they're attached to appearances, they're unaware that their minds are empty. And by mistakenly clinging to the appearance of things they lose the Way.”

Way Mind Long Fall Loses Awareness Empty Appearance Mortals Clinging

Author: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.”

Knows Way Understanding Seeing Perceive Dharma

Book:The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

“Not suffering another existence is reaching the Way.”

Way Suffering Existence Reaching

Book:The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

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

Book:The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

Source: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

“The essence of the Way is detachment.”

Way Essence Detachment Detached

Author:Bodhidharma

About the Author

Known for: Biographer
Quotes: 104

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