Customer Reviews

Zen Teachings Of Bodhidharma

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A fifth-century Buddhist Indian mystic, Bodhidharma proves to be one of Buddhism's most enigmatic masters. Acknowledged as the father of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma's teachings represent the every essence of Zen itself. Deep and pithy, he sermons guide the reader to the very summit of Buddha mind, urging the reader to look within beyond the veil of appearance. Not an ordinary book that will be read only once then tucked away on a bookshelf, Red Pine's translation of Bodhidharma's teachings will be a constant companion for many years. I highly recommend this book for both the beginner and the seasoned practitioner of Zen

If you haven't noticed by now, truth is not exempt from change. This wonderful traslation of some of the core teachings of the credited founder of Zen, Bodhidharma, makes this very clear to me. Everytime I read this tremedously important work new insight comes forward, making clear how the "way" is never locked in place. Not to mention this is one of very few books out there in English which gives an account of some of this famous master's teachings.

If you read this book with a sincere effort to realize this life, it will no doubt give you what you came for. As for a book of mere entertainment, this is not that. It is thought provoking, the meanings of every page are not spoonfed to us. We are left to search for their meanings within on our own, Red Pine simply tries to present us with the original sayings. Commentary can often confuse someone into believing that the observation an uthor makes is one and the same with what was originally said. I like how Red Pine does not do this. I believe the best translator's try their best to present us with the closest accounts as possible of what the original work was about. I believe Red Pine has certainly done this.

Enjoy this book:)

"The truth is, there's nothing to find." Wisdom from the father of Zen, the first to see buddhahood in a grain of sand, in the natural, plain world. Beautiful. It will change your life. I keep this book on my bedside table.

I sincerely repent of my previous review which slandered these wondrous tracts. I was foolish and heedless in doing so. Suffice to say, if you want to get the jist of what Zen is outside of the "Ah, how pretty the trees in Oneness." Buy this book and some of the others by Thomas Cleary. They're all quite nice.

Red Pine (aka Bill Porter, author of ROAD TO HEAVEN and a celebrated translator of Buddhist poetry and scripture) gives us a spirited translation of four talks attributed to Bodhidharma even though debates over authorship, and even the existence of Bodhidharma as more than a legend, have not rested.

Bodhidharma's "Outline of Practice" outlines the dharma as this Brahman-born monk taught it in China after being sent there by his teacher, Prajnatara. A confusing distinction made in these talks, especially the "Outline," has to do with what Bodhidharma calls "reason" (again, in this translation) and meditation practice. They are presented as two avenues to "zen," but the definitions make it hard to distinguish them. Throughout, there is an inside/outside (or mind/body) kind of thinking which may be expedient thinking for the sake of his students, or his own enduring mind-habit.

Otherwise, his teaching is very clear: attain your true self, attain what the Heart Sutra is talking about; and at that point, what is there to do? Realizing the paramitas without a trace of actor or action, the student can use form with a clear mind and help others.

In the "Bloodstream Sermon," there are questions and answers, as Bodhidharma teaches and occasionally spars with monks in China (at a time when Buddhism in China was heavily philosophical). Bodhidharma has mastered the philosophy enough to turn it on its ear and make it point these sleepy students to "just doing it." If you do not find your true self, he says, all invocations, offerings and precepts are useless. "The thousands of sutras and shastras only amount to a clear mind."

With the "Breakthrough Sermon," the conceptualizing gets pretty convoluted. Dharma speeches are like acupuncture needles, and what may have pointed directly 1,500 years ago becomes mysterious. This talk refers to the Nirvana Sutra and the Sutra of the Ten Stages, which were revolutionizing Buddhism in China.

It is interesting to watch how Bodhidharma intercepts questions which are often reverently Buddhist and spin them around to the three poisons (anger, greed, delusion) and their need to practice just now. And yet one might wonder that even as he criticizes external devotions, he seems to be making something special about "inner" work and enlightenment. Is there such thing as practice without inside and outside?

...this is the one! Here is some real direct pointing!

as a Dharma teacher of traditional orthodox Buddhsim and having every book in English on Buddhism this book ranks in the top 5 as being one of the most fantasticly accurate books in English on Buddhism. Ive given endless books bad reviews deservedly and can say from massive experience there is much trash out there written on Zen and or Buddhism as a whole and this book is the die from which all other books (except the holy Sutras) must be judged. One thing about this book is both incredible and hilarious at the same time which is there are many so called Masters of the Buddhist Dharma which have written Blasphemously incorrect and wrong books on Buddhism. When asked NOT A SINGLE SO CALLED ZEN MASTER will ever refute ONE WORD from this book by Bodhidharma and would risk hisses if they even thought to do so BUT their own books have so many full faced contradictions to the glory of the contents of the Dharma of this book that it is a very sad paradox that there are such RARE RARE few jems such as this Book. This book is half english and half chinese and so it can be read 3 times through in one single day and i recommend it. Without a basis of comparison this treasure which is gold can be held up against the trash passing itsself off as the teachings of the Dharma but unquestionably doesnt. Bodhidharma slams to peices charlotaneous Buddhism and trash Buddhism and formalistic ritualism and is as serious as a heart attack regarding the improtance of seeing through all the nonsense calling itsself Buddhism and gets to the point in less than the first paragraph. In a time when Buddhism and political correctness had nothing to do with each other the facts and bold and naked and powerfull and glory of REAL Buddhism is seen through the words of Bodhidharma. This book in expert opinion is prime among prime reading for anyone seeking true Buddhism or someone along the path which has been stumbling upon trash Buddhism along the way. This book is a unquestionable must period.. no ifs ands or buts.

One may find many insights from this book! I've read and heard many words, but none more straight forward than this. I am just happy to know dialogues of this magnitude took place long ago. I think you will fall in love with it.

I would rate this book at the top along side the teachings of Huang-Po. These teachings are like the onramp to the Zen Expressway. A must read.

I was real exited about getting this book at first. Then, it turns out, the material is not the most historically accurate presentation of what Bodhidharma said, as these are not, apparently, the earliest records. Nonetheless, it matters what's in the book right?I can see why alot of people like this one. It throws out all (most) Old Chinese values, for example, it has alot of hair-brained interpretations of Sutras and alot of anti-worship, anti-monasticism about it. As far as Zen goes, when he talks about the Mind it is quite in harmony with the rest of the Chinese Texts (translations) i've read, it's just that it seems that whoever wrote these was VERY ignorant of the Sutras. For example, he states that Arhats are still in the wheel of birth and death on page 37. Anyone he even knows basic Buddhist terms knows that that is ridiculous. And he also states that it is of no use to Worship a Buddha (many a Westerner giggles with glee at such a notion). Anyone who's read the Lotus Sutra knows this is false. There is alot of good in this book, but also alot of 'fluff'. i wouldn't recommend it.