Sunday, November 23, 2014

Bodhidharma and Emperor Wu

Bodhidharma

There is a famous quatrain attributed to Bodhidharma in his meeting with Emperor Wu.

The emperor asked Bodhidharma, the toothless old monk with big wide open eyes: "Since I ascended the throne, I have promoted the building of temples, the transcription of Sutras (scriptures), ordination of monks; 
serving and donating money to temples and preachers. What merit have I obtained? "
The Master replied, "No merit at all."
The Emperor asked: - "Why no merit?"
The Master said: - "All these things are nothing but unclean for merit reasons; at the most they ripen the meager fruit of a human rebirth or Deva (god). They are like shadows that follow the forms, lacking their own reality."

The emperor asked: - "So, what kind is the real merit?" 
The Master said: - "It is the pure, wonderful and perfect knowledge (Gyana). Its essence is emptiness. You cannot win a spiritual merit through worldly means..."

Then the emperor asked: - "What is the first principle of sacred truth?"
 
Bodhidharma replied: - "Vast emptiness, nothing else; absolutely nothing." 

Excerpts from: 'Bodhidharma and his spiritual legacy'
By Dokushô Villalba. 




1 comment:

Singing Qawalis on someone's grave - Kisi ki qabr par qawaliyon say kuchh nahin hoga

Na hon Paisay to istaqbaaliyon say kuchh nahin hoga  Kisi Shaayar ka khaali Taaliyon say kuchh nahin hoga  Nikal aayi hai un kay pait say pa...