Collected Treatises of Bodhidharma
đ Overview â Collected Treatises of Bodhidharma
The Collected Treatises of Bodhidharma is a profound anthology of Chan (Zen) Buddhist wisdom attributed to Bodhidharma, the Indian monk regarded as the First Patriarch of Chinese Chan. The treatises explore the heart of Mahayana Buddhist practiceâemphasizing direct insight into the mind, letting go of conceptual thought, and realizing oneâs original nature. Through dialogues, question-and-answer formats, and poetic reflections, the texts dismantle dualistic thinking and guide practitioners to the realization of âno-mindâ (çĄĺż), the gateway to true liberation.
Rather than advocating elaborate rituals or scriptures, Bodhidharma stresses âguarding the original mindâ as the essence of Buddhist practice. The treatises blend the depths of Indian Yogacara and Madhyamaka philosophy with the spontaneity and simplicity of early Chan Buddhism.
đ§ââď¸ Author â Bodhidharma
Bodhidharma (ca. 5thâ6th century CE) was a South Indian prince-turned-monk credited with bringing Mahayana Buddhismâespecially the Dhyana (Zen/Chan) schoolâto China. Revered as the First Patriarch of Chinese Chan, he is famed for his radical, no-frills approach to spiritual practice. Eschewing reliance on scriptures and external rituals, Bodhidharma taught that awakening comes from realizing the mindâs true nature directly.
Legend says he spent nine years meditating facing a wall at Shaolin Monastery, exemplifying his teaching of inner stillness and direct perception. His teachings laid the foundation for the later flourishing of Chan and Zen Buddhism throughout East Asia.
đ Selected Passage
âSentient beings must awaken and liberate themselves by recognizing their own mindsâeven the Buddha cannot liberate those who cling to delusion. If the Buddhas could truly deliver others, then with the countless Buddhas of the past, how is it that we have not yet attained Buddhahood? It is only because true sincerity does not arise from within, and thus we remain adrift in the sea of suffering.â
The Collected Treatises of Bodhidharma presents the essential teachings of Bodhidharma, the Indian monk who brought Chan (Zen) Buddhism to China. Through dialogues, discourses, and verses, these treatises emphasize the realization of oneâs true nature through direct inner observation, non-attachment, and no-mind (wuxin ). The text deconstructs dualistic views and conceptual grasping, pointing instead to the original, pure mind as the source of awakening. Bodhidharma teaches that all practices, scriptures, and rituals are secondary to the direct recognition and guarding of the true mind. Liberation cannot be given by anotherânot even by the Buddha himselfâbut must arise from sincere insight into one's own nature. This collection remains a foundational work in Chan Buddhism, embodying the radical simplicity and spiritual clarity that would shape the course of Zen throughout East Asia.