Zen Buddhism and Bodhidharma
By W. Pachow
Summary
Pachow recounts the life and teachings of Bodhidharma, the Indian monk traditionally credited with transmitting Chan (Zen) Buddhism to China. The article begins with an overview of Bodhidharma’s journey across the Silk Road and his arrival at the Shaolin Temple, where he taught a meditation practice emphasising direct experience over scriptural study. It analyses Bodhidharma’s famous exchanges with Emperor Wu of Liang and his composition of the two treatises that outline the principles of ‘wall‑gazing’ meditation and the doctrine of no‑mind. Pachow discusses the subsequent development of Chan in China, focusing on the debates between sudden and gradual enlightenment advocated by the Sixth Patriarch Huineng and his rivals. The article traces the spread of Chan to Japan, where it evolved into Zen and influenced samurai culture, arts and philosophy. Pachow emphasises that despite legendary embellishments, the figure of Bodhidharma symbolises the transmission of an anti‑textual, experiential approach to awakening.
Conclusion
The author concludes that Bodhidharma’s legacy lies less in historical facts and more in the emphasis on personal realisation. Zen’s stress on meditation and the direct pointing to the mind distinguishes it from other schools and continues to inspire practitioners. The narrative underscores the cross‑cultural journey of an Indian monk whose teachings shaped East Asian Buddhism.